64 - 12 Aug. To John Bridgeman, bishop of Chester

Summary

Salutem in Christo.

My very good Lord

The Newes of your Chancellors death is come to Court, and soe likewise is your Intention of giving that Office to your Sonne Mr Orlando Bridgman, who is well knowne to be a very younge man, and of a profession very worthy in it self, but alltogether unskild in Ecclesiasticall Lawes and Government. Upon the knowledge of this, the Dean of the Arches according to the Duty of his Place, did in the name of his Profession, the Doctors of the Civill and Canon Lawes, delyver a Petition to his Majesty, humbly desyring him that since there was little or noe Preferment left in this Kingdome for that Profession, but those Places of Judicature, under the Lords the Bishopps and theyr Archdeacons, his Majesty would be graciously pleasd to deale by them as his Father of blessed memory had done before him; And that according to the usuall custome of the Church of England, and the Orders then made by King James, a Civilian might have this Chancellorship. And whereas your Lordship writes to the Dean of Chester that you intend your Sonne shall shortly take the Degree of Doctor, my Lord, his Majesty conceyves that to be as nothing, for the bare Degree cannot add one whit to his skill, and must needs be thought merely done to keep of others that have spent theyr whole time in that Profession. His Majesty taking this whole Petition into consideration, commanded the Master of Requests now attending to subscribe it, as you will see in the inclosed; And farther gave me express charge to signify this his Pleasure to you, that you presently make a Pattent of the Chancellorship to the Bearer hereof Dr Mericke and that I should give the like charge to the Dean and Chapter to confirme it, which I have done accordingly.

My Lord if I may be thought worthy to give you Counsell, I shall advise you to give the King satisfaction in this Particular. For I know when Bishop Cotton of Exeter gave the Chancellorship to a Sonne of his, he was forced to recall it, and put in Dr Gouge. And the late Bishop of Hereford having given the Chancellorship to his Sonne, was likewise forced to alter it and give it Dr Skinner.