122 - 8 Mar. To John Bridgeman, bishop of Chester

Summary

Salutem in Christo

My very good Lord

I should have sent your Lordship an answere to your last Letters before this time: but that I made stay of purpose to lett you understand alltogether, what finall end I had made for Whaley, which I have now finished. For I have lett my Lease for One and Twenty yeares, For the Fine, and att such tymes of payment, as my late Letters made knowne unto you. Your sonne I thanke him, received the money carefully which you returned from the Sequestrators, and paid it in to my use. and Sir Ralphe Ashton and his Sonne found the meanes to procure soe much money more, as made up my first payment; and gave me (I hope) good security for the rest. And soe that busynesse is settled to the great good of my Sea, thoe I have been moderate for myselfe.

Wee have likewise sentenced Sir Ralph Ashton for his Adulteryes and his incest, and enioyned him penance in the Cathedrall att Chester, att twoe market Townes neare, and in his Parish Church att Whaley. But in regard, he made an ingenuous confession of his Faults, and was very sorrowfull, and did very humbly desire pardon of the Court; They were content att his earnest Suite, to commute his penance, which they accordingly did, and soe he hath given security for the payment of 300^li to St Paules Church; and in all thinges may thanke God, that he fell into mercifull hands.

I have given Sir Ralph and his sonne a strict charge, for their mutuall agreement, and the sonne, for his dutifull obedience to his Father in which I perceive he hath heertofore been much wanting. I have likewise layed my powers upon them both: to carry themselves with all due, and faire respects to your Lordship. And peaceably toward the Sequestrators, or any other, which have any ways shewed themselves, or taken paines in my busynesse. And I have farther told them plainely, that if they doe oppresse any of them, I shall referre theire complaints to your Lordship, and if you shall att any time certifye me, that they, or either of them be Faulty, I shall find a meanes to sitt as heavy upon them, as they doe upon the poore men.