199 - 24 June To John Bridgeman, bishop of Chester

Summary

Salutem in Christo

My very Good Lord.

I have receaved two Letters from you. In the first was nothing but your Thankes for giving my Stewardshipp to your eldest sonne; And I hope he will doe mee such service in that Place, as that I shall have Cause to Thanke both you and him.

Your second Letters give mee Thankes alsoe for your younger sonne, to whom I have given the Rectory of Odington. Truly my Lord I am as Glad, I had itt in my power to doe you this kindenesse in your sonnes, as you have beene ready for my sake to gratify Dr Morton being placed so far off, as that I could not well doe for him myselfe.5 And this as I had reason to take very kindly from you; Soe I could not rest satisfyed in myselfe, till I had some way or other exprest my Love to you.

Besides your Thankes there is nothing in either of your Letters, save only in the last of them. There you tell mee the Value of Sephton, and I am glad to heare ‘tis soe good. But the Lady Strange is very angry, as I heare, that shee had not one of the Benefices for her Chaplen Mr Hinde. And now I am inform’d that shee purposes sett up an other Title against the Kings for Sephton. Which if shee doe, I know not how to helpe itt. And Dr Morton must arme himselfe against itt, as he Can.

For Standish, I pray be as Carefull of itt as you may, in preserving the Kings Title, and in giving mee notice when it falles. And then if my Lord Strange and his Lady use mee Kindly, I can thinke upon their Chaplen, or otherwise passe him by, as I see Cause. But the lesse Noise is made of Standish, the better. And I beseech you have a Care of itt. So to Gods blessed protection I leave you, and rest

Your Lordships very Loving friend and Brother

W: Cant:

Lambeth. June. 24^th. 1639.

To the right Reverend Father in God my very Good Lord and Brother, the Lord Bishop of Chester these