Whereas it hath been represented unto us by the humble Petition of Benjamin de Daillon , John Lewis Malide , Samuel Mettayer , Simon Canole , Henry Gervais , Timothy Baignoux , Charles Peter Souchet , William Bardon , John Forent and Bartholomew Balaguier ; being all of them French Ministers making Profession of the Protestant Religion , that they together with a great number of French Protestants of their Communion are fled for shelter into this our Realm of England , & are now in & about our City of London , and the Suburbs thereof , of the truth whereof we are fully satisfied . And it hath been also represented unto us , that the aforesaid Ministers cannot perform the Office of their Ministry to such comfort and edification of those of the French Protestants which now do reside , and daily come to reside in our said City of London , and the Suburbs thereof , as they much desire to do , in regard a number of People being French Protestants daily come out of their own Country ; amongst whom are many that were under the immediate care and charge of the said Ministers where they lived and resided in France , and for that they are here destitute of , and want places for their Assemblies , in and for matters of Religious Worship , and matters thereto relating : And because these places now used for the Worship of God by those of the French Nation , professing the Protestant Religion , are not sufficient to contain those of their own Communion ; And those French Protestants that lately have and daily do come over into this our Realm of England , and do resort to our said City of London , and the Suburbs thereof , Whereby many Families and their Dependants are not able to find that Comfort and Edification which they came to seek for in this our Kingdom , and many others may be discouraged from putting themselves under our Royal Protection ; And the aforesaid Ministers having humbly besought vs that out of our Royal Grace towards Strangers , we would please to grant them leave to exercise their Ministry according to the manner as they did in France , conformable to the Confession of Faith of their Churches , and Liturgy , and Discipline used amongst them , to the end that they may teach their People the Fear of God , the Honour and Allegiance which is due to vs , in a Christian and well ordered Conversation : Beseeching vs likewise that for this end We would give them leave to build one or more Church or Churches , place or places of religious meeting or assembling , within our City of London , or Suburbs of the same , wherein they may perform the said Functions , and keep their Consistories for the maintaining of the Order amongst them ; and that in the mean time , till they can build such Church or Churches , place or places for religious meeting or assembling , they may be permitted to hire such place or places as they can find convenient for the use aforesaid , & after decease or other failure of any of the aforesaid Ministers , they may have leave to fill up their number of ten Ministers , that themselves and their Successors may acknowledg our Royal Bounty , and continue to pray for the Prosperity of us and our Kingdoms . Which Humble Petition of the French Ministers We of our Royal Bounty have granted and do hereby grant . NOW Know Ye therefore , that for the more and greater ease , comfort and encouragement of the said French Ministers , and of those French Protestants that already have fled , or hereafter shall flee for shelter and protection to this Our Kingdom of England , and for the better enabling the said French Ministers and their Successors to perform and exercise their Ministerial Office and Functions to and amongst their People , according as above desired , We of our special Grace , certain Knowledg , and meer Motion , have willed , ordained , constituted and granted , and by these Presents for vs and our Heirs and Successors , do will ordain , constitute and grant , that the aforesaid French Ministers , that is to say , the said Benjamin de Daillon , John Lewis Malide , Samuel Mettayer , Simon Canole , Henry Gervais , Timothy Baignoux , Charles Peter Souchet , William Bardon , John Forent , & Bartholomew Balaguier , & their Successors Ministers of the said French Congregation of Protestants strangers , from time to time , for ever hereafter be , & shall be one Body Politick & Corporate of themselves , in deed & name , by the name of the French Ministers of the French Congregation of Protestants strangers , in or about our City of London , & Suburbs thereof , of the Foundation of K. James the Second . And We do by these Presents incorporate them by the Name aforesaid , and really and fully create , erect , ordain , make & constitute them a Body Corporate and Politick , and that they have a perpetual Succession , and shall & may exercise the functions of their Ministry according to their manner used in France , conformable to their Confession of Faith , Liturgy and Discipline by themselves heretofore in their Country used and exercised . And Further We of our special Grace , certain Knowledg , & meer Motion , have given and granted , and by these Presents for vs , our Heirs and Successors , do give and grant unto the said French Ministers Protestants Strangers , and their Successors , special Licence and free and lawful Power and Authority to have , purchase , and possess for them and their Successors for ever , and for any term of Years , Life or Lives , any Land or Ground whereon to build one or more Church or Churches , place or places of Worship , within this our City of London , or Suburbs thereof , wherein they may exercise their said Functions , and keep their Consistories , for the maintaining of Order , and the reforming of Abuses ; and that in the mean time it shall and may be lawful for them to hire such place or places , as they shall judg convenient for the purposes aforesaid ; the Statute of Mortmain , or any other Statute and Ordinance , or provision heretofore had , made , set forth , ordained or provided , or any other matter , cause , or thing whatsoever to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding . And further we have given and granted , and by these Presents for vs , our Heirs and Successors , We do give and grant unto all and every the Subject or Subjects whatsoever of vs , our Heirs and Successors , special Licence and free and lawful Power and Authority , that he , they , or any of them shall and may give , grant , sell or demise unto the said French Ministers Strangers , and their Successors for ever , or for any term of Years , Life or Lives , any Land or Ground , whereon to build one or more Church or Churches , place or places of Worship within our City of London , or Suburbs of the same . And We do hereby for vs , our Heirs and Successors will & grant to the said French Ministers , Protestant Strangers and their Successors , that they the said French Ministers Protestants strangers and their Successors shall and may from time to time for ever hereafter , when and as often as any of the Ministers of the said Congregation shall happen to die , or to remove from London aforesaid , and the Suburbs thereof , or be removed from his or their Office or Offices , Function or Functions , for any just or reasonable cause , according to the Discipline heretofore used by the said French Ministers in France , nominate , elect , choose & establish . And We do hereby for vs , our Heirs & Successors , give & grant unto the said French Ministers Protestants strangers and their Successors full Power , and Authority to nominate , elect , choose and establish some other person or persons in the room and rooms , place and places of such of the said Ministers , for the time being of the same Congregation , as shall happen to die , or remove , or be removed as aforesaid , to succeed them in the Office or Offices of Minister or Ministers of the said Congregation . Which person and persons so from time to time for ever hereafter to be chosen , shall and may enjoy all and singular the Powers , Priviledges and Immunities by these Presents granted or intended to be granted . And lastly , We require and command the Lord Mayor of our City of London , and the Aldermen , Sheriffs , & Iustices of Peace there , and the Iustices of Peace of our Counties of Middlesex & Surrey , & also all Archbishops , Bishops , & others our Officers & Ministers whatsoever , both Ecclesiastical & Civil , whom it may concern , that they do permit the aforesaid Ministers & their Successors quietly & peaceably to enjoy the effects of this our Royal Bounty , that so they may exercise their Ministry amongst their own People , according to their own Customs , Ceremonies and Discipline , without let or disturbance ; Notwithstanding they are not conformable to the Customs , Ceremonies , Rites & Discipline of the Church of England , or any Act , Statute , Proclamation , Injunction , Restriction , Caution , Ordinance , Constitution , Vsage , or other matter , case , or thing whatsoever to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding . In Witness whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made Patents .