30 - 21 Mar. To William Smyth, warden of Wadham College Oxford

Summary

Mr Warden.

I have detayn’d your letters longer unanswear’d then I use to doe; but I was forc’d partly by business and partly by my Lameness, beinge unwillinge to give you any answeare till I had found some meanes to speake with his Majesty that I might informe him what a moderate Waie I wente with Mr Harrington, and yet what an ill example there is of his disobedience. My direction nowe breiflye is this: That if hee stand out and will not obey my order, you convent him againe upon the Statute of arbitrary punishment, and absolutely suspend him from all Commons and proffitts in the howse not only till hee have payd the Money, but absolutely till hee submitt to my whole order. And wheras hee seemes to beare bould eyther upon my Successor (if I remove) or upon a newe petition att the Court of Requests: For my Successor when I knowe him I shalbe bould to informe him of the equity of my proceedings. And for the Court of Requests, you must eyther Fee some Counsell that may express to the Masters that sitt the State of your Colledge and Statuts howe you are bound to your Visitour, which Sede Vacante I thinke is in my Lords Grace of Canterbury. Or send some Fellowe and petition the Kinge against the Court of Requests, and Ile deliver the petition if they make anye newe Order to preiudice your Statuts. I am full of weakness and business togeather, therefore without farther discourse I leave you and the whole Companey to Gods blessinge, and rest

Your very Lovinge Frend

Guil: Batho: et Welle:

Westminster. March. 21. 1627.

I find there is an Error in the Instrument I sent downe, and that your Foundress her name is written Elizabeth for Dorothie: These are therefore to Will and requier you that in the presence of the senior Fellowes you call a publique Notarye and mend that Errour, and this shalbe your Warrant for soe doinge. Guil: Batho: et Welle:

To the right worshipfull my very Lovinge Frend Dr Smith Warden of Wadham Colledge in Oxford be these delivered.