William Nicols, installed April 12th, 1644. His successor, after a vacancy of about 2 years, was Henry Bridgman, presented July 13th, 1660, he was consecrated Bishop of the Isle of Man, with leave to hold the Deanery, _in commendam_. He died in Chester, May 15th, 1682, and was buried in the Cathedral, without any memorial. Leycester says, “he hath beautified and repaired the Deans’ house in the Abbey court very much.” He was succeeded by James Arderne in 1682; he died August 18th, 1691, and was buried in the choir of the Cathedral, with the following memorial on one of the pillars:—“Near this place lies the body of Dr. James Arderne, of this County, a while Dean of this Church, who though he bore more than a common affection to his private relations, yet gave the substance of his bequeathable estate to this Cathedral, which gift, his will was, should be mentioned, that clergymen may consider whether it be not a sort of sacrilege to sweep all away from the church and charity, into the possession of their lay kindred, who are not needy. Dat. Oct. 27th, 1688. This plain monument with the above inscription, upon this cheap stone, is according to the express words of Dean Arderne’s will.” His successor was Lawrence Fogg, in 1691. His first preferment was the Rectory of Hawarden, in Flintshire, from which he was ejected for non-conformity. Subsequently, conforming, he was presented to the vicarage of St. Oswald’s, by the Dean and Chapter, in 1672: he was buried in the chapel of the Cathedral, and a monument was erected to his memory. Walter Offley was installed in 1718. Thomas Allen in 1721. Thomas Brooke in 1733. William Smith in 1758. This learned divine was presented by the Earl of Derby to the Rectory of Trinity, Chester, in 1735. In 1753 he was nominated one of the Ministers of St. George’s Church, Liverpool, by the corporation. In 1766, he was instituted to the Rectory of Handley, Cheshire, by the Chapter of the Cathedral, and in the following year he resigned the Chaplainship of St. George’s Church, on which occasion the corporation of Liverpool presented him with 150 guineas, “for his eminent and good services in the said church.” He died January 8th, 1787, in the 76th year of his age, and was buried on the south side of the communion table in the cathedral. An elegant monument was erected to his memory by his widow, with an inscription, reciting his merits as a christian, a scholar, and a preacher. Dr. Smith was worthily distinguished for his learning. He was an eminent scholar, a sound divine, and a good poet. His elegant translations of the Greek classics were held in great repute, and have been several times reprinted. He was succeeded by George Cotton, who was installed February 10th, 1787. Hugh Cholmondley was appointed in 1806.