CHARLES by the grace of God , King of England , Scotland , France , and Ireland , defender of the faith , &c. To all and singular Archbishops , Bishops , Archdeacons , Deanes , and their Officials , Parsons , Vicars , Curats , and to all spirituall persons , and also to all Iustices of Peace , Maiors , Sheriffes , Bayliffes , Constables , Churchwardens and Headboroughes , and to all Officers of Cities , Boroughes , and Townes Corporate ; and to all other Our Officers , Ministers , and subiects whatsoeuer they be , aswell within Liberties as without , to whom these presents shall come greeting . WHEREAS we are credibly informed , as well by the humble petition of Captaine Iohn Harison our late agent into Barbarie , as also by a certificate of diuers Merchants of London trading into those parts , that there are many of our poore subiects in miseserable captiuity in those parts , within the Dominions of Muley Abdawelly King of Morocco , the certaine number of them being not knowne , from which barbarous and cruell slauery , and the manifold grieuances and distresses of soule , minde and body , which accompany the same : from which barbarous and cruell usuages they cannot be freed untill their ransomes be satisfied . Now forasmuch as it can be no small forture and affliction for poore distressed Christians to suffer under those mercilesse and inhumane people , and for that their ransomes will require a farre greater summe of money than can otherwise be raised for their redemption : Wee taking into Our Princely consideration , the wretched and miserable estate of our said poore subiects , haue thereupon , and for other occasions sent ouer the said Captaine Iohn Harison into Barbary , with Our most gracious Letters to the said King of Morocco , for obtaining their redemption and liberty . And for the better and more speedy effecting thereof , haue thought good , according to the laudable custome of other Christian Princes in like case by a generall Collection within this Our Realme of England , and Dominion of Wales , to commend their miseries and pittifull calamities unto the charitable consideration of all Our louing subiects : not doubting , but that all good Christians well weighing their misfortunes and the unspeakable anguish which their poore brethren doe endure for the testimony of their faith in Christ Iesus , will in a religious and pious commiseration of their extremities , be moued , as feeling members one of anothers miseries , fréely and willingly to extend their liberall contributions for the redemption of so many distressed Christians from the slauery and bondage of the mercilesse Barbarians . KNOW ye therefore , that we of our Princely grace doe order and grant , that a generall Collection be made of the charitable deuotions and liberalities of all our louing subiects throughout this our Realme of England , and Dominion of Wales , and in all places whatsoeuer , aswell within Liberties as without , towards the redemption of the said poore distressed captiues as aforesaid , which Collection we will and command shall be made in manner and forme following . That is to say , we first will and grant the protection hereof be left with George Lord Archbishop of Canterbury , and a duplicate also with the Archbishop of Yorke , or in the vacancy , with the Deane and Chapter of those Archiepiscopall seas , and they respectiuely to recommend the printed Briefes of these our Letters Patents , to the Bishops of the seuerall Prouinces , and euery Bishop in his seuerall Diocesse , to appoint some one sufficient man in each seuerall Deanry , to take care of distributing the Briefes into euery Parish Church and Chappell to be deliuered unto the Minister of that place , that the Minister and Curate in euery Church and Chappell receiue them , and in the time of Diuine Seruice on some Sunday publish them , with an exhortation to the people , for the stirring up of their christian deuotion to a worke so full of charity . That the Church-wardens and Ouerseers of the poore , make diligent collection of the Parishioners and persons present ; that after the money shall be collected , the same be endorsed on the backside of the Briefe of these our Letters Patents , in words at length , and not in figures ; and that the it be publikely declared unto the congregation , what that summe doth amount unto which is there collected : and then that you the said Church-wardens or Ouerseers , or one of you , after the receit of the money so collected , deliuer the same together with the Briefe unto such sufficient man of the said Clergie , where the said collection shall be made , as the Lord Bishop of the said Diocesse shall appoint or assigne to receiue the same . And We doe hereby require and authorise the Bishop of euery Diocesse , to name and appoint one fit & able person in euery Deanry , to receiue the said collections accordingly : & Wée also require such person which shall be so appointed to receiue the said money from the aforesaid Ouerséers , together with the aforesaid Briefe , and that within ten dayes after the receit thereof , the same moneyes be paid and deliuered ouer together with the Briefe , whereby the same hath béene collected , unto the Lord Bishop of the Diocesse where such collection is made . And we also require you the said Bishops of euery Diocesse respectiuely , that you receiue of such person so appointed the said money with the Briefes , whereby the same hath béene collected , and deliuer ouer all the said collections , which haue béene so made within your seuerall Diocesses unto the said Lords Archbishops of both Prouinces respectiuely , or in their vacancy , to the Deane and Chapter of those Archiepiscopall seas : and you the said Lords Archbishops , or Deanes and Chapters respectiuely to pay the same ouer to the Lord Maior of Our City of London for the time being ; and the said Lord Maior to transmute such monies without delay to such sufficient Merchants trading into Barbary , as he shall think fit , to be by thē employed for the good worke and purpose aforesaid , upon account to be by them from time to time deliuered up to the said Lord Maior how the money aforesaid shall be disbursed . And if there be more moneyes collected than shall suffice this occasion , Our will and pleasure is that it may rest in the said Lord Maiors hands , untill We shall giue direction for the disposing thereof for the like or other charitable use as there shall be occasion hereafter : So as the moneyes to be deliuered to the Merchants as aforesaid may be employed to the use intended , for the redemption of the said poore captiues , and not otherwise ; and the same duely accompted for from time to time according to Our Royall will and pleasure herein declared : Any Statute , Law , Ordinance , or Prouision heretofore made to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding . In witnesse whereof wée haue caused these our Letters to be made Patents for the space of one whole yeare next after the date hereof to endure . Witnesse Our Selfe at Westminster the fiftéenth day of October , in the seuenth yeare of Our Reigne .