By the Rev, Canon J. E. Jackson, F.S.A. 



33 



XXI. — 1578, June 21. John Bullingham to the Earl op 

 Leicester . applying for the Benefice of Upton upon Severn, 

 Co. Worc, in exchange for Brington, Co. Huntingdon. 



" My bounden deutie towards your honour in maner most humble premised. 

 May it please the same to be advertised that aboute a yeere paste acerten gentle- 

 man of yo" honours, named Mr. Drewell did me to understand that yo r honour's 

 pleasure was, yf 1 were mynded to geve over at any tyme my benefice of Brington 

 in the covmtie of Huntingdon (being valewed aboute £xxxvi in the Queen's 

 Ma ,ics booke) that then I should signifie the same unto your honour. 0 wold to 

 God I poore Bullingham were hable any thing to dooe that might be acceptable 

 unto yo r honour. Whiles lyefe lastethe I must remember howe courteouslie and 

 carefullie yo r . honour obteined of the Queen's ma tie for mee, my prebend of 

 Woorceter. my natieve eountreye, wheare I am resident, and wheare my worldlie 

 joye is to bee. I shall never forgett howe honourablie yowre honour did boethe 

 speake for me to the queenes highnes, and write alsoe to my lorde of Canterburie 

 in my behalfe, comaunding me at that tyme to repayre to yo r honour, if I have 

 anie suite to the Queene's Ma tie , who standeth my most gratious Ladie : the Kyng 

 of heaven preserve her, and all her welwillers. Nowe I am redie and wylling to 

 comitte to yowre honour's disposition my benefice of Brington, lying in eountreye 

 farr of from mee, for a meaner benefice being within seaven myles of Woorceter : 

 the name of it is Upton upon Syverne. Boethe Brington and Upton are of the 

 queene's Ma ties g^yefte. God knoweth I seeke this chieflie for the quieting of my 

 conscience for nerenes and partlie for the maintenance of my poor hospitalitie, 

 whereunto whether I be geven, or not, I report mee to God and the country e. I 

 have byn at charges this yere in repayring the Chauncell and howse of Brington, 

 and nowe all the fruites are to be receaved, w ch . yowre good honour may dispose as 

 to the same shall seeme good, soe that it maye lieke yo r honour to obteine the gyefte 

 of Upton upon Syverne in the Countie of Woorceter at the Queenes Ma tes hands 

 for mee poore Bullingham. The late incumbent's name was Dee alias Dye, who 

 ys dead, as we are crediblie enformed here in the Countreye. I am unhable (my 

 good Lord) to travell at this present : otherwise to ryede and runne had byn my 

 part,, quia mora trahit periculum : but soe soone as god shall hable mee I will 

 wayete on your honour to dooe my deutie. The resignation of Brington I am 

 redie to yeld upp imediatelie, the gyefte of Upton being obteined. Thus craving 

 pardon most humblie of yo r . honour for my boldness, I beseche the lyving Lorde 

 to be yowre honours defendour boethe here and hereafter. 



" From Woorceter this xxi th of June. By 

 " yo r honour his humble and f aythf ull oratour 

 " To the right honourable, my " John Bullingham." 



singuler good lorde, my Lorde 

 Earle of Leicester, &c. 



theise geve./" 



Endorsed : " John Bullingham, xxi. June, 1572." 



VOL. XVIII. — NO. LII. 



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