ANTIQUITIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 99 



This work of Mr. RitfcheFs procured him the love and friend- 

 fliip of that eminently learned and good prelate, Bifliop Cofms. 

 He was both minifter and lecturer of Hexham. 



The leclurefhip was founded by the Mercer's company in London, 

 \vho alfo founded another at Berwick upon Tweed. For the main- 

 tenance of the lecturers they purchafed feveral tithes, according 

 to the tenour of the will of Richard FiJJjbom, Efq; dated sotli 

 March, 1625, which is as follows. 



** Item, I give and bequeath to the wardens and commonalty 

 " of the myflery of mercers, of the city of London, the fuin of 

 " 2800 /. therewith to buy and purchafc two or more parfonagcs, 

 " rectories, or church-livings, antiently appropriated to fome 

 " abbey, monaflry, or religious-houfe, or houfes, and now com- 

 " monly called impropriations, the fame to be in Lincoln/hire, 

 " York/hire, or fome other northern county or counties of this land, 

 " where the faid company of mercers mall beft fit thcmfelves 

 " with fuch a purchafe, and find moft want of preaching of the 

 *' word of God to be. And the faid church-livings and impro- 

 " priations fo purchafed and had, my will is, mall be from time 

 " to time, fucceffively, for ever, by the faid wardens and com- 

 " monalty of the myflery of the mercers of London after their 

 " wonted cuftom of election by moft votes at their general courts 

 " conferred, beftowed, and conveyed upon two or more miniflers 

 " reflectively for and during fuch term or terms, and in fuch 

 " manner and form, and with fuch cautil and provilion, that if 

 " they, or any of them, mall prove non-refident, or have any 

 " other benefice or church-living with cure of fouls, then the 

 " faid wardens and commonalty, and their fuccceflbrs, from time 

 ** to time, for ever, mall and may remove difplacc, difmif?, de- 



O a " privc, 



