Page:The History of the Church & Manor of Wigan part 2.djvu/203

382 ye several curats to doe theire dutyes upon y* Place : for I am informed, and yt very credibly, yt divers of ye Chappells are lett runne to mine, and putt to base and unworthy uses, and y* People altogether left destitute of all Xpian instruction, and ye very Prayers of ye Church seldome or never read unto yem. Upon these considera$\overline{c}$ons I desire you to sequester soe much of ye profitts into safe hands as may pay ye severall Curats respectively, according to such moderate proportions as you in your wisdome shall thinke their persons and services may deserve. When this is done (of which I desire you to make no delay) I shall then advise wth myselfe and counsell what course I shall hod [hold ?] wth my Tenant Sr Ralph Ashton, whose cariage towards ye Church I conceive is noe way answerable to yt great profitt wch he hath reaped by it these many yeares. For any other particuler concerning yt Rectory, or other busynesse of mine in those parts, I referre you to this bearer, whome you may safely trust wth those busynesses yt conceme me. Soe att this time, haveing not farther to trouble you, I leave you to ye Grace of God and rest
 * your Lordps very loving Freinde and Brother


 * Croydon Julii 28th, 1635.

If there be any Chappells wthin this p'cinct wch ly not upon me to repaire I desire your Lordp not to burden me wth yem, but for those yt belong to me your Lordp may doe what you thinke fitt"

In this letter were enclosed the King's letters in the form following:

"Charles R.

Right Reverend ffather in God and Right trustie and welbeloved, wee greete you well. Whereas wee are given to understand that the Church or Rectory of Whaley in or countie of Lancaster, and divers Chappells thereunto belonging, in yor dioces are of large extent, and verie populous, and that the ministers or curates of the same want sufficient meanes and provision; and that in some of those Chappells divine service and ye