Rees Hughes,
Esqrs. and to every of them Greeting.

"Whereas it is come to the Knowledg of the Lord President, and other
our Council in our Marchesse of Wales, that vagrant and idle Persons
naming themselves _Minstrels_, _Rythmers_, and _Bards_, are lately
grown into such _intolerable Multitude_ within the Principality of
North Wales, that not only Gentlemen and others by their _shameless
Disorders_ are oftentimes disquieted in their Habitations, but also
the expert _Minstrels_ and _Musicians_ in _Tonge_ and _Cunynge_
thereby much discouraged to travaile in the Exercise and Practice of
their Knowledg, and also not a little hindred (_of_) Livings and
Preferment; the Reformation whereof, and the putting these People in
Order, the said Lord President and Council have thought very
necessary: And knowing you to be Men of both Wisdom and upright
Dealing, and also of Experience and good Knowledg in the Scyence,
have appointed and authorised You to be Commissioners for that
Purpose: And forasmuch as our said Council, of late travailing in
some Part of the said Principality, had perfect Understanding by
credible Report, that the accustomed Place for the Execution of the
like Commission hath been heretofore at Cayroes in our County of
Flynt, and that William Mostyn, Esq. and his Ancestors have had the
Gift and bestowing of the _Sylver Harp_ appertaining to the _Chief of
that Faculty_, and that a _Year's Warning_ (at least) hath been
accustomed to be given of the _Assembly_ and Execution of the like
Commission; Our said Council have therefore appointed the Execution
of this Commission to be at the said Town of Cayroes, the Monday next
after the Feast of the Blessed Trinity which shall be in the Year of
our Lord 1568. And therefore we require and command You by the
Authority of these Presents, not only to cause _open Proclamation_ to
be made in all _Fairs_, _Market-Towns_, and other _Places of
Assembly_ within our Counties of Aglere, Carnarvon, Meryonydd,
Denbigh and Flynt, that all and every Person and Persons that intend
to _maintain_ their _Living_ by name or Colour of _Minstrels_,
_Rythmers_, or _Bards_, within the Talaith of Aberffraw,
comprehending the said five Shires, shall be and appear before You
the said Day and Place to _shew_ their _Learnings_ accordingly: But
also, that You,