RESTORING LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL NEWCASTLE (Duke, William Cavendish, 1592-1676, 1st Marquis, Royalist) & John HACKETT (1592-1670, Bishop of Coventry & Lichfield)

Document signed by the 1st Marquis of Newcastle in Latin, addressed to John Hackett (Bishop from 1661) about a living of which he is patron, saying he has presented Thomas Meynell to the Rectory of Kirk Langley, Derbyshire, and requesting his institution therein, vellum, 4" x 12", lacks seal, no place, 20th September 1662, together with a fine Autograph Letter Signed from Bishop Hackett to Sir Edward Bagot, Bart., of Bli(th)field, Staffordshire, about funds to restore the Cathedral, and soliciting contributions to choir stalls (at £8 each) and the new "Ladies' Organ", asking if he will agree to a gift of £100 from the late Sir Seamour Shirley's estate, which Shirley had promised for the "reparation" of the Cathedral after the civil war, he asks not to be referred to Sir Francis Burdett owing "to some apprehensions of my own discretion" or to the 1st Earl of Ailesbury, Hackett plans 52 choir stalls at £8 "with the names and escutcheon of the benefactor above ... An Organ is bespoken ... at £600 price to be called the Ladies Organ ... because none but the Honorable and most pious of that Sex shall contribute", seal impaling his and the diocese's arms, conjugate leaf bearing address laid down by inner margin, 1 side folio, Lichfield, with his letter seal, 5th September

The Duke had fought in the Civil War and contributed some £1,000,000 to the Royalist cause.
The bishop was feudal lord and lord of the manor of Lichfield till the reign of Edward VI. During the Civil War the Close was fortified against the parliament, which most of the town supported, and was long besieged. The Cathedral suffered terribly and most of its own documents were destroyed. Hackett himself contributed to the restoration, the 252ft central spire being attributed to Sir Christopher Wren.

Item Date:  1667

Stock No:  20205      £875

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