Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 8.djvu/178

130 REMARKS ON THE CHURCH OF Henry VII. ; John ]Iorton, Arclibishop of Canterbury ; the Bishops of Ely, Winchester, Exeter, Llandaff, Hereford, Rochester, Norwich, and St. David's, and the Executors of the Bishop of Coventry ; ^ the Deans of Lichfield and Here- ford ; the Archdeacons of Hereford and St. Paul's ; the Abbots of Glastonbury, Fountains, Evesham, Gloucester, Bury, Hayles, St. Alban's, and Tewkesbur}^; the Priors of irerton and Coventry ; several ecclesiastics of inferior rank to the dignitaries here enumerated, and numerous private individuals of whom nothing is recorded but their names. But the circulation of these letters probably extended far beyond those whose names are specificall}' mentioned, and much exceeded the number of the copies recorded in the before named Register ; for not only does it appear that the same letters were sent to several persons,, whose names are set against them (such, for example, as one and the same to the Abbots of Evesham, Gloucester, and Bury ; one in hke manner to the Abbots of Hayles, St. Alban's, and Tewkes- bury'-, and one to the Vicar of Ilminster, *' cum duobus aliis"); but others have no superscription, the person being addressed as, " Honorande Rector," " Vir Immanissime, or " Dilecte Confrater ; " compellations which, it may be hoped, would suit so many persons, that the letters which bear them, as well as some others which have no address either within or without, may reasonably be supposed to have been circulars, sent, according to the practice (though without the facilities) of the present day, to all those whose connection with the University was such as to furnish a presumption of their interest in the promotion of the work. Though the nature of such letters does not admit of much variet}^, no two of them are precisely similar. In all, however, stress is laid upon the ancient interest of the University in St. Mary's Church, as the place where its public acts had been honourabh^ celebrated from time immemorial. The ruinous condition of the fabric is described in many different particulars. In one of the letters it is represented that " the leaden plates of the roof had become so thin that it would cost no small sum to replace them, and that if any one could only see it, during rain, he would be quite distressed at being utterly unable to find in it any place that would afford him shelter." ^ '■• I.iehfielil and Coventrv. « No. 338.