Page:The History of the Church & Manor of Wigan part 2.djvu/185

graciously pleasd to deale by y^em as his ffather of blessed memory had done before him: and that, according to y^e usuall custome of y^e church of England and y^e orders then made by K. James, a civilian might have this chancellorship." And "his Ma^ty, taking the whole petic͠on into considerac͠on, com̄anded the M^r of Requests, now attending, to subscribe it, as you will see in the inclosed; and further gave me express charge to signify this his pleasure to you, that you presently make a pattent of the chancellorship to y^e bearer hereof. Dr. Mericke,^[1] and y^t I should give y^e like charge to y^e Dean & chapter to confirme it, w^ch I have done accordingly. My L^d, if I may be thought worthy to give you counsell, I shall advise you to give y^e King satisfaction in this particular; ffor I know when Bp Cotton of Exeter gave y^e chancellorship to a sonne of his, hee was forced to recall it, and put in Dr. Gouge. And y^e late Bp of Hereford, having given y^e chancellorship to his sonne, was likewise forced to alter it and give it Dr. Skinner. Soe was also Arch Bishop Mathew, who had given it his sonne, and one Levit a com̄on Lawyer, and was forced to take Dr. Easdall. And I finde his Ma^ty very resolute to follow these proceedinges of his ffather of blessed memory. And therfore I thinke yo^r Lp shall doe very worthily to put the busynes into y^e ancyent course w^thout further noyses. These not doubting but y^t yo^r Lp will give his Ma^ty satisfacc͠on, and soe free yo^rself from further trouble in this kinde, I leave you to the grace of God and rest

⁠your L^ps very loveing ffreind, and Brother,

Guil. London."^[2]

1. It does not appear that Dr. Mericke obtained the post, notwithstanding the King's injunction. The bishop probably exercised his own right of appointment, and gave it at that time to Edmund Mainwaring, L.L.D., who had been commissary of Richmond for many years, though his patent for the chancellorship is not to be found in the office. Dr. Mainwaring was the second son of Sir Randle Mainwaring of Over Peover, knight, and brother of Sir Philip Mainwaring, secretary to Lord Wentworth. He was still residing at York in December, 1634, but was then about to move to Chester, and was certainly chancellor of the diocese in February, 1636-7. The Dr. Meyricke here mentioned was probably the same with Sir William Mericke, who succeeded Sir Henry Marten as Judge of the Prerogative Court in 1641.
2. Original letter, inter Family Evidences.