CO/VC/4/4/1/3

CO/VC/4/4/1/3

Item

The Vicars' Papers

1673

1 sheet

The Vicars Choral report that George Low [Lowe], one of the Laymen of the Cathedral, applied to the Dean and Chapter for redress of an injury caused him by the Vicars Choral in withholding part of a tenement from him in addition to other matters. They state that they have done no injury, nor do they detain anything which belongs to George Lowe. However, the part of a tenement which Lowe believes is withheld from him was let by the predecessors of the present Vicars Choral to Payne [Paine] for a certain term, which he held for 21 years and in that time spent a great sum of money in building and repairing the premises. When he died, his widow came to the Vicars Choral to ask that in consideration of such expenditure, upon surrender of the old lease and a small fine they would make a new lease for 40 years under the same rents and covenants. The Vicars Choral considered it lawful and thought it reasonable to make such a lease and did so for 40 years. They deny that Lowe has any right to the said house. In addition Lowe alleged that there was a promise made that he should have any Vicar's house as soon as he go out of the house 'in Controversie,' and he said that he was ready to quit the possession of the same, and requested them to keep their promise after the death of Mr Bowles, a late Vicar of the Church. The Vicars Choral deny that there was any such promise and say that he never told them he was ready to quit the house or that he ever came to the Vicars at all. They report that Lowe also pretended stoppage of 10 shillings out of his salary, but the Vicars say that it is a yearly rent every layman pays to the Vicars for their houses. The Vicars state that they hope the Dean and Chapter will not force them to reverse the lease, which would be 'a greate Blott and Scandall upon their reputa[ti]ons].' 'c1673' is written on the item in a later hand.

English

Material: paper

Lowe, George
Paine, Dulcebella