26 - 11 Dec. To William Smyth, warden of Wadham College Oxford

Summary

Mr Warden.

I thanke you for your care and paines in sendinge your Servant to preserve the Rights of your Colledge and your Visitour. And first whereas, they pretend that this Commission was gotten with my consent; it is alltogether untrue. His Brothers pretence unto me was, that he had gotten out a Commission to examine his Witnesses upon Oath to give the Colledge and mee the better satisfaction. That hee had gotten this Commission, not that hee would. Soe I knewe nothinge. Nor had I any reason to beleive they ment to take out any Commission at all: and least of all such a Commission as should offer such open Violence to your Statuts and the power given mee by them.

But since I understand by you what they have done. These are to lett you knowe, that I have petitioned his Majesty in the Cause of the Colledge Right and myne owne. And that his Majesty very gratiousley hath recall’d the Commission, and is not well pleasd, that hee should be soe abusd by an ill grounded petition. These are therefore to requier you to take notice of this, and to acquaint the Fellowes whom it maye any waye concerne, and to chardge them that they keepe their Statuts and their Oathes unto them: And that neither your selfe nor any of them give any appearance before that voyded Commission; but keepe your selves intyrely to your Visitour.

And concerninge Mr Harrington, I have heere sent you by your Servant my Summons for his appearance att the daie therein appointed, under my Seale and in forme of Lawe. This Instrument you are to hange upp upon your Chappell dore and when that is taken downe to hange upp a Coppy of it there, and lett it continewe; accordinge as you shall see the Instrument it selfe direct you in the beginninge. Which course I requier you to followe, (unless you shall find any thinge in the Instrument or in this course of proceedinge, that shalbe contrary to your Statuts which I shalbee ever tender to preserve.) And notwithstandinge this if Mr Harrington be personally to be found I would have you convent him and laye my commands upon him to appeare att the tyme appointed.