On this day in 1560, the Company obtained an Inspeximus charter from Queen Elizabeth I. Written in Latin on parchment, it confirms the rights and privileges of the Company as given in previous charters.
A translation follows:
Elizabeth by the grace of God Queen of England, France and Ireland Defender of the Faith etc, to all to whom these present letters shall come, greeting. We have examined the letters patent of confirmation of Lord Phillip and Lady Mary our most dear sister late King and Queen of England made in these words: “Phillip and Mary by the grace of God [here follows the text of the inspeximus charter of Phillip and Mary] Witnessed by ourselves at Westminster the eighth day of June in the fourth and fifth years of our reign."
We also do accept and approve the aforesaid letters and all and singular contained in the same, granting and ratifying them for ourselves and our heirs as much as in us lies and to our beloved George Gen, now Master of the Mystery of Barbers, William Grene, Thomas Bayly and John Smarthawyte Governors of the same mystery and their successors do ratify and confirm as in the aforesaid letters is reasonable testified. In witness of which we have caused these our letters patent to be made. Witness myself at Westminster the sixth day of January in the second year of our reign.
Cotton
Fine assessed at £10. 6s. 8d. (£4,039 in today's money)
A booklet summarising of rights and privileges of the first Charter, together with a brief history of the Company’s Charters and a full transcript of the 1462 Charter translated into modern English, is available here on the BHS section of the website.