Whereas a great number of our Good Subjects peaceably following their Employments , at Sea , have been lately Taken by the Turkish Pyrates , under whom they now remain in most cruel , and inhumane Bondage ; who by their Friends and Relations have humbly besought Us to take their miserable and deplorable Estates into Our Princely consideration , and that We would be Gratiously pleased to grant unto them Our Letters Patents under Our great Seal of England , to License , and Authorise them to Ask and Receive the Almes and Charitable Benevolence of all Our loving Subjects , within this Our Kingdom of England , and Dominion of Wales , and Town of Berwick upon Tweede .

Whereupon , Out of Our tender Compassion of their Sufferings We readily referred the same to a Committee of Our Privy Council , to take the Premises into more particular consideration , and to represent to Us the most effectual means for the Redemption of Our said distressed Subjects from Slavery : Which said Committee , upon the Seven and Twentyeth of July last past , at Our Council-Board ( Our Self being present ) did Report unto Us , That as well by several Certificates of the several Ships taken , of approved Authority and Truth , as by several Letters from the respective Masters , Officers , and Sea-men now in Slavery , to their Friends and Relations here in England , it doth evidently appear , That the said Poor Christian-Slaves , Assaulted by these inhumane Thieves and Pyrates , did in their several Fights behave themselves with Remarkable Valour and Courage , to the great Honour of their Country , and their Religion ; diverse of them not Yeilding to the Enemy till they had been often Boarded , and the Enemies Slain upon their Decks , and till their own Ships were Fired about them ; when being forced to cast themselves into the Sea , to avoid the Devouring Flames , were Seized on by these Barbarous Enemies , with whom they now lead a Life much Worse than Death ; bought and sold like Beasts in the Market , held to most insupportable Service , and Fed only with a slender Allowance of Bread and Water ; many of them Chained to their Work , and Beaten daily with a certain number of Stripes ( as their accustomed Cruelty is ) upon the Soals of their Feet ; and Evil entreated by many other Acts of Turkish Cruelty , which the Fierceness of their Natures , and the Bloody Principles of their Religion prompt them to : But above all , that accursed Tyranny used towards the Souls of these miserable Wretches can never sufficiently be Bewailed , who are daily Assaulted by these Professed Enemies of Christ , to turn Apostates from the Christian Faith ; and to Deny that only Name given under Heaven by which they can be Saved : Whereby they lie under a continual Temptation to Abandon their Religion , that they may obtain their Liberty . And it appearing also , by several Lists and Accounts produced , That the Number of these Poor Slaves is so Great , and the Demands of their several Unreasonable Taskmasters so High , that the Money needful for the Accomplishing their Redemption , is represented by the said Committee , to Amount to the Sum of Thirty Thousand Pounds ; which Sum our said Distressed Subjects are utterly unable to procure of themselves . And further Representing to Us , That the most probable Way for a Speedy Procuring and Collecting the same , will be by Recommending this most Christian and Chatitable Work to all our loving Subjects of this Kingdom , whose Hearts God hath touched with a Fellow-feeling of their Brethrens Afflictions , by Our Letters Patents appointing Extraordinary Wayes and Rules for Collection of the same upon such an Extraordinary Occasion , We taking the Premises into Our Princely consideration , out of Our tender Commiseration of Our poor Christian-subjects sufferings Abroad , and the inevitable Misery and Poverty that will befall all their helpless Families at Home ; And for a just Encouragement to all Our goods Subjects , to continue with Courage and Perseverance in the Profession of the true Christian Faith , against all Implacable and Barbarous Enemies of the Same , are Gratiously pleased to condescend to their Petition .

Know Ye Therefore , That of Our especial Grace and Princely compassion , We have given and granted , and by these Our Letters Patents , under our Great Seal of England , Do give and grant unto our said poor Distressed Subjects , the Captives aforesaid , or to their Agents , or other Persons , who shall be lawfully Authorised on this behalf , full Power , License and Authority , to Ask , Gather , Receive , and Take ( according to the Rules hereafter specified in these presents ) the Almes and Charitable Benevolence of all Our loving Subjects ( not only House-holders , but also Servants , Strangers , and others Inhabiting within all and every the Counties , Cities , Boroughs , Towns-Corporate , Cinque-Ports , Priviledged places , Parishes , Chappelries , Towns , Villages , Hamlets , and all other places whatsoever in our Kingdom of England , Dominion of Wales , & Town of Berwick upon Tweede , for and towards the redemption and relief of the said poor Captives .

Wherefore , We require and command all and singular the Arch-Bishops , and Bishops of all and singuler the Provinces and Diocesses within Our said Kingdom of England , and Dominion of Wales , that they , and every of them , do give a particular Recommendation and Command to all the Parsons , Vicars , and Curates , of all and every the Parishes within their respective Diocesses , for the Advancement of this so Pious a Work ; Unto whose Paternal care and inspection we chiefly Recommend the pursuit of these Our Letters Patents , not doubting but they who lately after Our happy Return , of their own free Motion , and at their great Charge , did so Worthily Redeem all Our poor Subjects out of Turkish-Slavery , taken in the time of the late Usurpation , will be ready with all Zeal , and Powerful Importunity , to Exhort others to follow their good Example : And especially to Stir up their inferiour Clergy to give effectual Arguments to their Flocks , both by Exhortation and Example , for a Liberal Contribution towards the Redemption of these Miserable Wretches , whose Cases are much more Deplorable than theirs who ordinarily seek for Relief by Collections of this nature , having not only lost their Goods and Lively-hoods by the Rapine of the Enemy , but are also Bereft of their Liberty , and Groan under most Cruel Bondage , destitute of all Necessaries for their support , and daily Tortured by the Merciless Cruelty of these Pyrates , Theives , and Infidels , who endeavour and design not only their Temporal , but the Eternal Ruine both of their Souls and Bodies . And the said Parsons , Vicars , and Curates , upon the next Lords Day after that the true Copies of these Our Letters Patents shall be delivered unto them , Deliberately and Effectually to publish and declare the Tenour of these Our Letters Patents unto our said loving Subjects , and Earnestly to Exhort , Perswade , and Stir them up in the Bowels of Jesus Christ , as fellow-feeling members of the same Mystical Body , to extend their Liberal Contributions towards the said Pious and Charitable purposes . And the Church-wardens are also Required upon the Week-days following the said Lords Day , to Ask , and Receive , from all the Parishoners , as well Masters , and Mistrisses , and Servants , as others in their Families , their Christian and Charitable Contributions : And to take the Names of all those which shall Contribute thereunto , and the Sum or Sums by them given respectively fairly Written ; and after such Collection made , they are also in the presence of the respective Inhabitants , on the next Lords Day following , to Subscribe the whole Sum upon the said Briefs under their Hands ; and also to enter them into Books of Accounts for the said Parishes and Chappelries respectively , together also with the Names of the Persons contributing , and the Sums contributed , within the Counties , Cities , Towns , Parishes and Chappelries respectively , where-in , and the time when such Sums are gathered : And they are also to deliver the same to the said Parsons , Vicars or Curates respectively , who are to take care that the Church-wardens do their Duties in the Premisses , or otherwise to certifie their Neglect to the Bishop of the Diocess , that the same may be Transmitted to Our Council , who will take care that the Offender be Punished according to his De●ert . And the said Parsons , Vicars , and Curates respectively , are to send the said Monies with a Duplicate of the said Accounts , unto the respective Bishops of the several Diocesses , by such means as they shall Direct , to be by them disposed as herein afterwards is declared . And for the better performance of this so Charitable a Work , the said Parsons , Vicars , and Curates respectively , are desired ( where conveniently they may ) to accompany the Church-wardens in Asking and Receiving the said Contributions , or procure some other of the chief Inhabitants in the said Parishes respectively to do the same . And Our further Will and Pleasure is , and We do hereby , for the better advancement of these Our Pious intentions , Will , Require , and Command , the Bishops , and all other Dignitaries of the Church , that they do make their contributions distinctly , to be returned in the several Provinces to the respective Arch-Bishops of the same . And also that all the Judges and Officers of all and every Our respective Courts , and the Professors of the Law , both Common and Civil ; And all Students of the Innes of Court and Chancery , by their several Bodies and Societies , shall contribute their Free and Charitable benevolence in such Manner and Order as shall be directed and appointed by Our Self in Council .

And Forasmuch as the Merchants of this Our Kingdom , and the several Traders at Sea , who are chiefly concerned in the accomplishing this Charitable work , cannot conveniently contribute among themselves , by reason they are not United in any distinct Bodies and Societies : Therefore , that no means may be omitted that may help towards the Redemption of Our said Subjects from their miserable Captivity , We do earnestly Admonish , Exhort , and Recommend , that Our said Merchants and Traders at Sea , in their several places of their Aboad , do not only Advance , and by all means promote this Pious wo k among their Neighbours and Friends , but also that they themselves in an Exemplary , and Extraordinary proportion , manifest their own charity in this behalf . To which purpose We further Will and Require , That the several Parsons , Vicars , and Curates , in drawing up the Accounts of the Collections before Directed , do alwayes observe to set the Contributions of the several Merchants and Traders at Sea , within their respective Parishes , distinct by themselves , at the head of their Account , with their Names , and their Sums so contributed by each of them , to be returned up with the rest to the several Arch-Bishops and Bishops as aforesaid . And to the end that all possible Encouragement in this behalf may be given to the said Merchants , and all other Our loving Subjects of this Kingdom of what Dignity , Degree , or Quality soever , We further declare , that We Our Self are gratiously pleased to Contribute distinctly : And that Our Council , and all Our Court shall do the like towards the accomplishing of this Pious and Charitable work , so acceptable to God and all good Christians .

And Lastly , Our will and pleasure is , and We do hereby Recommend to the care and circumspection of all and singuler the Arch-Bishops and Bishops of the said respective Provinces and Diocesses , that it be so ordered , that the Collection and return of the said Monies may be without Charge , or any Deduction to be made out of the contributions collected for the same . And also , that the Monies collected by vertue hereof , be returned by the said Arch-Bishops and Bishops , and other Our Officers and Ministers , who are hereby Impowred to receive the same , with all the Copies and Accounts subscribed under their Hands , into the Chamber of Our City of London , to be imployed for the Redemption of the said poor Captives , according to such Orders and Directions as Our Self in Council shall give for the disbursing and disposing of the same . And that the Court of Aldermen do hold diligent Correspondence with the Bishops , and the several Countries concerning the returning , and truly paying in of the aforesaid Monies ; which said Court of Aldermen , are also further from time to time as need shall require , to give an Account to us in Our Council , of all Passages and Proceedings concerning the Premises , for the more speedy and effectual Prosecution of the ends of these Our Letters Patents . Any Law , Statute , Act , Ordinance , or Provision heretofore made to the contrary hereof in any wise notwithstanding .

In Witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patents for the space of Two whole Years next after the Date hereof to endure , and no longer .