James , by the grace of God king of England , Scotland , France and Ireland and defender of the faith offers greetings to all those to whose presence this missive arrives. Our all powerful house has increased our empire and raised it beyond that of all our forefathers and antecedents , so that our rule extends over the whole of Great Britain , together with other kingdoms , and the Lord has favoured us with complete peace. With God's justice , through ancestry and lineage , we have also secured sundry magnanimous lions (of Scotland and England)without any battle , with Christ on our side and with the full approbation of all.
We have called the assembly because we have determined to raise up the glory of Christ and his true religion - than which nothing is more sacred on earth, nor can anything be a greater ornament to the State - and to increase the study of the sacred discipline of Theology. The stipends granted to the Regis Professor and readers in sacred Theology in our beloved academy of Cambridge by Margaret countess of Richmond, mother of Henry VII , in the ordinances of the University of Cambridge are so meagre as to be scarcely sufficient to provide the necessary food and clothing for such men , and it is true to say that it is not easy to complete the course when people's good qualities are hampered by the the narrowness of the circumstances of the house. We have therefore determined to endow the successors and also existing Prof and readers with a greater income and return which will not suffer depletion for all future time. Therefore let it be known [sciatur]that, through our special favour, wisdom and custom and also through those present on behalf of their successors , we hereby grant to the Lord Chancellor and the scholars of the University of Cambridge and all his successors , all the free living and rights of lordship over Somersham in our county of Huntingdon , together with Colne and Pidley , and taking these with all prevailing rights. We also grant the usage/lordship of Torrington in our county of Norfolk, with all prevailing rights. We grant to be owned held and enjoyed to the said Lord Chancellor and scholars of the said University of Cambridge in pure and lasting charity on behalf of all the necessary demands which may be placed, in whatever way, on us, our heirs and successors , which need to be resolved or acted upon. And anything not mentioned concerning (the above) for the better care and upkeep of the professor and successors can be added as needed.

August 26th 1604


Translation provided courtesy of David Oliver.

The charter quoted above is part of the Hammond collection in the Cambridgeshire archives at Huntingdon Record Office