Here is his letter to the Barber
Surgeons, dated January 30th, 1632:--
"To the right worshipful my very worthy friends the Master Wardens and
Assistants of the Company of Barber Surgeons, London, these:
"_Salus in Christo._ After my very hearty commendations you cannot
but take notice of his Majesty's most honest and pious intention
for the repair of the decay of Saint Paul's Church here in London,
being the mother church of this City and Diocese, and the great
Cathedral of this Kingdom. A great dishonour it is, not only to
this City, but to the whole state to see that ancient and goodly
pile of building so decayed as it is, but it will be a far greater
if care should not be taken to prevent the fall of it into ruin.
And it would be no less disgrace to religion, happily established
in this kingdom, if it should have so little power over the minds
of men as not to prevail with them to keep those eminent places of
God's service in due and decent repair, which their forefathers
built in times, by their own confession, not so full of the
knowledge of God's truth as this present age is. I am not ignorant
how many worthy works have been done of late in and about this
City towards the building and repairing of churches, which makes
me hope that every man's purse will open to this great and
necessary work (according to God's blessing upon him), so much
tending to the service of God and the honour of this nation. The
general body of this City have done very worthily in their bounty
already, also the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Sheriffs severally,
for their own persons. These are, therefore, according to their
examples, heartily to pray and desire you, the Master Warden and
other assistants of the worthy Company of Barber Surgeons to
contribute out of your public stock to the work aforesaid, what
you out of your charity and devotion shall think fit, and to pay
the sum resolved on by you into the Chamber of London at or before
our Lady Day next, praying you that I may receive by any servant
of your Company a note what the sum is which you resolve to give.
And for this charity of yours, whatever it shall prove to be, I
shall not only give you hearty thanks, but be as ready to serve
you, and every of you, as you are to serve God and His Church. So,
not doubting of your love and forwarding to this great work, I
leave you to the grace of God, and shall so rest,
"Your very loving Friend,
"GUL: LONDON."
The Court considered this letter on the 9th of April following, and
agreed to pay L10 down, and the same sum each year for the next nine
years.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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