January 28, 1741.
Whereas my infirmities of age and ill-health have prevented me to
preside in the chapters held for the good order and government of my
cathedral church of St. Patrick, Dublin, in person: I have, by a legal
commission, made and appointed the very reverend Doctor John Wynne,
præcentor of the said cathedral, to be sub-dean in my stead and
absence. I do hereby ratify and confirm all the powers delegated to the
said Dr. Wynne in the said Commission.
And I do hereby require and request the very reverend sub-dean not
to permit any of the vicars-choral, choristers, or organists, to attend
or assist at any public musical performances, without my consent, or
his consent, with the consent of the chapter first obtained.
And whereas it hath been reported, that I gave a licence to certain
vicars to assist at a club of fiddlers in Fishamble Street, I do hereby
declare that I remember no such licence to have been ever signed or
sealed by me; and that if ever such pretended licence should be
produced, I do hereby annul and vacate the said licence. Intreating my
said sub-dean and chapter to punish such vicars as shall ever appear
there, as songsters, fiddlers, pipers, trumpeters, drummers,
drum-majors, or in any sonal quality, according to the flagitious
aggravations of their respective disobedience, rebellion, perfidy, and
ingratitude.
I require my said sub-dean to proceed to the extremity of expulsion,
if the said vicars should be found ungovernable, impenitent, or
self-sufficient, especially Taberner, Phipps, and Church, who, as I am
informed, have, in violation of my sub-dean's and chapter's order in
December last, at the instance of some obscure persons unknown,
presumed to sing and fiddle at the club above mentioned.
My resolution is to preserve the dignity of my station, and the
honour of my chapter; and, gentlemen, it is incumbent upon you to aid
me, and to show who and what the Dean and Chapter of Saint Patrick's
are.
Signed by me,
JONATHAN SWIFT
Dean of St. Patrick's.
Witnesses present,
JAMES KING,
FRANCIS WILSON.
To the very Reverend Doctor John Wynne, sub-dean of the Cathedral
church of Saint Patrick, Dublin, and to the reverend dignitaries and
prebendaries of the same.