131 - 6 Aug. To the dean and chapter of Canterbury

Summary

Salutem in Christo.

After my hearty commendations etc.

These are to let you know, that since my last letters written unto you, in which I required that a Canonical admonition in them given by me to the Archdeacon of Canterbury, should be registred, concerning his residing in his prebendal house, I have received very respective letters from him, the answer whereof I thought fitter to direct to you, then to himselfe, that so they might be the more publike warrant both for you and him. In those Letters of his (not to meddle with any thing upon the by) there are these two maine particulars.

First, he professeth all readines to obey my directions for the keeping his residence in his Canonicall house. That therefore he kept his last yeares residence in Winter, and at Easter removed to his Parsonage house at Ickham, and hath there continued ever since. And that he purposes to returne at Michaelmas to keep his residence againe in Winter. But in all this I observe, that there is not one word mentioned of keeping his last yeares residence, or this which is to come, in his prebendal house, which is the maine thing in question. Not his residence or dwelling, but the house wherein.

Secondly he seemes to inferr that the prebendal house originally allotted him, hath been changed by negligence, connivence or some other bad dealing of his predecessors. And that if it shall so appeare by the survey of the Deane and Prebendaries, then he hopes I will consider of him for his future accommodation. To this I can at present say no more but this: that I intended by the survey which I have ordered to be made this much onely: that they should settle the bounders of every house with appurtenances and easments belonging to it. But not the change from one house to another upon any pretensions. Neither is it probable that any of the Archdeacons predecessours would forsake a better house to go to a worse. And if they have donne it by connivence etc it was certainly in time of their non residence, which I will not releive.