Royal License from Henry VIII to William Denys
"Henry by the grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland sends greetings to his archbishops, bishops, abbotts, priors, dukes, marquises, earls, barons, judges, sheriffs, reeves, ministers and all our bailiffs and faithful subjects. Let it be known that we, motivated by our especial grace and certain knowledge of him, have granted for us and our heirs to our faithful servant William Denys, Esquire of the Royal Body, to him, his heirs and assigns, the right to empark 500 acres of land, meadow, pasture and wood together with appurtenance at Le Worthy within the manor of Dereham in the county of Gloucestershire and enclose them with fences and hedges in order to make a park there. Also that they may have free warren in all their demesne lands within the said manor. No other person may enter this park or warren to hunt or catch anything which might belong to that park or warren without permission from William, his heirs or assigns under penalty of £10, provided that the land is not within our forest .
Witnessed by:
- The most reverend in Christ father William Canterbury our chancellor and archbishop ( William Warham )
- The reverend in Christ fathers Richard Winchester, Keeper of the Privy Purse ( Richard Foxe ) and
- Thomas Durham, our secretary ( Thomas Ruthall ), bishops.
- Thomas Surrey, Treasurer of England ( Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk ) and
- George Shrewsbury ( George Talbot, 4th Earl of Shrewsbury ), steward of our household, earls.
- Charles Somerset Lord Herbert ( Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester ), our chamberlain and
- George Neville of Abergavenny ( George Nevill, 5th Baron Bergavenny ), barons.
- Thomas Lovell , treasurer of our household and
- Edward Poynings , comptroller of our household, knights, and many others.
Given by our hand at Westminster on the 5th day of June in the 3rd year of our reign" (1511).