of
43 Queen Elizabeth, intituled an Act to "redress the misimployment of
landes goods and stocks of money theretofore given to charitable uses,"
and having special trust and confidence in their approved fidelities,
&c., had appointed the persons named "to be our Commissions," and thereby
gave to them and to any four or more of them full power and authority to
enquire "as well by the Oathes of twelve lawful men or more of the County
of Stafford as by all other good and lawful waies and meanes accordinge
to the purporte and true meaninge of the said Statute, What landes, etc.,
have at any tyme or tymes been given by us or any of our progenitors or
by any other well disposed pson or psons, bodies politique or corporate,
for the reliefe of aged impotent and poore people etc.--And of all and
singular the abuses misdemeanors breaches of trusts negligences
misimployments notimployinge, concealinge, defraudinge, misconvertinge or
misgovernment of the same landes tenements rents anuyties pffits
hereditments goods chattels money or stocks of money or any of them
heretofore given lymitted appointed or assigned to or for any charitable
and godlie uses before rehearsed accordinge to the purporte and true
meaninge of the said Statute. And upon such enquirie hearinge and
examyninge thereof accordinge to the said Statute to sett downe such
Orders Judgments and Decrees as the said landes tenements rents anuyties
pffits hereditaments goods chattels money and stocks of money may be
dulie and faithfullie employed to and for such of the charitable uses and
intents before rehearsed respectively for which they were given limited
assigned or appointed by the donors and founders thereof accordinge to
the purporte and true meaninge of the said Statute."

The Commission then proceeds:--

And therefore we commande you that at cteyne days and places which
you or any foure or more of you shall appoint in this behalf ye or
any foure or more of you doe make diligent Inquirie and Inquiries
upon the pmisses and all and singuler the same and all other things
appointed by the said Statute for you or any foure or more of you to
doe and execute that ye or foure of you at the least pforme doe and
execute that effecte in all points and in everie respect accordinge
to the said Statute. . . . And the same Inquisicon and Inquisicons
and everie of them togeather with all decrees Judgments orders and
proceedinges which y