Salutem in Christo

My very Good Lord.

I heartily Thanke you for your last Letters of March the first, Concerning the true value of the Rectory of Wigan. The Occasion of my writing to you about itt, was: The Earle of Anandell Dean Murrey's brother, offer’d the Sale of itt to the King; And his Majestie was willing enough to buy itt, and Annexe itt to the Bishopricke, which had beene a very happie thing to be done. But my Lords Demand was 4 yeares Purchase after a 1000l a yeare Value, which is every way too deare. For it seemes he valued itt almost double to that which you acknowledge. The Earles use calles for present money; And the Kings present Occasions can part with none, noe not after the rate that you sett. Truly if the Benefice lay any thing neere these parts, I would borrow the money but I would finde some way, to bring itt into the Churches hands: for as it is I know well what would become of itt. Your Lordship hath a sonne, and you may, if you thinke it fitting, have refusall of this great Benefice provide excellently for your Sonne, keepe the Enheritance to your selfe, or putt it to the Church, as you see Cause. But Certainly it will not Come att that Value, which I see by the end of your Letters, you might once have had itt. Nor scarce at foure yeares purchase according to that value, which you putt upon itt. Howsoever, I pray lett me have your present Answer; for that will be expected from you

I receaved former Letters from you of February 23 Concerning the parsonage of Hawarden; And before those your Letters came to mee, I knew my Lord Strange had disposed of that Benefice to another; for he told mee so himselfe att Lambeth. As for Standish, if it were voyd, I would Dr Morton had it; for hee Complaines still of his estate, and the payment of his fathers Debts; and I would very gladly see him settled if I could. Att this present, I have a Benefice fallen within 8 myle of Oxford, or thereabouts, worth to live upon, 250li a yeare; but not to be rented at above 200li.