Several of the acta reflect the private concerns of archdeacons, for example charitable donations.
One such memorial line linked two canons and two archdeacons over a period of twenty years.
Some parishes were wholly exempt to the commissary whilst in others he shared jurisdiction with the archdeacon.
It was quickly undermined by several of his archdeacons, on resuming their authority once the episcopal visitation was over.
At the former the precentor and at the latter the archdeacon seems to have fulfilled that role.
Those who challenged their power at this time were, first, the bishops of the province and secondly, the archdeacon.
In the latter, the commissary had responsibility for testamentary matters only, the archdeacon for all others.
Most of them - twelve in 1608, thirteen in 1625, all fourteen in 1636 - were diocesan chancellors, commissaries, or archdeacon's officials.
