A grant from the Friends of the National Libraries enabled Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service to purchase this rare item, issued only a few months into Edward's reign.
In 1536 Henry VIII established the Court of Augmentations to administer monastic properties and revenues at the Dissolution of the monasteries. This particular decree refers to revenues from Evesham, Malvern, Tewkesbury, Winchcombe and Bath, amongst others. Contextually it complements similar Letters Patent from 1552 in the collection, describing dissolution of lands of the Gloucester diocese and handing them to Worcester. The 1547 document shows the nature and extent of the Bishop's secular reach, as well as the diocese's relations with the new King's reforming policies. These are examples of the bold and sweeping changes being made to the Church at this time. There is no record of the document in the Calendar of Patent Rolls; the fact that it has apparently been unrecorded means that it is likely to be new territory for scholars and it will add to the existing knowledge of the development of the Bishopric and the lands around Worcester. Local historians have suggested it was the result of intrigue and lobbying by someone with political influence.
The document is in Latin, and is only about 14 x 30 inches in size. It has a good impression of the Great Seal of Edward VI, itself quite a rarity, still attached by the original vellum tag.