151 - 19 Sept. To the dean and chapter of Winchester

Summary

Salutem in Christo

After my hearty commendations, etc.

You know how strict your old Statute is that none of the Churches Lands should be lett into lives but onely for the Terme of one and twenty yeares; And likewise in how many Particulars your Predecessors have neglectyed their Oath and broken that Statute for their owne Advantage and to the great Detriment of that Church. Concerning this businesse I have bin twice or thrice sollicited to alter the Statute in this poynte. But this Authority being derived unto mee from his Majestie I did not hold it fitt in a matter of soe greate moment to alter any thing but with his Majesties both knowledge and approbation. Therefore at Mr Deanes desire I did at two severall times acquaint his Majestie with this busynesse and desired to know his pleasure whether he would not give way that such Leases as were lett into Lives already might be renewed into Lives againe, and the prohibition stand in your new Statutes onely for such Leases as are now for yeares. His Majesties Answer was at both times that since the old Statute was soe peremptory, and soe good and broken in former times onely by such as for proffitt sake forgot their Oath, He would have the New Statutes as full as the old were and as strict, and Commanded mee to lett you know soe much. And I have signified this his Majesties pleasure twice to Mr Deane already. Notwithstanding this I am lately inform’d that there hath bin an attempt in Chapter to renew some of these Leases into lives. Whereupon I have now moov’d his Majestie a third time that I might know whether He had alterd any of His former Resolutions. But His Majestie answerd me cleerly that he had not, and withall Comaunded me to write these Letters to you and in them to require you in his Majesties Name that you presume not to renew any Lease that is lett into Lives, but to lett the lives weare out and then reduce them to one and twenty yeares according to Statute.