Page:The History of the Church & Manor of Wigan part 2.djvu/239

Thus your grace has all that I know concerning the true value of the parsonage of Wigan. You are pleased to ask me further, at how many years' purchase the perpetual inheritance of a rectory is usually sold in these parts, which I cannot resolve, for I never knew any purchased, save only this of Wigan, which I myself bought of S^r Richard Fleetwood since I was bishop of Chester for £1,000, but after the money was told out, whilst I was drawing up my assurance, Dean Murray stepped in, and paid £10 more, as I heard, and got it from me, and albeit he never was my chaplain, yet I think he prayed daily for me, that God would take me to heaven whilst he lived. The length of my letter makes me ashamed, & bids me crave your grace's pardon & make an end."^[1]

To which letter the archbishop gives the following answer:

"S. in Xp̃o.

My very good Lo:

I heartily thanke you for yo^r last Lr̃es of March y^e 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, offered the sale of itt to the King; and his Ma^tie was willing enough to buy itt and annexe itt to the B'pricke, w^ch had beene a very happie thing to be done. But my L^ds demand was 4 yeares Purchase after £1000 a yeare value, w^ch is every way too deare. For it seems he valued itt almost double to that w^ch you acknowledge. The Earle's use calles for p'sent money; and the King's present occasions can part w^th none, noe not after the rate that you sett. Truly if the Benefice lay anything neere these p'ts I would borrow y^e money but I would finde some way to bringe itt unto the churche's hands: for as itt is I know well what would become of itt. Your L^p hath a sonne, and you may, if you thinke itt fitting, have refusall of this great Benefice, provide excellently for your Sonne, keepe y^e inheritance to yo^rselfe, or putt it to y^e church, as you see cause. But certainly it will not come att that value, w^ch I see by y^e end of yo^r Lr̃es you might once have had itt; nor scarce at foure yeares purchase according to that value w^ch you putt upon itt. Howsoever I pray let me have yo^r present answer; for that will be expected from you.

I receaved former Lr̃es from you of febr: 23 concerning the p'sonage

1. Cal. State Papers, Dom. Ser., Car. I., 1638-9, p. 523, vol. ccccxiv. 3.