The actual Commission issued to Berkshire has not been found, (no copy seems to have been kept amongst the State Papers), but in all probability it was similar to that for Bedfordshire, which is given here, as follows: -

Commission to Bedfordshire for the Returns of Church Goods. I. Rot. Pat. 6 Edw. VI. p.7. m. 12 in dorso [1552]e. "Edward the syxt, etc. To our deare Cousyn and Connsaillour William Marques of Northampton, Great Chamberleyn of England, and to our trustie and right welbeloved John Lord Braye, and to our trustie and welbeloved John Seynt John, and Uryan Brereton, Knights, and to our welbeloved Lewes Dyve and Richard Snowe, Esquyers, gret-ing. Whereas We have at sondry tymes heretofore by our speciall Commyssion, and otherwyse com-maunded that ther shuld be takyn and made a just veu, survey and inventory of all manner goodes, plate, juells, vestyments, bells, and other ornaments within every paryshe, belongyng or in any wyse apperteynyng to any Churche, Chapell, Brothered, Gylde, or Fraternyty, within this our Realme of Englond, and uppon the same Inventory so taken, had, or made, our commaundement was and hatheben, that all the same goodes, plate, juells, vestments, bells, and other ornaments, shuld be safely kept and appoyncted to the charge of such persons as shuld kepe the same safely, and be ready to aunswere to the same at all tymes according to the whiche oar Commyssyons and sundry Com-maundements. We were advertysed by our said Commissioners then appoyncted and by other meanes also, that the said goodes, plate, juells, vea-tyments, belles, and other ornaments of the said Churches, Chapells, Brotherhedds, Gylda, Fra-ternytyes, and Companyes, were not only vieued and duly surveyd, but also that the Inventories therof were made by Indenture, and thou part of the same remayned with our Custos Rotulorum of that Countye, or hys Deputye or Clerks of the peax at that tyme being, and the other part with the Churchewardens and such men as had the charge of the same goodes and other Inventories also made by our commaundement by our Busshoppes and their Ecclesiasticall Officers, were lykewyse by them re-torned hyther to our Counsaill; yet nevertheless for that we be informed that somme part of the said goodes, plate, juelles, belles, and ornaments of Churches be in somme places embeselled or removed contrarye to our former expresse commaundements and manyfestlye to the contempt and derogacion of our honar in that behalfe, We have thought mete to have the very truthe herin justly and duly knowen, to thintent the same may be as ys most necessarye redressed and furthwith reformed. And for that purpose, for the good knowledge and ex-peryence had in your trustynes, faithfulnes, wis-dome, and uprightnes, we have appoyncted you to bo our special Commyssioners, and by auctoryty herof do name, appoynot, and actoryse you four, or three of you, to take and receave a due, full, and just vieu of all goodes, plate, jeuella, bells, and ornaments of every Churche and Chapell in whose hands soever the same be belonging, or in any wyse apperteynyng to any the said Churches, Chapells, Gylds, Brotherhedds, or Fraternyties within that our Countie of Bedford. And upon the said vieu so taken to cause a true, just, and full, perfect Inventory to be made of the same, and to compare the same with the best of the former Inventories heretofore made and remaynyng with the said Churchwardens, or suche other as then hadd the same incharge. And for the defaults and wants yf any shalbe, eyther of the said plate, juelles, belles, vestyments, or any other ornaments, or any part of theym any manner of wyse, to make diligent inauyrye and serche as well by the othes of suche honest men as ye shall thinke mete to sweare therfore as any other oonvenyent meanes to knows and understand by whose default the same hath been removed, embesiled, aliened, or dimynyshed. And also in whose possession the same things or any part therof so spoiled, removed, embeselled, or demynyashed, do remayne, or to whose use the money and profett therof ys made or is comme, according to the further meanyng of certen instruccions sent to you herewith, and of your hole doyngs in this behalf, to retorne unto us and our Pryvey Counsaill in wryting your answere accordingly. And yf ye shall fynde any person or persons that wilfully or stubburnlye will refuse to obey any precept or commaundement which you our said Com-myssioners, foure or three of you, shall geve unto theym in or about thexecucion of the premisses, that then we gyve unto you full power, auctorytie to commytt every suche person or persons to warde and pryson, ther to remayne without baill or mayn-price, untyll suche tyme as you shall think the same ymprisonment to be condigne for his or their offences. Wherfore Wee will and commaunde you and every of you to attend and execute the pre-mysses accordinglye, and moreover Wee will and commaund all and singuler May ours, Shereffes, Bayl-lyffes, Constables, Hedboroughea, all Curates, Parsons, Vicars, Churchwardens, and all other our Offecers, Minyatera, and faith full Subjects, that they and every of them be ayding, helping, coun-aailling, assisting, and furthering you in and aboute the due execucion herof as they tender our pleasure and will aunswer to the contrary© at ther extreme perells. In Witnes wherof, etc. T. R. apud [sic]'. "Fiant consimiles separates Commissiones directae personis subscriptis in Comitatibus Civitatibus Epis-copatibus et Villis subscriptis".

e Printed in Seventh Report of the Deputy-Keeper of the Public Records, p. 307.

f As it would appear, the Commiation had never been dated although actually enrolled; the authority may fairly be questioned.

It may be also well to give another, namely, that issued to the town of Northampton g: -