Page:The History of the Church & Manor of Wigan part 2.djvu/100

Rh call for some order for the continual repairs of the church, it is therefore decreed and strictly enjoined the Dean and Chapter that they make choice of such officers as they know and believe in their consciences to be most solicitous and careful to repair whatsoever is amiss, and faithful in the distribution of their moneys thereabout And they shall choose no Receiver or Treasurer but such as at his election, or within three days after it, shall put in good bond. And if either Receiver or Treasurer be found unfaithful or dishonest in his office, or shall dilapidate the church, or pull down any part of the old buildings and make any benefit thereof to himself, or take away any of the lead and cover those places with any other covering than lead without expresse direction from the Dean and Chapter, he is decreed to be suspended from all the profits of whatsoever place he shall have in this church for three years, and that be be publicly denounced in the quire in the midst of divine service to be a waster and dilapidator.

Item. It is decreed and strictly ordained that because the houses of the Prebendaries are base, little, noysom, and unfit for habitation both in regard of site, roome, decay, and manner of building; and the other buildings about the Abbey Court (especially towards the street side from the Great Gate next to the Palace northward, up to the Brewer's House, and so round till you come to the Dean's House) are more convenient for the mansions of the Prebendaries, Archdeacon, Lecturer, and other members of the church, they are advised that henceforth they never demise or lease or renew any estate of any of those buildings or houses, or any part thereof, which are in or about the said Abbey Court from the Great Gate unto the Dean's House to any person whomsoever; but do reserve them to the use of the said Prebendaries and other members of the church as the leases shall expire and become void. And because tract of time or respect of gain may make the Dean and Chapter now present, or to come, careless of this advice and decree, they are adjured in the fear of God, and as they will have his blessing upon them in those things, which they shall leave to their children or posterity, that they carefully observe this for the good of themselves and their successors. And doubtless God will deal so and worse with them hereafter if either wittingly and willingly they suffer the fabrick and body of the church to fall or continue in decay; or demise hereafter or make away by any future act of theirs any part of the said buildings from their successors;