51 - 12 Aug. To John Bridgeman, bishop of Chester

Summary

Salutem in Christo.

My very good Lord,

It cannot be unknowne to your Lordship that his Majesty with a great deale of Religious care, and to his great honour, hath granted a Commission for the Repayre of St Paules Church in London, which as it formerly was wonte, (as appeares by sufficyent Records) soe must it now be helped by publyke Contribution. The Worke is soe great, and necessary, and soe much tending to the Honour of this Kingdome, and Religion established in it, which must needs suffer much, if soe goodly a Pyle of Buylding should moulder away as that his Majesty is confident, noe man's devotion will be cold towardes it: but he expecte's that the Clergye should give good Example, especially the Lords the Bishops. And therfore hath commanded me to wryte to all such of my Brethren the Bishoppes as are absent, to move them in his Majestys Name, and for the honour of the Worke, that they will give towardes it, as theyr severall Estates shall enable them.

These are therfore humbly and hartily to pray your Lordship that you will be pleased, with all convenyent speed, in your Answere to these my Letters or otherwise, as you shall thinke fitt, under your hande to express, what your Lordship will yearly give toward this Great Worke, making your first daye of payment some daye before Christmass next, and then that daye twelve month after, according as my Lords Grace of Canterbury, my self, and other Bishopps here have subscribed. And both our first dayes of payment are in October next. The forme of our Subscription is to this effect.

I, A.B. will give towardes the Repayre of St Paule's Church in London the [sic] of October next, the Summe of [sic] And soe will continue to give yearly, till the Worke be finished, if God grant lyfe.

His Majesty and the Temporall Lords beginn very honourably, and I hope will continue; and for your Lordship I cannot make any doubt, but that I shall receyve a very worthy, and a noble answere from you. And that you may see what is done here, my Lords Grace of Canterbury, and my self have given each of us one hundred poundes a yeare. My Lords of St Davyds, and Rochester, with others, forty poundes a year a piece.