THE WORKS
ARCHBISHOP LAUD.
LONDON : II. CLAY, PRINTKU, BREAD STREET HILL.
THE
WORKS
MOST REVEREND FATHER IN GOD,
WILLIAM LAUD, D.D.
SOMETIME LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY.
VOL. VL— PART IT. LETTERS.— NOTES ON BELLARMINE.
OXFORD :
JOHN HENRY PARKER.
M DCCC LVII.
LETTERS. 337
LETTER LV.
TO MONS. DE VIC. [MS. Harl. 7000, last letter in vol.]
S, in Christ o.
WORTHY SIR, — I received lately letters from you out of France, and with them others enclosed from Peter Moulin u, for conveyance whereof I heartily thank you. I likewise received three sheets of the new Bible, which is now there under the press v. I have heard heretofore very much of that work, but never saw anything of it till, you sent me these sheets. That nation may brag of the work in many respects, for so many various and difficult characters of the Eastern languages did I never see together before ; and it is a great and very chargeable work for an advocate or a greater man to undertake single. It is great pity that they are enforced to make use of a Jew for the correction of the Hebrew, for howsoever he be converted, (and I pray God he be heartily,) yet so few of the late converts have been hearty* that he must needs be himself, and expose the work also, liable to suspicion. I thank you heartily for this advertisement, and so wishing your employment there happy both to the state and yourself, 1 leave you to the grace of God, and rest Your very loving Friend,
W. CANT.
Lambeth, Decemb. 9, st. vet. 1633. To my much honoured Friend, Mr. de Vic, his Majesty's Agent in France, at Paris.
LETTER LVI.
TO JOHN WILLIAMS, BISHOP OF LINCOLN. [Lambeth MSS. Numb. mxxx. p. 15.]
S. in Christ o.
MAY n PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP, — Mr. Secretary delivered your Lordship's letters to me, and in them a petition to his
u [Professor of Divinity at Sedan, ' Batesii Vita).']
and a celebrated controversialist. v [This was the Parisian Polyglott,
King James gave him a stall in Can- edited by Le Jay, who was ruined by
terbury Cathedral. Sec his Life in the expense.]
LAUD. — VOL. VI. 2
338 LETTERS.
Majesty. Truly, my Lord, I did not a little wonder (con sidering what answer I was commanded to give your Lord ship's former letters) that you would choose me out to this service ; yet, since you would needs put this office upon me, I resolved rather to venture upon it, than to give cause to think I was disaffected to yourself, or your peace. And how formidable I have been represented to your Lordship (to use your own word) you best know ; but what I am to you or others, that, I think, I should know best. This I am sure of, I judge not your Lordship in anything by the false repre sentations of other men, and shall thank you for the like measure.
Having received your petition, I sought the first and best opportunity I could get to present it to his Majesty, and all that I got by it for myself was a smart chiding; his Majesty telling me, he thought he had forewarned me enough of this error, and that he had distinguished clearly enough to me between a Churchman and a Church cause when I moved it first. But when I had gotten leave to read it to him, his Majesty was pleased to say he would consider of it ; and that was all the answer I could get.
For Sir John Lambe, T think he is of as ancient acquaint ance with your Lordship, as with me ; if he have done any thing unworthy either of himself or you, let him bear his own burden. I did never joy in the differences that are fallen out between you, and am sorry for some occurrences that have happened w. Since this is all the account I am able to give your Lordship either of your letters or your petition, so I leave you to the grace of God, and rest
Your Lordship's loving Friend and Brother.
Lambeth, Decemb. 11, 1633.
Endorsed : 'Decemb. 11, 1633. The copy of my letter to the Lord Bishop of Lincoln.'
w [Lambe was early in life patronized revealing the King's secrets. (See
by Bp. Williams. He, and his son- Racket's Life of Williams, par. i. p. 37,
in-law Sibthorp, were the witnesses par. ii. p. 80.)] against the Bishop, on the charge of
LETTERS. 339
LETTER LVII.
TO DR. RICHARD ASTLEY, WARDEN OF ALL SOULS.
[Tanner MSS. vol. cccxl. fol. 115 a1.]
8. in Christ o.
SIR, — I thank you and that whole society very heartily for the respective letters which you writ unto me by two of the Fellows. I gave them hearing so soon as they came to me, and I think I do now understand the business concerning your surplusage, and the division of it ; and how it arises, as well from the means your Founder left you, as from the Statute of Provision y. And for this present year lam content to take no more from your dividend than to make your Tower-stock £1,000, which, if the Fellows inform me right, is £900 already. For the rest which you desire for the years to come, I do not yet like for the present to pitch upon a certain medium, because the occasions of the College are, or may be, both greater and more various than your divi dend. And further, I like not to make a certain rule for a business of which I have had so little experience as I have of this ; .and I had rather not make such a rule, than, by after-occasions, be forced to break it. Yet this I shall do for the College ; I shall not every year cause two of the Fellows to take such a dirty journey as these two have done, nor put the College to any needless charge. But this I shall expect, that every year, after the audit ended, you give me an account, by letter, what the Tower- stock is, and what the surplusage of that year ; and then I will return you an answer what I think fit for the Dead College, and what for the Living: Always provided, that my late predecessor's orders stand in force still, and that I may have two of the Fellows come up to me to give me further account by word of mouth in all such years, and upon all such occasions as I shall think fit to call upon them.
And now, since I have dealt thus freely, and with such an
x [Marginal notes are added by vi. which provides that upon leases
Archbishop Bancroft, and the text is made by Colleges, a third part of the
corrected in his hand.] rent shall be reserved in corn.]
y [This is the Act xviii. Eliz. cap.
Z 2
340 LETTERS,
open hand to the Company, I must desire you, Mr. Warden, to let them know that I shall take it very ill if the Fellows do not every way conform themselves to honour their Founder, by obeying his Statutes, and conforming themselves to that which will be most beneficial for them. It is not long since I have heard of two complaints against the Fellows, or rather against the government ; and I hope you, and they together, will mend both. The one is, that the scholar-like exercises required by statute are not duly kept : and the other, that the Fellows, divers of them, are too chargeable in their clothes, and follow the fashions too much. I hope the fault in these kinds is not so great as it is made to me, but the greater it is, the fitter to be amended, and I shall expect it be.
This enclosed petition was delivered me not an hour before the Fellows came to me.
I shall not ask you to do anything against either the Statutes or good orders of the College ; but with preservation of them, pray do as much as you can for the youth. So, wishing all honour and happiness to that foundation, I leave you to the grace of God, and rest
Your very loving Friend,
W. CANT,
Lambeth, Dec. 20, 1633.
LETTER LVIII.
BISHOP OF DUNBLANE2. [Baiilie's Letters and Journals, Appendix, No. II. Art. iv. p. 431. Edirib. 1841*.]
S. in Christ o.
MY VERY GOOD LORD,— You are very much beholding to my Lord Sterling ; and, for myself, I did you the very best
'[This prelate is also called 'Bat- Works, p. 149. Mr. Laing, the learned
lantyne/and ' Bannatyn.' He was trans- editor of Baiilie's Journals has prefixed
kted to Aberdeen on the death of to these letters of Laud ' An Account
Bishop Patrick Forbes.] of Papers intercepted betwixt Arch-
«ra f -wS&W °f this letter is in bisll°P Laud and the Scots Bishops,' Wodrow MbS. Fol. vol. Ixvi. Numb. 13. from a contemporary MS. in his pos it is mentioned in Prynne's Hidden session ]
LETTERS. 311
service T could, and am glad your troublesome suits are at an end. I hope that which the King hath now done will pre serve you against your pressing necessities, through which I pray God send you a good passage. But for Westminster foes, they did very much wrong you, whoever they [were], that made those relations to you of great sum ; for my former [letters told] the truth to you.
Concerning your preferme[nt, until any better] place falls, I can promise nothing; but I assure [you, his Majesty] hath a very good opinion both of you and your service ; and there fore I [cannot] doubt but that he will take you and your estate into his consideration. At this time you have given his Majesty good content, and he expects that you continue in that course ; and let him still receive a note who they be that conform, and who not; for I see his Majesty is resolved to go constantly on, and therefore you must not fail.
I have considered how much reason you speak concerning the poor singing men, and have received their petition, which you sent enclosed. I must needs say their case deserves a great deal of commiseration ; and the very first time I got access to his Majesty, after the receipt of your letters, I acquainted him with their necessities, and he, like a gra cious and a good Prince, was very much moved with it, and commanded me to deliver their petition to my Lord Sterling, that some course might be taken for them ; and this, God willing, I will do so soon as ever I can meet with that Lord, which I hope will be this day, and so soon as I can drive it to any good issue you shall hear from me. So, in haste, I leave you to the grace of God, and rest
Your Lordship's very loving Friend and Brother,
W. CANT.
Lambeth, Jan.. 14, 1633.
To the Right Reverend Father in God, my very good Lord and Brother the Lord Bishop of Dunblane, at Edenburrovv, These.
Endorsed : 'Anent his encouragement, and anent non-communicants.'
342 LETTERS.
LETTER LIX.
TO HIS MAJESTY'S PRINTERS.
[ Wilkins' Cone. torn. iv. p. 485 b.] S. in Christ o.
After my hearty commendations, &c.
These are to let you know, that his Majesty takes special care of furnishing of a Greek press, that such of his subjects as are learned in that language may have means to set forth such manuscripts as are in his Majesty's library, or in either of his Universities; a thing greatly tending to the honour of the kingdom, and the good of the Church. And because you have been faulty in the English print with which you are trusted0, his Majesty is resolved your fine shall be con verted to buy matrices and letters, &c., for the Greek. And further, because the patent which you hold under him by his gracious favour is a thing of great profit to you, he expects that you, and all that succeed you in the enjoying of that or the like patent for the press, shall at your own and your successors' proper costs and charges print, or cause to be printed, one volume every year, of what bigness soever it be, in Greek, or Greek and Latin, if the Reverend Father in God, Augustin, Lord Bishop of Peterborough, or Mr. Patrick Young, his Majesty's Library-keeper, or any other of his Majesty's learned subjects, provide it and make it ready for the press ; as you will see more particularly and at large by his Majesty's letters themselves directed unto me; which here follow in these words : —
" Most Reverend Father in God, right trusty and right entirely beloved Counsellor, we greet you well. Whereas our servant, Patrick Young, Keeper of our Library, hath lately, with great industry and care, published in print an Epistle of Clemens Romanus in Greek and Latin ", which was never printed before,
froJ IW T oml f l i Q fh ** gilkiin « [This was the first edition of the
from Keg Laud, foL 195 b It is also Epistles of Clemens Romanus. The
t y Arcfhfd,eac™ TPdd' in the Preface gives an account of the Alex.
of the Royal Society of MS., at the end of which these epistles
L- o210'?2' fr°m were found written in the ^me hand
43' pP:2,99 se,^ The A^x. MS., it is well known, is
LETTERS. 343
and hath done this to the benefit of the Church and our great honour, the manuscript by which he printed it being in our library; and whereas we further understand, that the Right Reverend Father in God, Augustin, now Bishop of Peterborough % and our said servant, Patrick Young f, are resolved to make ready for the press one or more Greek copies every year, by such manuscripts as are either in our library, or in the libraries of our Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, or elsewhere, if there were Greek letters, matrices, and money ready for the work ; which pains of theirs will tend to the great honour of ourself, this Church, and nation: We have thought good to give them all possible encouragement herein, and do therefore, first, require you, that the fine lately imposed by our High Commissioners upon Robert Barker and Martin Lucas for base and corrupt printing of the Bible, being the sum of three hundred pounds, be con verted to the present buying of such and so many Greek letters and matrices, as shall be by you thought fit for this great and honourable work. And our further will and pleasure is, that the said Robert Barker and Martin Lucas, our patentees for printing which either now are, [or] shall hereafter succeed them, being great gainers by that patent which they hold under us, shall, at their own proper costs and charges of ink, paper, and workman ship, print, or cause to be printed in Greek, or Greek and Latin, one such volume in a year, be it bigger or less, as the Right Rev. Father aforesaid, or our servant Patrick Young, or any other of our learned subjects, shall provide and make ready for the press ; and shall print such a number of each copy as yourself or your successors for the time being shall think fit. And all this they shall perform whether the said copies be to be printed in London, Oxford, or Cambridge, which shall be left free to their judgments and desire, whose pains prepare the copy or copies for the press. And last of all, our further will and pleasure is, that the aforesaid patentees do, without delay, procure such and so many matrices and letters as aforesaid, that no hindrance be put upon the work ; and that they be at the charge of printing in the meantime with such letters as are already in the kingdom. Of all which, or any other necessary circumstance for the furtherance of this work, we shall not fail to call for a strict account from you ; and therefore do look that you call for as strict a one from them. Provided always, that it shall be, and remain in your power to
« [Augustin Lindsell, Bishop of Patrick Young. Probably it was a
Peterborough, edited Theophylact's joint performance.]
Comment on the Epistles, (published in ' [Patrick Young of S. And™ s
1636 after his death, by Dr. Thomas in Scotland, incorporated at Oxford,
Bayly, afterwards Bishop of Killala,) July 9, 1605, and at Cambridge ,1619.
and the Catena on Job (Heylin's Life See his Life m Smith's Vitae Illustr.
of Laud, p. 215). Wood (F. 0. i. 308), Virorum. 4to. 1707.] says that the latter was edited by
344 LETTERS.
mitigate their fine aforesaid, according as you shall see their diligence and care for the advancing of this work. Given under our signet, at our Palace of Westminster, the thirteenth day of January, in the ninth year of our reign."
I doubt not but that having taken these his Majesty's most gracious letters into your due and dutiful consideration, you will apply yourselves with all care and diligence to give his Majesty all satisfaction herein. In which, I assure you, his Majesty will not be pleased with any delay, knowing that there will be a copy ready for the press before you can be ready with letters and other things necessary. These are, therefore, to pray you, that you presently furnish yourselves with all things necessary, especially matrices and letters of all sorts for the work aforesaid, that I may be able to give his Majesty such an account as he professes he will require of me ; and that you give me your answer, in writing, what obedience you will yield to these his Majesty's directions; of which I pray you not to fail. So I bid you farewell, and rest
Your loving Friend,
W.
Lambeth, January 18,
1633,
LETTER LX.
TO THE BISHOPS OF HIS PROVINCE.
[Wilkins' Cone. torn. iv. p. 486 h.]
8. in Christ o.
MY VERY GOOD LORD,— Your Lordship cannot but know that his Majesty, taking into his princely care the decayed and ruinous estate of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in London, was graciously pleased not many years since to grant a commission towards the repair thereof; the copy of which being first drawn by his Majesty's Attorney- General, was
* [The Printers returned their an- Laud. fol. 195 a.)]
swer on Jan 27 that they were ready t [From Reg. Laud, fol. 195 h,
to promise all things required of them. 196 a.] (Wilkins' Cone. t. iv. p 486, from Eeg.
LETTERS. 345
afterwards reviewed by my Lord Keeper ; and by the joint consent of my predecessor, and all the Lords of his Majesty's most honourable Privy Council, it was then thought fit, that the clergy, bishops and deans excepted, which give annually, should contribute, together with the laity, to the end that their good example might the better move them to the fur therance of so necessary and pious a work. But this course, it seems, took not that good effect which was wished, divers of the clergy disliking it ; wherefore, upon the renewing of the said commission, it is thought expedient to alter the former way, and to leave the clergy wholly to their ordinary, not doubting but that by your Lordship's good example and persuasion they will be very forward in advancing that good work. These are therefore heartily to pray your Lordship to take special care herein, and by yourself or by your arch deacons, to call the clergy of your diocese together accordingly at such time or times as your Lordship shall approve to be most convenient, and to give them thanks, that have already contributed, not pressing any man beyond that which he shall please voluntarily and cheerfully to give. So assuring myself that you will use all effectual means with those of your Lordship's diocese of London, and that they of them selves will be very ready to give their utmost assistance to a work of that nature and consequence, that so nearly concerns the service of God and the honour of this church and nation, with remembrance of my love, I leave you to God's grace, and rest
Your Lordship's very loving Friend and Brother,
W. CANT.
Lambeth House, Januar. ult. 1633.
LETTER LXI.
FROM JOHN WILLIAMS, BISHOP OF LINCOLN. [Lambeth MSS. Numb. mxxx. p. 18.]
MOST REVEREND FATHER IN GOD AND MY VERY GOOD LORD,— My due respects premised, upon the message delivered unto me by Mr. Sherman concerning your Grace's intention to visit my diocese, which no Archbishop of Canterbury hath
346 LETTERS.
done this hundred years, I have caused some search to be made in the registries at Lincoln, and have found there so much as emboldens me to become a humble suitor unto your Grace to forbear this visitation for such a reasonable time as these records may be transcribed and well weighed by your Grace's counsel and mine. All that I humbly desire is but to preserve the rights, exemptions, customs, and privileges of this see, which have been formerly granted, continued, and used in the times of my predecessors, bishops of this place. Upon the well weighing and considering whereof, if it shall be found that your Grace hath right to visit, I will most will ingly (as far as the use and right hath been) in all obedience submit thereunto. If otherwise it shall appear, that by pri vilege, use, prescription, or custom, this diocese be cleared from any metropolitical visitation, or exempted otherwise legally, I do nothing doubt but your Grace shall receive as much honour from that justice which shall suffer the bishopric to enjoy those freedoms which in former times it had, as it can from the power of metropolitical visitation ; and so with my thankful acknowledgment of your Grace's late favours towards me, I humbly rest
Your Grace's much obliged Servant and Suffragan,
Jo. LINCOLN.
From my poor house at Lincoln, this 2d of Feb. 1633. To the Most Rev. Father in God his very good Lord, the Lord Arch bishop of Canterbury, &c. &c.
LETTER LXII.
TO G. J. VOSSIUS. [Apud Priest, ac Erud. Viror. Epistt., Epist. dxxviii.pp. 786, 787.]
Salutem in Christ o.
Quantopere, vir summe, negotiis distrahor, hinc liquet, quod literis tiiis mihi semper gratissimis, postridie Kal. Octob. datis, et xxviii. mensis ejusdem receptis, vix adhuc datur respondendi otium1. Hinc me publica avocant, illinc revocant privata, sed summe necessaria; duplici itinere, 1 [Vide G. J. Vossii Epist. ccvii. p. 223.]
LETTERS. 347
longo, molesto, et sumptuoso, uno eodemque anno suscepto et finite, in Scotiam nempek, et sedem Cantuariensem1. Re- versum me esse ex uno salvum, et in alterum bonis spero avibus alisque provectum, scio te primo auditu perfusum esse gaudio. Non sic omnes affecti, qui audiverunt, nee apud vos nosve. Nee virulentia multorum me latet. Deo gratias, quod causa, cur ita dentibus venenatis famam meam rodant, prorsus ignota est. Si non ideo forte sit, quod a multis jam annis istis moribus in Ecclesia Dei vivitur, ut pessime audiant, etiam ab Ecclesise filiis (ut haberi volunt) qui op time coilsultum Ecclesise, et paci ejus, cupiunt. Tales autem prsetereundi sunt, aut nihil in bonum Ecclesise fa ciendum. Deus mihi constantiam et patientiam det oro ; utraque mihi summe opus. Tu interim orationibus tuis me Deo Opt. Max. commendatum habeas. Ego sic munitus pergam, quo Deus duxerit. Qui malevolis illis et veniam det et mentem meliorem.
Quod ad filium tuum Johannem attinet, &c.
Libri, quos una cum literis misisti, illa3si ad manus meas pervenerunt. Gratulor et tibi, et filio Dionysio, qui juvenis tarn felici genio tanta peragitm, inter literatorum principes princeps facile futurus, si eodem, quo nunc ingreditur, pergat pede. De te quid dicam nescio, nisi quod doleo te ita inter- pellatum, dormientibus interim operibus a te tantopere affectis. Quo respectu quo minus tuus sis, eo minus sis et meus. Sperabo tamen te, etsi forte non facile, omnia supera- turum impedimenta, ne Baronius semper hsereat.
Vidi nuperrime literas tuas ad Goffum, &c.
Merum figmentum est Episcopos Angliee jurisdictionem suam in Ecclesias vestras velle extendere. Id quidem illis ne per somnium accidit. Poeta ad minimum Davenportus, si dicat, fingit. Nam hoc vult Rex Serenissimus, ne mercatores, aliique subditi sui, Forbesiumn, similemve aliiim, Ecclesiae Anglicanse prseferant. Ideoque Forbesio dimisso, Goffus0,
k [Vide Diarium, Opp. torn. iii. pp. pulsus, apud Middleburgam in Hol-
217, 218.] landia coetui Angligenarum in sacris
1 [Vide Diarium, Sept. 19, 1633; prtefuit, atque inibi mortuus est A.D.
ibid. p. 219.] 1634.]
m [Belgarum aliumque gentium ° ['Stephanas Goffe, unus e Regiis
Annales, ab Everardo Reidano Bel- Capellanis. Plures aFeo ad Vossiurn
gice conscriptas, Latine verterat.] exstant Epistolae. In castra lloma-
n [Joannes Forbe*ius, Synodi apud ncnsiumposteatransiit. (Wood, F. O.
Scotos contra regiam auctoritatem i. 494.)] habita?, A.D. 1605, praeses a patria ex-
348 LETTERS.
ad quern scripsisti, vir doctus, et discipline nostree prudens assertor, omnium suffragiis substituitur. Quid hoc ad Eccle- sias vestras? Sed quoniani focina istha3C Davenportum subolet, habebis viri apud nos res gestas ; nee euim ipse audet negare. Triennio plus minus abhinc coram me, Episcopo turn Londinensi, sistebatur, &c.p Si ideo gratus sit vestris Amstelodamensibus, quod Ecclesise suse et Reformats desertor sit, fruatur ille fortuna sua, vos illo. Nolo te diutius a studiis tuis multo utilioribus distinere. Vale. Et quoties Deum pro te ipso interpellas, sis memor etiam mei apud communem lledemptorem
Tibi tuisque amicissimi
GTJIL. CANT.
Datae ex sedibus Lambethanis, Febr. 24, Stil. Vet. 1633.
Dum hsec scrips!, et non antea, nuntiatum est mihi de obitu filii tui, utrum Johannis vel Dionysii nondum constat, sed timetur junior! q. Faxit Deus, quisquis is fuerit, ut te plus a3quo non discruciet.
LETTER LXIII.
TO JOHN WILLIAMS, BISHOP OF LINCOLN.
[Lambeth MSS. Numb. mxxx. p. 19.]
S. in Christ o.
Mi VERY GOOD LORD,— I have received your Lordship's letter concerning my intended visitation of that diocese. And truly, my Lord, why any of my predecessors omitted their visitation of that See, I can neither satisfy myself nor give you an account. Yet this much, I think, is clear, that de jure ordinario, I have as much power to visit your Lord ship's diocese as any other part of my province. To take away this power, it will lie upon you not only to plead but to show your exemption, and if you had any exemption and that be after disannulled, and the Archbishop left to his
LETTERS. 319
ordinary right again, then I think it is clear enough for me ; and I hope I shall be able to make that appear. Two things there are of which I shall assure your Lordship. The one is, that I intend not the offering of any hard measure either to your Lordship or your See, but I hope it shall be esteemed as much both justice and duty in me to maintain the rights of the archbishopric, as in your Lordship to preserve the privi leges of that diocese \ and this is all I seek for. The other is, that his Majesty, taking into due consideration the hurt which either doth or may arise from any such exemption from the power of visitation, is resolved that I shall go on with my visitation for every diocese of my province ; and that I may both obey his sacred Majesty, and preserve and settle the rights of mine own See, I think I shall hold my resolution to visit Lincoln diocese this year, and send out my inhibitions accordingly without delay. For your Lordship's notion of referring it to counsel before I proceed, I shall not stay my inhibitions for that ; yet I hold the motion so reasonable, as that I shall refer the consideration of it to Mr. Attorney- General, that he may know his Majesty's command in this particular, and advise upon my right. And if your Lordship please to join any counsel for yourself, you may so do, and bring or send up your Lordship's evidences, and have them perused to your best advantage1'.
My Lord, I take this occasion also to signify to you, that I represented to his Majesty the care that your Lordship took in your diocese, according to your certificate which you sent to me, and particularly that which concerns the Company of the Mercers, in London, who by the gift of Mr. Fishburn, a brother of theirs, and by a proviso in his gift, take upon them to place and displace a Lecturer at Huntingdon upon any dislike, at a month or a fortnight's warning, without any relation to Bishop or Archbishop8. This, his Majesty says, your Lordship did justly dislike, and gave his answer to that passage in writing in his own hand, and in these words :
r [The letters of Archbishop Laud Works, vol. v. p. 321. Richard Fish-
and Bishop Williams to Attorney-Ge- burn gave, in 1630, 2,000£. to the
neral Noye, and his decision of the Mercers' Company. This, with other
question in the Archbishop's favom-, are sums, was invested in the purchase of
printed in Wilkins' Cone. torn. iv. pp. the Manor of Chalgrave, from which
487-490, from llcg. Laud, foil. 112, 113. 601. is paid yearly to the Lecturer.
s [See Accounts of Province for 1633. (Lewis's Topog. Diet.)]
350 LETTERS.
' That he could not hold it fit that any lay person or corpora tion whatsoever should have the power these men would take to themselves, for he would have 110 priest have any necessity of dependency upon their people;' and commanded me to signify to your Lordship that he would have this remedied. I pray your Lordship, therefore, in his Majesty's name, to take present order that the Mercers either relinquish the grant and submit to the orders of the Church, or else that you admit no Lecturer there, unless your Lordship can think of any better way to remedy this new lay encroachment upon your Church.
Concerning those things in your Lordship's certificate which are not within his Majesty's instructions, I have received no answer but this : That his Majesty leaves them to your Canon and ordinary rule of the Church, with this, that though the Canon say the people may receive the Communion in the chancel or in the body of the church, yet he likes not that the ordinary (to whose discretion this disjunctive is left) should suffer it to be in the body of the church ; both because the people usually sit in their seats, and cannot be discerned whether they kneel or no while they receive, and because the minister cannot possibly come with any convenience at them which are placed farthest in their seats, to deliver the Sacra ment to them, unless every other seat should be left void. I am sorry I have so much occasion to trouble your Lordship, but you will, I hope, bear with it, because the greatest part concerns yourself, and your own particular; so, in haste, I leave you to the grace of God, and rest
Your Lordship's loving Friend and Brother,
W. CANT.
Lambeth, Feb. 25, 1633.
Endorsed: '1633. The copy of my letter to the Bishop of Lincoln about my visitation, and his Ma jesty's answer to his certificate.'
LETTERS. 351
LETTER LXIV.
FROM JOHN WILLIAMS, BISHOP OF LINCOLN. [Lambeth MSS. Numb. mxxx. p. 21.]
MOST REVEREND FATHER IN GOD AND MY VERY GOOD LORD, — My humble duty and service remembered. To your Grace's letter concerning this visiting of my dio cese, however my predecessors have heretofore framed their appeals, I humbly crave pardon to offer rather some rea sons why it should not be now, or not in this manner by way of inhibitions, than why your Grace should not visit at all. And this I have endeavoured to do in a letter to Mr. Attorney General, to be (in my absence by reason of indisposition) made good as far as my records will serve the turn, by my counsel, if your Grace shall be likewise pleased to design any solicitor to attend the business : and whatsoever Mr. Attorney shall, either out of his own knowledge, or by direction from his most excellent Majesty, order therein, I shall most steadily abide and perform.
For these two things your Grace is pleased to assure me of, the fair measure intended for my See and myself, and his Majesty's pleasure and providence not to allow any exemptions in this kind, (were it but expressed in a line or two, to remain upon record,) would end this difference to my full content ment.
I will put down the Lecturer at Huntingdon, until the Company of the Mercers shall clearly and absolutely nomi nate a clerk to be approved by the ordinary for the discharge of that preaching-place, for so long a time as he the said ordinary shall hold him fit to lecture there, in regard of his life, doctrine, and diligence. I was mistaken in that .disjunctive about the placing of the Communion-table in country churches, and thought it had related to the spacious ness of the room and the usual reading-place ; but his most excellent Majesty conceiving it to be entirely left to the discretion of the ordinary, I am better instructed for the like occurrences in the times to come.
352 LETTERS.
To conclude where I began : when your Grace shall resolve to visit these parts, however the diocese shall appear, the Bishop will be found a very sick man, until your Grace (upon whom he mainly depends therein) shall be the happy mes senger to bring unto him some "dawning hopes of his Majesty's favour, Avhich blessing if your Grace shall once procure him, there is no Bishop in Christendom shall more affectionately honour or more devoutly pray for your Grace, than
Your Grace's unfortunate Servant and Suffragan,
Jo. LINCOLN.
Buckden, this 7th of March, 3633.
To the Most Reverend Father in God my very good Lord, the Lord Arch bishop of Canterbury, &c, &c.
LETTER LXV.
TO THE LORD VISCOUNT WENT WORTH.
[Strafforde Letter?, vol. i. pp. 212—214.]
Salutem in Christo.
MY VERY GOOD LORD, — I have received a pair of cards from you or two, but they are not to play withal, the packet is too serious ; therefore I will begin with the outworks, your letter which came to me single^ and give you an account of other things in my own hand as there shall be cause.
I have known the Bishop of Waterfordu long, and when he had a lived in the College, he would have done anything, or sold Si?' any man, for sixpence profit1. It seems he carried the same je S" mind with him into Ireland, by which means Lismore and heney Youghall have fared never the better by him. But since ford. Lismore was in huckster's handlingx before he came to forget Waterford, it may be, if he be handsomely wrought on, he
* [This letter does not appear to 172.)]
have been preserved. It is probably u [See above, p. 308.]
the letter of Oct. 31, to which Strafford * [See above, p. 333.] refers. (Strafforde Letters, vol. i. p.
LETTERS. 353
will be brought to petition me about it, which will be an excellent ground for us both to work on.
I thank your Lordship heartily for the Dean of London derry y; it will be a brave example, and he deserves it plenti fully. You may see by this what a miserable thing it is when buying and selling comes into the Church, for it stays not till they sell one preferment, if they may be able to buy another, as it seems Sutton did.
The Bishop of Waterford was ever full of jests, and would at any time lose a friend rather than spare it. And there fore it is no wonder, if he spare not the Earl his kinsman. But a passing good jest it was that he broke upon him, and as like him as could be. I could find in my heart to forgive him some errors, so he would petition me about Lismore; but 'tis so easy a thing for the Earl to keep him from it, that I shall not believe he will do it, till it be done ; for if the Earl will feed him with a little money, farewell Lismore, and the petition too.
I have given my Lord of London2 thanks from your Lord ship, though neither myself nor he expect any such compli ment from vou1, where the justice of your cause challenged
11 T -11 " T •
all we aicT, ana where 1 conceive the King was more con- cerned than your person: and howsoever, where vou serve the
~, 1 pressed t
Church so heartily, we Churchmen were much to blame if in the cor
siori of y<
we should not serve you. This is true, by St. Dunstan and lettera- his tongs: for my Lord Cottington tells me he hath got a precedent of a Bishop that dares take the devil by the nose without them, which St. Dunstan never durst do. But wot you what ? He tells me of another civilizing precedent in as fair and handsome a way as the Court hath any : but I believe neither the Attorney0, nor himself will be much the better by it. Yet I cannot tell, now his wife is deadd, what he may
y [Henry Sutton, who, it appears, 189), and is given more fully in Rush-
dad been guilty of some simoniacal worth's Collections, vol. ii. pp. 215 —
transaction.] 220. Rushworth erroneously places
[William Juxon.] the decision of the case in Feb. 163f.
[This appears to refer to the con- It must have been decided the pre
clusion of the letter of Jan. 31, 1633.] vious November, or early in December.
b [This refers to an information See Garrard's letter to the Lord Ue-
rough t against Sir David Foulis in the puty, Dec. 6, 1633. (Strafforde Let-
Star Chamber for a libel against Went- tors, vol. i. p. 167.)] worth. The case is referred to by Went- c [William Noye. ] worth himself (Letters, vol. i. pp. 143, d [Anne, daughter of Sir William
LAUD. — VOL. VI.
1 YOU n
take this
354 LETTERS.
do, for the little Secretary6 says the original precedent did not begin till he was left a widower f. You see how merry these gentlemen are, while I am fain to drudge at Lambeth.
Thus far concerning your outworks; now to the serious business of your larger letters. And first, concerning the reformation of that Church to the Church of England. It is certainly deeply seated in his Majesty's thoughts, but your Lordship is very right, that the material church must be built, and an abler clergy in some measure provided, or else it will be vain to attempt it. And since you desire not only my counsel, but his Majesty's resolution, you shall here have it, as far as he is pleased to give it.
And first, the anatomy which you make of the Irish eccle siastical disease, makes it apparent that it is spread so universally over the body, that a very wise physician can scarce tell where to begin his cure. But if you will have my foolish judgment, thus it is. I would set upon the repair of the material and the spiritual Church together; and first, I would have a general and a strict command issued out, that every minister should read all Divine Service wholly and distinctly, in a grave and religious manner, to their people ; and this, I take it, may be presently done without any noise, because they have the English Liturgy already. And at the same time would I have an Act made, that no man, of what degree soever, should hold above two benefices with cure, and those within a limited distance, that they may the better take care of them. If these two were once settled, the rest would follow in order, especially if your Lordship can reduce some more of their temporalities for maintenance, and keep them (especially the Bishops) from their sacrilegious alienations, about which you are in a very good way, and his Majesty commands me to thank you for that care.
For the schools, if your Lordship will remedy anything,
Meredith, and widow of Sir Robert took place in Went worth's politics,
Brett. She had only recently died, after his second widowhood.] See Cottington's letter to Wentworth, s [This was the despatch written l>y
March 11, 1633. (Strafforde Letters, Wentworth on the 31st of the previous
vol. i. p. 214.)] January, and which he sent, together
e [Sir Francis Wiudebank. He styles with other important papers, by Sir
himself, in a letter to Strafford, ' Your George Wentworth, his brother. See
little, but most true servant.' (Straf- Strafforde Letters, vol. i. pp. 187-189,
forde Letters, vol. i. p. 215.)] 194, 218.]
• [This refers to the change which
'' LETTERS. 355
you must take the same way for restoring their temporalities, without which reward no man will take pains, and there arc not many men which deserve better or worse of a state than schoolmasters. And where abuses are grown so many and great, I do not see any reformation possible, without some severity. Therefore if your Lordship will rectify this, you must turn out the insufficient, and especially those which train the youth in Popery.
For the third thing your Lordship mentions, I conceive the remedy is more easy ; for there you have nothing to do but to turn the money given to charitable uses to the use intended by the donor; to reduce such patronages as are unjustly gotten from the Crown, and to enter into the first- fruit office all such benefices as are not there already, and yet are valuable in that account ; which I mention so, because i i w;n ,-n with us in England no benefice pays any subsidy, that is not Lordship" above 61. value in the King's books 1. JSyl""
As for the College, I am very sorry they have chosen me Chancellor11, and if they will follow the directions I have given them by my Lord Primate, I hope they will send me a resig nation, that I may give it over, and your Lordship be chosen, being upon the place, and able to do them much more good. As for their Statutes, if they need any mending, I shall not refuse that pains. But before I can enter upon that service, if they have a confirmation of their Statutes under the Broad Seal of that kingdom, or this, I must have a commission under the same seal, to authorize me to alter or do what I think fit with them, else I may not meddle. If this shall be thought fit, I will presently send for a copy of their Statutes, and such exceptions as the wisest men in that Society can make against them, and so proceed. For the Provost (, if he be a weak one, the fault is not mine. For when the Bishop of Kilmore was preferred from that government k, I was resolved to make the Pean of Cashel that now is ', his suc-
h [Laud was elected Chancellor Fellows, at the time of Bedell's elec-
Sept. 14, 1633.] tion.]
1 [This was Dr. Robert Ussher, son k [Bedell was appointed Bishop of
of Henry Ussher, Archbishop of Ar- Kilmore, May 1629, and consecrated
magh, who obtained the Charter of Sept. 13.1
Trinity College, Dublin. He had l [William Chappcll, originally of
been proposed as Provost by the J uniur Christ's College, Cambridge, where he
356 LETTERS.
cessor ; and though my Lord Primate writ very earnestly for a native and his kinsman, that now is Provost, with assurance i Yet now of his sufficiency1 m ; and though two of the Fellows came MrSit?brtoeme, over and petitioned his Majesty, yet all this should hardly lost fsloo°~ have taken me off, had not the Dean of Cashel at that time government, absolutely refused me } and if now your Lordship think him tutes toon. as fit for the place as I do, I will join with you for the pre ferring of the present Provost, and to be revenged of his former refusal, put in the Dean of Cashel, alway provided, that for his better encouragement he may hold his deanery. And in the meantime, for the prohibiting of the teaching of Arts abroad in the country, I think that must proceed from your authority, and the sooner it be done the better.
For the 1,000/., &c., your Lordship is in as good a way as can be ; and if you can get the 600£. back, it is an excellent work ; if you cannot, the next best is, to keep the 400/. there, where you will have means to bestow it very well.
Your Lordship is likewise in a very right way for the com mutations, for I do not see as yet, how you can go further than the taking of their own accounts, both for receipts and layings out. And you do very nobly to keep off scandal from their persons, as much as you can; for it will reflect upon the Church. And I am afraid that many of them will be found guilty. You give me one shrewd instance in the Bishop of Waterford; and truly, my Lord, I must needs say, if but half the articles, which you send with the petition against him, be proved true, I should give my consent to make him an example. How fit it may be to do so, I leave to your judgment, who are in authority, and upon the place. But your Lordship need not make such a preface, when you begin with him, for you may remember I told you, when you went out of England, what you should find of him, though I must confess I did not think he could have been so bad as this
had been Milton's tutor. He had been previously given like testimony in his
appointed Dean of Cashel, 1633, was favour. (See above, p. 262).]
appointed Provost of Dublin, 1634, » [See Letter clxxiii. in Parr's Col-
and Bishop of Cork and Ross, 1638. 1 ection of Archbishop Ussher's Letters.
Soo his Life in Biogr. Britann.] It is wrongly placed in 1632. Dr.
m [This testimony is given in Letter Elrington has restored it and the pre-
cxlv. in Parr's Collection, p. 412. It ceding Letter (also to Archbishop
appears also by Laud s Letter of June Laud) to their proper places. See El-
25, 1629, that Archbishop Ussher had ring-ton's Ussher, vol. xvi.]
LETTERS.
357
petition doth represent Mm. But your Lordship is very sorry to tell the truth, hut only that it will out. A St. John's man you say he is, and of Oxford ; your Cambridge panniers never brought such a fairing to the market. Yes, my good Lord, but it hath ; for what say you of Dean Palmer °? who besides his other virtues, sold all the lead off from the church at Peter- burgh, yet he was brought in your Cambridge panniers ; and so was Bishop Howlahd P too, who used that Bishopric, as well he did the Deanry. I must confess this man's baseness hath not many fellows, but his bribery may have store. And I pray, is that ever a whit the less fault, because it is gentleman-like for hundreds and thousands ? Whereas this man deals for twenty shillings and less. I hope you will not say so, and if you do not, then I pray examine your Cambridge panniers again, for some say such may be found there, but I for my part will not believe it, unless your Lordship make me.
I thank your Lordship for your love to the Dean of Cashel ; I hope he will deserve it all : and for the Bishop of Kilmore, I make no doubt, but that you will find him very ready and constant in the King's service : and then I know his other worth will merit your love.
For the Bishop of Cork 1, I dare not say sententias loquitur, for fear of what follows ; but having given you my former judgment of him and his letter, I must needs advise you now to answer him in such a style, as may leave him and his sen tences free form that sentence, which may otherwise come upon him. But I must needs say, his pieces of Latin were like the old ends of gold and silver, which you see both he and his brother love very well.
Thus much in answer to your Lordship's letters, or rather to the outside of them. The other businesses of moment I can say nothing to till I have spoken with his Majesty again,
0 [John Palmer, Dean of Peter- Bishop of Peterborough March 16, borough, Dec. 2, 1597. He died 1607, 1584. He died June 23, 1600.] and left but an indifferent character 1 [Richard Boyle, Dean of Water- behind him for embezzling the lead, ford, was appointed Bishop of Cork, and dying much in debt. Willis's Ca- Cloyne and Boss, 1620. He was son thedrals, vol. ii. p. 511.] of Michael Boyle, uncle to the Earl of
P [Richard Rowland, originally a Cork, and was brother to the Bishop
Fellow of Peterhouse, afterwards of Waterford. He was, in 1638, ap-
Master of St. John's College, Cam- pointed Archbishop of Tuam.j bridge, July 20, 1577, consecrated
358 LETTERS.
arid made off some other difficulties (if it be possible), of which I will give you a true account, and the best I can. So I leave your Lordship to the grace of God, and rest
Your Lordship's Loving poor Friend to serve you,
W. CANT.
Lambeth, March llth, 1633.
LETTER LXVI.
TO THE LORD VISCOUNT WENTWORTH.
[Strafforde Letters, vol. i. p. 211.]
Salutem in Christ o.
MY VERY GOOD LORD,— The King is yet at Newmarket, ] so I can give you no account of anything that relates to him.
I here enclosed send you an answer to all those things which are in my power or knowledge, the rest must come after, as I can get despatch for them.
I heartily thank your Lordship for your noble favour, care, I and pains, in sending me the duplicates ; if you be at the pains to write, I will certainly be at the pains to read, and thank your Lordship. I carry the business as you wish me, and know nothing but what is told me by others. In the general, I can say this, I find my Lord Cottington and Mr. Secretary Windebank very careful for the despatch of all your proposals ; but the King hath referred them to the consi deration of a Committee, and my Lord Treasurer r hath not his health very well, but I hope that will not cause any long stay.
Two things there are which I heartily pray you to take into serious consideration; the one is my Lord of Cork's tomb. I have received, since your brother's coming, letters about it, not only from the Earl himself3, but from my Lord Primate ' and my Lord Archbishop of Dublin n. Both of
Earl of Portland.] rington to its proper place in 1633.
[ine Earl of Cork s Letter is given It was most probably written, as well
m 1 rjnnes Cant. Doom, pp. 83, 84.] as those of the Archbishop of Dublin
[bee Letter clxxii. in Parr's Col- and of Lord Cork in Feb. 1634 1
ection. It is wrongly placed by him - [See Prynne's Cant. Doom* pp. 84,
lu 1032, but is restored by Dr. El- 85 ]
LETTERS. 359
them justify, that the tomb stands not in the place of the altar, and that it is a great ornament to that church, so far from being any inconvenience. That your Lordship may see how they plead for him and it, I here send you a true copy of both their letters. I confess I am not satisfied with that they say, yet it is hard for me that am absent to cross directly the report of two Archbishops. But this is not it, for which I desire you to take it into consideration. This it is : the copies of these letters sent to me, I am informed, are sent to my Lord Treasurer. He takes it very highly, because of his kinsman the Lord Chancellor Westonx. You must have daily use of his Lordship here, and I would not, both in regard of the King's service and your own good, that this should occasion a breach between you. For myself, I am not considerable, and can bear the jealousies that are upon me ; but I would have your Lordship keep all great friends entire. This I know, you are beholden to Mr. Secretary Windebank for a great deal of care of your despatches.
The other is, I hear yon intend to make Mr. Philip Main- waring y Secretary there. I hope you know what opinion I have of the gentleman, and I profess I should be right glad to hear of any good come to him. But I cannot put him in the scales with you, and rather than that you should run upon a rock, I will speak plainly that which I cannot tell whether any of your other friends will signify, and I presume you will burn this letter, and let no man know what I write. You writ this to my Lord Cottington, and he purposes to move the King as you desire ; but I know he is very much troubled at it, and I know to whom he said, that of his knowledge, if you meddled with making him Secretary, you would burn your fingers, with some other expressions, which I cannot think fit to write.
I can scarce keep open my eyes, it is so late ; therefore I end abruptly, and with hearty wishes for your good, answer-
r [Dr. Robert Weston, the Lord riecl Sir Geoffrey Fenton). She died
Chancellor of Ireland, was great- uncle Feb. 16, 16|§, and was buried in
to the Lord Treasurer. His grand- the same grave with her grandfather,
daughter, Catherine Fenton, was the over which the monument spoken of
second wife of the Earl of Cork (her in the text was erected.]
mother being Alice Weston, who mar- y [Wentworth's Private Secretary.]
360
LETTERS.
able to that you do for God and His Church, I leave you and yours to His blessed protection, and rest Your Lordship's
Very loving Friend and Servant,
Lambeth, March llz, 1634.
I had almost forgotten to tell you, that all this business about demolishing my Lord of Cork's tomb is charged upon you, as if it were done only because he will not marry his son to my Lord Clifford's a daughter, and that I do it to join with you ; whereas the complaint came against it to me out of Ireland, and was presented by me to the King, before I knew your Lordship was named for Deputy there. But jealousies know no end.
LETTER LXVII.
TO WILLIAM NOTE, ESQ. [Wilkins' Cone. torn. iv. p. 488 b.]
S. in Christ o.
WORTHY SIR,— I foresee there are some troubles likely to
arise about my metropolitical visitation, my Lord the Bishop
of Lincoln and myself differing as yet in some circumstances
about it; but by a letter which I lately received from hi*
Lordship, I understand that he hath referred the examination
f his right in this business to you c, and so shall I mine too
with all my heart ; praying you, that you will take some time
itwixt this and the next term, for the perusal of our records
>n both sides ; and whatsoever you shall find to be just and
mg, I shall promise for my part very readily to yield unto ;
»arried as his fat
LETTERS. 361
yet as I would be loth to offer wrong to his Lordship's lawful jurisdiction in anything, so I am resolved to defend and maintain the ancient rights of my archbishopric, as far as in me lieth, to the uttermost, and I doubt not but herein you will give me all just assistance. So I leave you to the grace of God, and rest
Your very loving Friend,
W. CANT.d Lambeth, March 12, 1633.
Address :
To my much honoured friend, Mr. Wil liam Noyc, Esq., his Majesty's Attor ney-General, at Lincoln's Inn, These.
LETTER LXVIII.
TO LANCELOT BULKELEY, ARCHBISHOP OF DUBLIN0.
[Prynne's Cant. Doom, pp. 85, 86.]
S. in Christ o.
MY VERY GOOD LORD, — It is most true that I have taken offence at a tomb erected by the Earl of Cork in the Cathedral of St. Patrick ; but I did not take that offence lately only, but before ever my Lord Deputy that now is was named to the place. And I took that offence by a complaint thence sent unto me (for I was never there), though I cannot recall who it was that complained. And I am sure that the complaint came then unto me with a full cry, that it was built in the place where the high altar first stood, and the communion-table afterwards.
Your Lordship, at the Earl's entreaty, hath signified to me your knowledge (for so you say) that the tomb stands in a great arch at the end of the quire, which was plastered up to keep out the wind, and that the high altar stood at the end of the Lady Mary's Chapel, which is beyond it, and that the east window is at the top of the arch, and not darkened.
d [Noye undertook the office of e [Lancelot Bulkeley, the youngest
referee, and gave his decision in favour son of Sir Eichard Bulkeley, of Beau-
of the Archbishop. See his opinion maris, in Anglesey, was consecrated
in Wilkins' Cone. torn. iv. pp. 488—490, Archbishop of Dublin October 3, 1619.
from Keg. Laud, fol. 113 a, b.] He died in 1650.]
362 LETTERS.
My Lord, it will be hard for me to speak anything contrary to your Lordship, who hath been so often upon that place, where I never was ; yet I shall deal freely, and tell your Lordship what I think.
And first, my Lord, I am satisfied that the tomb darkens none of the east window. But I am no way satisfied that the altar stood at the upper end of the Lady Mary's Chapel. That an altar stood there, I easily grant, for in those times there were divers altars in one cathedral, and every by- chapel had one at least. But that the high altar did ever stand in any cathedral in other place than the east end of the quire, is quite out of my knowledge, nor did I ever hear it till now by your Lordship's letters.
That the place before the arch was an earthen floor, and often troubled with a fresh, I do again really believe your Lordship, and the Earl hath done very well to raise it, arid pave it with stone. But that the swelling of the tomb, the iron grate before it, the taking in of some ancient monuments on either side, the erecting of a screen, before which you say the communion-table should stand, would take off little or no room from the quire; that, I must confess, I do not very well understand.
Your Lordship adds, that when the screen is built, and the communion-table placed before it, it will much beautify the quire, and be like other cathedrals. To that I can say nothing, but must leave it to their eyesight and judgment that are upon the place. And whereas your Lordship says, that my Lord had leave of the Dean and Chapter with their unanimous consent to erect a monument in that place ; — if the place be fit for a monument, the consent was very well asked, and given. But if it appear the place were inconvenient, then my Lord of Cork did not very well to ask a consent, and the Dean and Chapter did very ill to grant it ; and the more unanimous the consent was, the worse. And whereas you write, that there are other honourable personages, whose memory is preserved in that monument : to that I say, if the monument stand where it ought, God forbid it should be touched; if it stand where it ought not, it may be fairly and decently removed, and set up in some convenient place upon the side of the quire, or elsewhere, where it will as well preserve
LETTERS. 363
the memory of those honourable personages which you mention, as now it doth. And God forbid any violence should be offered to that, in any kind.
And last of all, whereas your Lordship desires I should take into consideration the merits of that noble Earl ; I am very willing to do that. And first, I am very glad to hear from your Lordship his zeal for the advancement of true religion ; but I may not conceal from your Lordship, that I have likewise heard from others, and that some years since, that he hath gotten into his hands no small proportion of the Church's means ; and if that be so, any man may see his end in advancing true religion. But such a zeal that poor Church hath little need of, and God bless every part of the Church from it. As for his Lordship's building of churches, schools, and hospitals, I know nothing of that, and can say as little to it. Only this I can say, that if he take from the Church in one place, to build church, school, or hospital in another, 'tis no zeal, nor the way which Christian bounty uses to tread. And if his Lordship hath done any public work for strength and fortification to the kingdom, I pray God that be not done with the Church's money too. But howsoever his Lordship hath got a very full estate in that kingdom, and he doth very wisely to fortify it as well as he can. But besides these, I have long since heard, though you now mention it not, that his Lordship hath done greater service to the Church in some other particulars ; as, namely, to the Bishopric of Lismore, and the College of Youghall, for which it is great pity but that his Lordship's memory should be preserved in the Church.
Thus I have given your Grace a distinct answer to all the particulars in your letter. But for the tomb, which occasioned all the rest, I will not take upon me to judge (unless I were upon the place) how fitly, or unfitly, it stands there, but shall wholly leave it to the view, and resolution, which shall there upon be taken in that place. So I leave you to the grace of God, and rest
Your Lordship's very loving Friend
and Brother, WILL. CANT.
Lamb. March, 1633.
361 LETTERS.
LETTER LXIX.
TO RICHARD BOYLE, EARL OF CORK. [Strafforde Letters, vol. i. pp. 222, 223.]
Salutem in Christ o.
MY VERY GOOD LORD, — It is very true that I have taken exceptions to the monument which you have built in St. Patrick's Church, and I hope your Lordship will easily con ceive I could not prophesy of any such thing, and therefore must needs have the knowledge of it from thence, as I assure your Lordship I had, and from good hands ; though I cannot now recall from whom. My Lord, the report that the tomb was built in the place where the high altar stood, and the communion-table should now stand, did not come lately to me, as your Lordship supposes ; for, I assure you, I heard of it, and complained of it to the King, and desired remedy, before ever my Lord Deputy that now is was so much as named to that place. And therefore, whereas your Lordship writes, that you built it three years since, and never heard any mouth opened against it ; it seems some mouths, which durst not open there, did open fully here ; for I assure you, upon my credit, the information before-mentioned came unto me. I had then just cause to doubt, considering the forms of all other cathedrals which I had seen, that the east window was darkened by it ; but that it is not so, I am fully satisfied. For the other exception, that it stands where the high altar stood, and the communion-table ought to stand, I must clearly confess to your Lordship, I am not satisfied : nor whether it will not take off too much room from the quire, when the screen is built as you intend it. Neither can your Lordship think, that I shall make myself judge of these or any other inconveniences, having never been upon the place to see it, but shall leave it wholly to such view and consideration as shall there be had of it, yet wishing with all my heart that you had erected that monument upon the side of the quire, or any other convenient place, rather than where you have now set it. And I must needs tell your Lordship, such an erection as that would have asked very good deliberation where to have placed it. As for the Dean and Chapter's
LETTERS. 365
consent, if they had understood themselves and the Church better, your Lordship had been free from these fears. I have received, together with your Lordship's letters, two other ; one from my Lord Primate of Armagh, and the other from the Lord Archbishop of Dublin, but neither of their reports do fully satisfy me, as will appear by the answer I have given their Lordships ; neither can I give your Lordship such an answer as I see you expect. For as yet I did never see that cathedral church where the high altar stood in the Lady Mary's Chapel, and not at the upper end of the quire ; which place, under favour of better judgments, I cannot say is a fit place for any man's monument. And whereas your Lordship writes at the latter end of your letters, that you bestow a great part of your estate and time in charitable works, I am heartily glad to hear it ; but withal, your Lordship will, I hope, give me leave to deal freely with you, and then I must tell your Lordship, if you have done as you write, you have suffered strangely for many years together by the tongues of men, who have often and constantly affirmed, that you have not been a very good friend to the Church in the point of her maintenance. I hope these reports are not true, but if they be, I cannot account your works charitable, having no better foundation than the livelihood of the Church taken away to do them. I am sorry I cannot give your Lordship any other answer to your letters than what here I have written ; and therefore leave the tomb to be viewed and ordered by my Lord Deputy and the Archbishops there, as they shall find fittest to be done. So I leave you to the grace of God, and rest
Your Lordship's loving poor Friend,
W. CANT.
Lambeth, March the 21, 1633.
LETTER LXX.
FROM JOHN WILLIAMS, BISHOP OF LINCOLN. [Lambeth MSS. Numb mxxx. p. 23.]
MOST REVEREND FATHER IN GOD AND MY VERY GOOD LORD, —I must ever acknowledge your Grace's just proceedings with me in the referring of the business of your metropolitical
366 LETTERS.
visitation unto the arbitrament of Mr. Attorney-General, upon whose opinion I shall satisfy myself, submit unto your Grace, and leave all further impleading of this cause to the the next ages.
I shall only in the last branch, which concerns your Grace's inhibiting of me and my officers, wherein Mr. Attorney forbears to deliver his opinion, humbly leave it to your Grace's consideration whether, if your Grace expects we should obey the same at all (which was never done in this diocese before), yet in that case we should do it before such time as your Grace hath fully visited your diocese of Canterbury. And withal, however your Grace shall resolve therein, I do humbly desire your Grace to take the poor officers of the diocese, whose livelihood depends upon the exercise of the jurisdiction, unto your gracious consideration; and with the remembrance of my duty to your Grace, I shall never fail to remain
Your Grace's most humble
Servant and Suffragan,
Jo. LINCOLN.
Buckden, this 27th day of March, 1634.
To the most Reverend Father in God my very good Lord the Lord Arch bishop of Canterbury, &c. &c. Present these.
LETTER LXXI.
TO THE LORD VISCOUNT SCUDAMOKEf. [In the possession of the Rev. J. F. Russell s],
S. in Christ o.
MY VERY GOOD LORD, — I am glad to see by your letters, that you are returned safe to your own home; where God bless you, your lady11, and your son with health. I remember you told me when you were lately here, you thought your sister's * business would bring you to London again in Easter
f [See vol. iii. p. 175.] h [Elizabeth, only daughter of Sir
K [This letter Mr. Russell obligingly Arthur Porter.]
informed me, when favouring me with ; [Mary Scudamorc, the wife of Sir
the transcript, was formerly in the Giles Brydgcs.j possession of the Duke of Sussex.]
LETTERS. 367
Term ; if it do, I shall be very glad to see you, and though 1 have little leisure left me, yet I shall find enough, I hope, to give you as many turns in my stone -gallery, if you have any occasion to see me, as I did at your late being here j for which your company and kindness, I thank you heartily.
About a week before I received your Lordship's letters, I had a letter sent me from the party, whose long sickness you give me such an account of as you can. And though Mr. Parry express little to you, yet I doubt, I can give a shrewd guess at his disease ; not that he hath expressed in his letters anything to me, but all that I guess, is by some ex pressions upon the bye. And truly, my Lord, if I mistake not, all his disease is discontent, but for what, is nowhere expressed ; but if I collect right, it is for that which I can not remedy, and which, were I as pettish as some men are, would give me just cause of offence. For your Lordship knows, no man better, how ready I was, when you were in treaty for him for the Chancellorship of Gloucester, to do him all the favour, and give him all the assistance I could. Besides, you know how careful I was, to fit him nearer you than so, by all my endeavours for Hereford, till it appeared plainly that no good could be done that way. Since that, I would have given him (and your Lordship knows that too) a Prin cipality of a Hall in Oxford k, had not his necessary attendance upon you made him incapable of it, which I could not help. Yet he writes, that he is almost obliterated out of my me mory. Your Lordship shall take no notice of this, but it is not well. Perhaps he thinks, I might in all this space have given him some such place in mine own gift ; but he would have done very well, before he had drunk in his discontent, to have asked me whether any such place had fallen void or no, and I would have answered him as truly, as easily, that I was never yet so happy, as to have any such place to give. And for those which are now in my power, they are for the greatest and ablest lawyers in the kingdom, if ever they should fall void in my lifetime, which I know not whether they will or no. I am willing to give your Lordship this large account, that you may see how little cause I have given
k [This appear* to have been the headship of St. Mary's Hall, which was vacant in 1032.]
368 LETTERS.
of discontent. And if that which I cannot do, or not do with ray credit, be thus expected from me, it will make me shrink up indeed, and not lie so open to my friends as I have done. So in haste, I leave your Lordship to the grace of God, ever resting
Your Lordship's loving Friend
to serve you,
W. CANT.
Lambeth, March 29th, 1634.
To the Right Honourable my very good Lord the Lord Viscount Scu- damore, at Cradock, in Hereford, shire. These.
LETTER LXXII.
TO JOHN WILLIAMS, BISHOP OF LINCOLN.
[Lambeth MSS. Numb. mxxx. p. 24.]
S. in Christ o.
MY VERY GOOD LORD, — I have received your Lordship's letters by the hands of your ancient officer, Mr. Prigeon, and thank your Lordship for your fair respect in them ; and as I was willing to refer the examination and censure of my right to Mr. Attorney- General — for I assure your Lordship, if I had not seen a fair way in mine own judgment and good evidences for my right, which by my forbearance might in time have been lost, I should not have troubled your Lord ship with it at this time ; but now I am glad 'tis settled, and I hope your Lordship shall have little cause to complain of it.
My Lord, concerning my inhibitions, I did not send them to your Lordship without very good advice; for though I have not fully made an end of the visitation of my own diocese of Canterbury, yet no law that I know or hear of forbids my inhibitions before. And though I have been thus careful to keep the strictest rule, and visit none of my brethren till I have visited myself, yet I believe were the acts of my registers thoroughly scanned, there are some hundreds of years past in which scarce any one Archbishop hath kept himself so close and so strict to the Canon as I have done in this. And whereas your Lordship says, that
LETTERS. 3G9
Mr. Attorney hath forborne to deliver his opinion in this particular ; I do not, under favour, conceive it so ; for though he does not so positively express himself as in the former, yet I suppose he hath laid down those reasons in a fair and a modest way, which make that part more strong for me than any of the rest which he hath formally declared. And, therefore, since your Lordship, in the beginning of your letter, submits unto me, and afterwards desires me to express myself in this particular, Whether I would have my inhibi tions obeyed, till the visitation of my own diocese be past ? I must needs tell your Lordship, I would have them obeyed, for I hold my inhibition, and the citations also that are to be sent forth, to be the necessary preparatories to the actual visitation that is to follow.
For the last passage of your letters, concerning your officers, I shall be ready to do all that your Lordship desires, and will charge my officers to use them as fairly as they do the officers of any other diocese, if they, or any of them, do not by their own default make themselves uncapable of favour. So wishing your Lordship all health and happiness, I leave you to the grace of God, and rest
Your Lordship's very loving Friend and Brother.
Lambeth, Mar. 31, 1634.
Endorsed : ' March ult. 1634. The copy of ray letter to the Bishop of Lincoln concerning my visitation, &c.'
LETTER LXXIII.
TO THE LORD MA YOU OF LONDON. [Wilkins' Cone, tom.iv. pp. 492, 493 '.]
S. in Christ o.
After my hearty commendations, &c. His Majesty, out of his princely care, not only of St. Paul's Church, London, but of that city, and the kingdom in general, hath been 'gra ciously pleased to write unto me, that against all base and unworthy rumours, he is not only resolute to cause the work to go on, but, further, to take upon himself and his own [ J [From Reg. Laud, fol. 200 b.]
LAUD. — VOL. VI.
370 LETTERS.
charge the repair of the whole west end of the church111; which as it will be a great work in itself, so will it also be an excellent memorial to all posterity of so pious and gracious a prince. In these his Majesty's letters, there is an express command upon me, that I should send a copy of them to your Lordship, and the aldermen your brethren, that ye may see not the King's bounty only, but the clearness of all his royal intentions in and concerning that pious work ; and, in obedience to the command which I have received, I here send you a true and perfect copy of his Majesty's gracious letters sent to me ; not doubting but that you will cheerfully receive them, arid cause them to be registered among those things, which you keep with greatest care in that city. And further, I hope that this piety and great munificence of his Majesty will stir up your Lordship, and the rest of that honourable city, to extend your charity, that so the work may go on, to the great honour of yourselves, and this whole kingdom. Thus with my prayers to God, that He would open and enlarge your hearts to this work of His service, I leave you to His grace, and rest
Your Lordship's very loving Friend,
W. CANT.
Lnmbcth, April 28, 1634.
LETTER LXXIV.
TO ADAM BALLANDEN, BISHOP OF DUNBLANE. [Baillie's Letters and Journals, Appendix II. No. viii. p. 432 ".]
S. in Christo.
MY VERY GOOD LORD, — I am right sorry for the death of the Bishop of Edinburgh °, the loss being very great both to the King and the Church. I acquainted his Majesty how needful it was to fill that place with an able successor ; and when mention was made of divers men to succeed, I did, as you desire, show his Majesty what your desires were, and
m [See the King's Letter in Wilkins' is also mentioned in Prynne's Hidden
Cone. torn. iv. p. 492, from Keg. Laud, Works, p. 149.] fol. 200 a.] o [\ym. Forbes, the author of the
n [This Letter is taken from Wod- ' Considerationes Modestte.'] row MSS. folio, vol. Ixvi. num. 15. It
LETTERS. 371
what necessities lay upon you. After much consideration of the business, his Majesty resolved to give the Bishopric of Edinburgh to my Lord of BrechinP; and for yourself, he commanded me to write expressly to you that he did not take it well, that, contrary to his express command, you had omitted prayers in his Chapel Royal, according to the English Liturgy, with some omissions there, which pleased him not ; besides, his Majesty hath heard that there have lately been some differences in Edinburgh about the sufferings of Christ, &c., and that your Lordship was some cause of them ; or, at least, such an occasion as might have bred much disturbance, if the late Bishop of Edinburgh's care and temper had not moderated them; and this his Majesty is not well pleased with neither ; and this hath been the cause, as I conceive, why his Majesty hath passed you over in this remove ; and you shall do very well to apply yourself better, both to his Majesty's service and the well ordering of that Church, lest you give just occasion to the King to pass you by, when any other remove falls <*. I am very sorry that I must write thus unto you; but the only way of help lies in yourself, and your own carriage, and therefore, if you will not be careful of that, I do not see what any friend can be able to do for you. Therefore, not doubting but you will take these things into serious consideration for your own good, I leave you to the grace of God, and rest
Your Lordship's very loving Friend and Brother,
W. CANT.
Lambeth, May 6th, 1634.
To the Kt. Reverend Father in God,
my very good Lord and Brother,
the Lord Bishop of Dunblane, at
Edinburgh, These. Endorsed : ' Anent the Liturgie and
his Sermon.'
P [David Lindsay.] against Laud by the Scotch Commis-
i [This censure of Bishop Ballanden sioners. See above, vol. iii. p. 303.] was brought as one of the charges
B B 2
372 LETTERS.
LETTER LXXV.
TO THE LORD VISCOUNT WENTWORTH. [Strafforde Letters, vol. i. pp. 253—256.]
MY VERY GOOD LORD;— I have received from you a very large packet, and three letters in it, besides the duplicate; for all which I thank you, and will make my answer as short as I can.
I'll begin with your brother1". I pray deliver him the letter which is herein directed to him. I never had so much thanks for so little service, all that I did being rather duty than kindness. If it please your Lordship, I would desire the letter herewith also sent, may be delivered to the Lord Mountnorris by your own hand, or your brother's, that I may be sure they are come to his. I take myself very unworthily used in Croxton s by that Lord. But though I am angry, my letters are not so, and may fairly be delivered, as you may see by the copy of them, which I here send you open. But I heartily thank your Lordship for taking him into your care, for what you have done, and what you mean to do ; and do heartily pray you to let him bear your name, for he shall have no more relation at all to that other Lord, but to pay him the money, which necessity hath made him borrow of him,
I am sorry Dr. Bramhall found Munster in so ill case *.
I hope you will make the Dean of Londonderry u know himself and his fault, before you let him loose again ; and 'tis great mercy to do it, for by that you will keep many out of that danger.
In the next place, you begin to be merry with your heifer, and I wonder you have so little pity, as not to let it rest, when I have ploughed with it. By St. Dunstan (if it were not for swearing), I see you guess unhappily that your friends can tell how to be merry, as well as serious together, and you shall not need to entreat us to continue it, for we have no other purpose, only I am in ill case by it. For your Spaniard x, and the gravity which he learnt there, while he went to buy
r [Sir George Wentworth.] 1633, may be here referred to. See
s [See above, p. 302.] Bramhall's Works, vol. i. pp. Ixxix.
1 [Bramhall's melancholy account — Ixxxii.]
of the Irish Church, given to the u [See above, p. 353.]
Archbishop in his letter of Aug. 10th, x [Lord Cottington.]
LETTERS. 373
pigeons, hath tempted my old friend, the Secretary >, from me, and he is become his man. So I have need to look to myself, when the relation is grown so near between them. As for that which you desire me so earnestly to let Mr. Secretary know, I protest I writ it in merriment, and did merely put it upon him, and cannot now recal what it is ; you may, because you have my letter.
From your mirth you leap into those directions, which at your entreaty I gave ; and I am glad you will so soon take order, that Divine Service may be read throughout in the churches, be the company that vouchsafe to come never so few. Let God have His whole service with reverence, and He will quickly send in more to help perform it.
For the holding of two livings, and but two with cure, since you approve me in the substance, I will yield to you in the circumstance of time. Indeed, my Lord, I knew it was bad, very bad in Ireland, but that it was so stark naught I did not believe. Six benefits riot able to find the minister clothes ; in six parishes scarce six to come to church. Good God ! Stay the time you must, till there be more means, and some more conformable people.
Yet, in this sober discourse, I pray what means this Johnnism z of yours, ' till the rights of the Pastors be a little more settled ? ' You learned this from old Alvye a, or Billy Nelson b. For where, I pray, in all the ancient fathers do you find Pastor applied to any but a Bishop ? Well, I see the errors of your breeding will stick by you ; Pastors and Elders, and all will come in, if I let you alone.
Well, 'tis 110 matter for the old trot that kept the goodwife while she lay in; look you to the Bishops, lest they make
y [Sir P. Windebank.] been inclined to Puritanism, as his z [Referring to his education at St. name occurs in ' Troubles at Prank- John's College, Cambridge.] fort,' among the signatures to the a [Richard Alvey was appointed Discipline, 1557. (Phoenix, vol. ii. Master of the Temple, Feb. 13, 15££, 142.) This may partly account for and the first Prebendary of the 5th Travers's appointment." Alvey was Stall in Westminster Abbey, on its much followed as a preacher in his erection into a Collegiate Church by day, as is noticed in Walton's Life of Queen Elizabeth, June 21, 1560. He Hooker.]
died in 1585, and was succeeded in b [William Nelson was one of the
his Mastership of the Temple by protestors against the doctrine of uni-
Rich. Hooker. Mr. Keble (Hooker's versal redemption, preached by Baro
Works, vol. i. p. 65, note 14) observes, at Cambridge. See Strype's Whitgift,
" Mr. Alvie himself appears to have book iv. chap, xviii.]
374 LETTERS.
themselves or their successors lie out. And in the care for the schools, it was passing well thought on, that they might be taught English, not only to soften the malignity and stubbornness of the nation, as you write, but also because they will with the more ease and sooner be acquainted with English fashions, which yet can do no harm in that country.
On with your care for monies given to charitable uses ; for righting the Crown in patronages ; for entering the benefices into the first-fruit office. But I have done speaking of under six pounds. Do what your judgment leads you to upon the place, and where six will not find the minister clothes, the King's first-fruits will buy no lace. And while you prohibit Arts to be taught in this country, God send you art enough to get back your monies out of the friars' hands. I doubt it much.
Concerning the college at Dublin, since they have made me Chancellor, and your Lordship approves them in so doing, I will begin to take them to task ; and if I have so much leisure, there comes a letter with these to the college, which I pray command be delivered.
The draught about the Commission for commutation mo nies, &c., was the last I could finish, and I sent it back with our Civilians' notes upon it, when your brother returned ; and therefore I hope you have received it, and that the passage in your letter which now calls for it, was written in some mistake ; for I assure you I have sent back all you sent me.
I have received the petition, and a letter from the Lord Bishop of Waterford; I here send you back the petition, accompanied as it ought to be. The King said, as soon as I had read it to him, God forbid, but that I should grant that. As for the other complaint against *, 'tis stark naught. But I hope you will make use of all that number, before you proclaim him.
Now you are merry again. God hold it. And what? Dr. Palmer acted like a king c. Be it so. But he was another card in the pack. As for Bishop Howland, you never heard of him. What? Nor of Jeames's wife neither d? Good
c [See above, p. 357.] and his successor, Neile, respecting
[Does this refer to the widow of dilapidations. (See Diary, Jan. 31,
William James, Bishop of Durham? 1623. Works, vol. iii. p. 146)1 There was a dispute between his heir
LETTERS. 375
Lord, how ignorant you can be, when you list. Yea, but you have taken St. John's, Ox. flagrante crimine, and I put you to your memory. Is it so ? Come on then, you know there is a cause in the Star- Chamber, some were to answer, and they brought their answers ready written. If the Bishop of Lincoln sent them ready for his turn, hath he not an excellent forge6? What if this appear? I hope you will not then say, I put you to your memory. 'Tis now under examination, and is not this if, &c. flagrante crimine ? Go brag now ; yet for your comfort I'll tell you, suppose all this, I doubt all will come to nothing.
I hope you will join Sir Thomas Fitz-Edmonds to the rest of his fellows, and make him vomit up Cloyne f. As for the building of a new church at Lismore %, I will believe it when I see it ; yet this I must needs say, none so fit to build a new one by repentance, as he that pulled down the old by sacrilege; and it is a fine pretence to speak of a new, when he is ready to be questioned for the old. And for Sir Beverley's tale, I have told it the King, who shook his head, yet could not but laugh at the cooks and the sculls.
Now, my Lord, to your great business : since the Bishop of Derry is dead11, I have (though against the rule which I have lodged with his Majesty) moved earnestly for Dr. Bramhall to succeed him, and given him the reasons why, for his own service, and the good of the Church in that kingdom, he should dispense in this particular for the Doctor's being a little too young l. His Majesty, after some arguing of the business, and with great testimony of your
e [This refers to the case of Bishop Prynne (Cant. Doom, p. 171) ascribes
Williams, mentioned above, p. 71. It to Laud's interference. Elrington
will be remembered that Bishop (Life of Ussher, p. 130) suggests that
Williams was educated at St. John's the letter of Ussher on which this
College, Cambridge.] statement was grounded is probably
f [The Bishopric of Cloyne had a forgery.]
been reduced in value to five marks ' [There appears some mistake as
a-year. See Bramhall's Life, in Biogr. to the date of Bramhall's birth. For
Brit, note F.] if, as stated in his Life, he was born in
e [This refers to a proposal made by 1593, which agrees also with the
the Earl of Cork to rebuild Lismore statement in his Will, he was at this
Church. See above, p. 363.] time more than forty years of age,
h [George Downham, of Christ's Col- which Laud had laid down in a pre-
lege, Cambridge. He was appointed vious letter (see above, p. 322) as the
Bishop of Derry in 1616. His treatise age he should adhere to in recom-
on ' The Covenant of Grace,' pub- mending those who were to be pro-
lished at 'Dublin in 1631, was sup- moted to bishoprics. (See Life of
pressed by royal authority, which Bramhall, p. iii. note ". Works, vol. i.)J
376 LETTERS.
Lordship' s good service to himself and the Church, granted him the bishopric, as you will see by the letters which accom pany these. This I have readily done to serve you, with some departure from my own judgment in matter of age, hoping the Doctor will supply it with temper, and then he hath the more strength for his business, which, he says, he will not, and I say he must not leave, till that Church be better settled, which I dare say must be now, when a King, a Lord Deputy, and a poor Archbishop set jointly to it, or never.
What Dr. Bramhall holds in England he must leave k. The bishopric being good needs no commendam; if it did, it must be helped there. For I foresee marvellous great in convenience, and very little less than mischief, if a way be given to Bishops there to hold commendams here. And, I pray, let Dr. Bramhall send me present word, what the names of the preferments are, which he is to part with. The King The sequel which your Lordship draws out of this is very commanded good ; That the Provost may have his Archdeaconry1, (so thus ; and then less than a little bishopric will fetch him off, contrary ere long may to your fears,) and the Dean of Cashells may be Dean and a bishopric, Provost, if the Fellows will elect him: if not, the Kins;,
if lie make . ...
himself fit. J know, will give it him. I would willingly do nothing to disserve you, and so send me word, whether all deans and inferior clergymen to them be not in your own preferment, without moving the King, and only Bishops reserved to him self. But one thing more there is, which you must not deny me, and I hope you shall thank me for it. Dr. Bramhall, being once Bishop, though he stay a good part of the year with you, and attend the more general service of the Church, yet he cannot stay always with you, nor perform all those inferior services, which one in your house must do ; I pray take Croxton into that under-service, I will answer for his sufficiency to do it.
I have showed to his Majesty that passage in your letters which concerns #, and his coming over; and the reason
k [The English preferment, which he him when he first came to Ireland.] still retained, was his Prebendal stall l [Dr. Robert Ussher was appointed
at York, which he did not vacate till at once to the Archdeaconry of Meath,
Aug. 6, 1634. (See Life of Bramhall, vacated by Bramhall's promotion. He
p. vi. note r. Works, vol. i.) His stall was consecrated Bishop of Kildare,
at Ripon, and the Rectory of Elving- Feb. 25, 1635.] ton, seem to have been resigned by
LETTERS. 377
\vhy neither your Lordship nor myself can think fit that way be given to him at this time, being to attend in the great service of the Parliament there. His Majesty likes this proposal well, and promises to give no way to such his desires. But you know the workings of a Court, what they are ; yet I hope the best. I have likewise acquainted his Majesty what a considerable business that must needs be, which, besides the fine to him, may be forty thousand pounds in point of restitution m.
Now I have done with all your large letters, have at you a little for your harangue to that Council about the Parlia ment. I thank you for that duplicate. Young Windebank " (for whom I thank you also) came hither on Saturday, May the 3d. The next day, at Greenwich, your despatch to Secretary Coke ° was read to the Committee, the King- present, order given for us to meet, and for speed of our answer to you. If speed be not made to your mind, I am not in fault, and I hope you will have all things in time. Everybody liked your carriage and discourse to the Council, but thought it too long, and that too much strength was put upon it ; but you may see what it is to be an able speaker. Your old friend says, he had rather see you talk something into the Exchequer ; but he pleases himself extremely to see how able Brutus is in the Senate House ; and wot you what ? When we came to this passage in your despatch : ' Again, I did beseech them to look well about, and to be wise by others' harms ; they were not ignorant of the misfortunes these meetings had run in England of late years, &c.' Here a good friend of yours interposed, quorum pars magna fid. I hope you will charge this home upon my Lord Cottington, he hath so many Spanish tricks, that I cannot tell how to trust him for anything, but making of legs to fair ladies.
I have received a letter from Croxton, and do here send you one passage of it, that you may see how the Lord Mountnorris stands affected to the Church, and your courses for redeeming it out of misery : Cceterum, quod ad Pracento-
m [It seems probable that this para- ford's interest, a Member of the Irish
graph refers to the Earl of Cork. See Parliament. (See Prynne's Hidden
above, p. 333, note P.] Works, p. 118.)]
11 [This was Francis Windebank, who ° [See the despatch in Straftbrde
was afterwards elected, through Straf- Letters, vol. i. pp. 236—241.]
37'8 LETTERS.
riatus illius dignitatem attinet, nunquam monere desiit hono- ratissimus meus Dominus Dominus de Monte Norrisio, ne quid de eu ad tuam referrem unquam Sanctiss. Pat emit at em. Certe ille non omnino probare videtur rationem istam privilegialem, qua una ratione tamen res, nullis aliis continenda legibus, felicissime jam tandem ccepit restitui, tyc. If he be as good a friend to the prerogative in other things, he was well pre ferred, and is like to do good service shortly.
It is more than time to end, and so I do, wishing your Lordship all health and happiness ; and so rest
Your Lordship's loving poor Friend arid Servant,
W. CANT.
Lambeth, May 14th, 1634.
LETTER LXXVI.
TO JOHN WILLIAMS, BISHOP OF LINCOLN. [Lambeth MSB. Numb. mxxx. p. 27.]
S. in Christo.
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP, — I took the first and best opportunity I could get to present your Lordship's petition to his Majesty; and I did it to the best advantage I could to yourself and your cause, or, to use your own words, I did labour to improve it as far as I might. His Majesty, after he had read and considered it, commanded me to return this answer: That he was not yet satisfied concerning your busi ness, but would riot do your Lordship nor any man else wrong. And that there was one part of your petition which he did much dislike, namely, the pleading of his gracious remission of all that was past at several times formerly granted unto you, &c. And his Majesty gave me special command to let you know, that when he, upon earnest entreaty, gave you leave to kiss his hands, he did not thereby give any remission of anything which he knew not, as then he did not know that for which you are now questioned ; and that if such interpretations be made of it by your Lordship or any other, either the wrong will be in his Majesty, who in that way may be thought to remit that which is no way fit for a King to pass over, or may make him more strange to
LETTERS. 379
delinquents in that kind. So this his Majesty utterly dislikes, and bids you not to trust unto it. This is all the answer I can give you. And I profess I did not expect that his Majesty would have pitched here of all parts of your petition. I have dealt truly and really with you, but am not able to do you any more service. I take my leave, and rest
Your loving Friend and Brother.
Lambeth, May 16, 1634. Endorsed: 'May 16, 1634. The copy of my letter to my Ld. Bishop of Lincoln, about his petition, &c.'
LETTER LXXVII.
TO SIR WILLIAM BELLASYS. [Christian Remembrancer, Dec. 1841?.]
S. in Christ o.
SIR, — Now I know to whom I am beholding for two young roebuck pies, and I thank you heartily for them. They came not as you intended; but I will take leave to tell you how they came. The two pies came to me a little before Christmas, as mouldy as if they had been sent from a far country. No direction at all came with them, but only that they came from Durham ; so I thought they had been my Lord Bishop's sendings, and I either did give him thanks for them, or intended so to do. Now in the middle of May came your letter, by which I understand the pies came from you ; and, truly, I thank you as heartily as if they had come to me in very good case, for so I know you intended them. And with these thanks I leave you to the grace of God, and rest
Your loving Friend,
W. CAKT.
Lambeth, June 3, 1634. To my loving friend, Sir William Bellasys, Sheriff of the Bishopric of Durham, These.
[From MSS. Harl. 7001, Arl. 38.]
380 LETTERS.
LETTER LXXVIII.
TO THE MERCHANTS AT DELl'T. [Prynne's Cant. Doom, pp. 407, 408.]
After our hearty commendations, &c. — We are com manded by his Majesty to signify unto you, that this bearer, Mr. Beaumont % chosen by joint consent of your Company to be your preacher at Delft, or where else you shall at any time reside, is a man learned, sober, and conformable to the doctrine and discipline established in the Church of England ; and that you are to receive him with all decent and courteous usage, fitting his person and calling, and to allow him the usual ancient stipend, which Mr. Forbes r lately, or any other before him, hath received. And, further, we are to let you know, that it is his Majesty's express command, that both you, the Deputy, and all and every other merchant, that is or shall be residing in those parts beyond the seas, do conform themselves to the doctrine and discipline settled in the Church of England ; and that they frequent the Common Prayers with all religious duty, and reverence, at all times required, as well as they do sermons ; and that out of your Company you do yearly, about Easter, as the Canons prescribe, name two churchwardens and two sidesmen,
i [Heylin describes him as 're- told the King that King James a little
puted for a learned, sober, and con- before his death sent for him out of
formable man.' (Cypr. Angl. p. 259.)] Holland, and told him very seriously
r [Concerning this person there is that he desired him to give him a
the following notice in William reason why it came to pass that he
Whiteway's Diary, printed in 'Wil- had found the Scotch Church good
lis's Current Notes,' for July 1853: and left it bad, and that he found the
— "1633, Jan. 1. — This winter Mr. English Church bad and should leave
Forbes, a Scotchman, minister of the it far worse, Forbes said it proceeded
English Church at Delft, in Holland, from the bishops whose government
having been sent for over by the King was anti-Christian. Then King James
returned back into Holland. The craved his advice how it might be
King sent for him to employ him remedied. Forbes told him it might
about the English Discipline in the easily be altered in Scotland, where
English Churches in the Low that Government was not yet so
Countries, which he flatly refused to strongly settled, and in England it
do, but said he would hinder it to his might be done, so it were wisely
power. Whereupon the King told managed. King James promised to
him that, if he would do it he would think upon some course to effect it,
make him a bishop ; and he rejecting and to advise farther with him about
the offer the King dismissed him of it, in the meantime he charged him
his charge at Delft, having power to conceal this their conference. The
from the States to appoint ministers next news that Forbes heard of the
and discipline for the English Churches King was of his death. How he came
there. In this conference Mr. Forbes God knows."]
LETTERS. 381
which may look to the orders of the Church, and give aii account according to their office. And Mr. Beaumont him self is hereby to take notice, that his Majesty's express pleasure and command to him is, that he do punctually keep and observe all the orders of the Church of England, as they are prescribed in the Canons and the Rubrics of the Liturgy. And that 'if any of your Company shall show themselves refractory to this ordinance of his Majesty, (which we hope will not be,) he is to certify the name of any such offender and his offence to the Lord Bishop of London for the time being, who is to take order and give remedy accordingly. And these letters you are to register and keep by you, that they which come after may understand what care his Majesty hath taken for the well ordering of your Company in Church affairs. And you are likewise to deliver a copy of these letters to Mr. Beaumont, and to every successor of his respectively, that he and they may know what his Majesty expects from them, and be the more inexcusable if they disobey. Thus, not doubting but that you will show yourselves very respectful of these his Majesty's commands, we leave you to the grace of God, and rest
Your very loving Friend,
W. CANT.
June 17, 1634.
LETTER LXXIX.
TO THE LORD VISCOUNT WENTWORT1I. [Strafforde Letters, vol. i. p. 268.]
Salutem in Christ o.
MY VERY GOOD LORD, — After I had sealed my letters, I received one from the Dean of Cashells8, with another enclosed, from some friend of his unknown to me. That letter enclosed importunes the Dean very earnestly to get a letter from me to your Lordship, in the behalf of one Mr. Chad wick, that he may succeed, as a Baron of the Exchequer, in the room of Sir Gerard Lowther. That which moved the Dean to send me the letter, is not any s [William Chappell.]
382 LETTERS.
forwardness of his to meddle in businesses of this nature, but only, as himself expresseth it, a fair respect, fearing lest if he should speed, and he seem backward, he and his causes for the Church might fare the worse, which made him choose rather to put me to the denial than himself, and I am very well contented with it. But I, my Lord, choose rather to grant in part than to deny for all ; and out of this reason, the letter which came to the Dean tells him, that your Lordship hath a very good opinion of Mr. Chad wick as a fit man for this place ; and if he be so, and you think so, these are so far to second his desires, as they may therein fulfil your own ; but I cannot write to you according to all that is desired of me, not so much by the Dean, as by him that writes in behalf of Mr. Chadwick, because he desires from me an effectual letter to your Lordship for Mr. Chadwick against all competitors. And truly, my Lord, I do not use to write so to any friend, where I do know the man and his sufficiency, much less when I know him not ; nor am I indeed well pleased, when any man writes so to me. Therefore, my Lord, all that Fll write is this, if Mr. Chadwick be as fit a man as any other for the King's service and your own, and as able and well set for the Church, I think you shall do the poor Dean of Cashells a great deal of favour, if you pitch upon him for this place ; and I doubt not but the Dean (whom you are now drawing into a more public way) will both deserve it, and make good use of it for the Church. But if you have no such opinion of Mr. Chadwick, as the letter to the Dean pretends, then these letters of mine are not written. And I know you will order the matter so, whoever have the place, that the Church businesses shall proceed with favour enough, wherever they be just. So I leave you to the grace of God, and rest Your Lordship's
Very loving Friend and Servant, W. CANT.*
Lambeth, June 23d, 1634.
* [Went worth, in his letter of unable to comply with this request. Aug. 23, gives his reasons for being (StrafForde Letters, vol. i. p. 299.)]
LETTERS. 383
LETTER LXXX.
TO ADAM BALLANDEN, "BISHOP OF DUNBLANE. [Baillie's Letters and Journals, Append. II. No. viii. p. 433 ".]
Salutem in Christo.
MY VEKY GOOD LOKD, — My haste at this time forces me to write very briefly : and these are to let you know, that I writ nothing in my former letters but as the King was informed, and myself by him commanded. I have now read your Lordship's letters to his Majesty, which hath in some part satisfied him, but not altogether. And for the first, his Majesty saith, that though the gentlemen of the Chapel Royal did absent themselves for fear of arrests, having not to pay, and though that might hinder the service in the Chapel in a solemn and formal way of singing by them ; yet his Majesty thinks you might have got a Chaplain of your own to have read the English Liturgy, that so the work for the main part of it might have gone on. And for the payment of those men, I think your Lordship knows, I have done all the good offices I can, but have it not in my power to mend all the difficulties of the time.
Concerning the disturbance that was in Edinburgh, if any wrong was done your Lordship, that must lie upon those who misreported you to the King, whoever they were. And, howsoever, the King took it not ill you advised the then Bishop of Edinburgh to appease the differences, for that was very worthily and deservedly done by you. But as far as I remember, the charge laid upon you to the King was, that in your own sermon, which you preached about that time, you did rather side with one party, than either repress or compose the difference x. Though I must needs confess to your Lordship, that by reason of the multitude of businesses which lie upon me, I cannot charge my memory with the particular.
You have done very well to acquaint the Lordships of
u [The original is in Wodrow MSS. the letter referred to in the 1st Art.
folio, vol. Ixvi. num. 16; and it had of the Scottish Commissioners. See
been previously printed in Dalrymple's above, vol. iii. p. 304; and also
Memoirs.] Prynne's Hidden Works, p. 149.]
1 [This probably is the passage of
384 LETTERS.
Council and Session, &c. with his Majesty's resolution con cerning the Communion in the Chapel Royal. And I doubt not, if you continue to do that which his Majesty looks for in the course of your Church, and which is most just and fit to be done, but that you will easily recover his Majesty's favour, and find the good of it. So in haste I leave you to the grace of God, and rest
Your Lordship's very loving Friend and Brother,
W. CANT.
Lambeth, July 1st, 1634.
To the Rt. Reverend Father in God,
my very good Lo. and Brother,
the Lord Bp. of Dunblane, These. Endorsed : ' Anent Reading of the
Liturgie, and his Sermon at
Edinburgh.'
LETTER LXXXI.
TO THE LOKD VISCOUNT WENTWORTH. [Strafforde Letters, vol. i. p. 271.]
MY VERY GOOD LORD, — I have received your letters of June the 23d, and the duplicate in them. It pities me to think how you stay for our answers. You will by the date of my former letters see, how long mine lajr in Mr. Raylton's^ hands, before others that were to go with them could be got in. My cypher is packed up for Croydon, whither I am going this day, else I would tell you what little rest I am like to have at my country house, till the King be gone in progress, and somewhat else.
Since my letters were sealed, your long despatch about the Apostiling2 was read to the Committee, the King present. Order given to Mr. Secretary Coke for answer; and I hope you have it. The old man is exceeding diligent; and the truth is, so are we all, if you will believe us. I beseech your
y [William Raylton is frequently * [This is the despatch of May 13,
mentioned in Wentworth's letters, as 1634. Strafforde Letters, vol. i. pp.
also in those of Sir George Radcliffe. 244—251.] He was Wentworth's agent.]
LETTERS. 385
Lordship for favour. I do most heartily thank you for your short letter; and, I pray, remember I do so, that your threatening to make the next a souser may blow over. I was fain to write nine letters yesterday into Scotland. I think you have a plot, to see whether I will be universalis episcopus, that you and your brethren may take occasion to call me Antichrist.
Well, whate'er I am, or am called, I thank you for the Church with all my heart ; and I hope so doth my Lord of Clonfertb too. If I thought he did not, I would send him a link to see his benefactors. Mr. Raylton calls, and I doubt it is for these letters, which are as short as yours. The Lady Morac commends her to you, and tells you she would make more haste, did she not stay to accommodate private ends. I rest
Your Lordship's
Faithful Friend and Servant,
W. CANT.
Lambeth, July 3, 1634.
LETTER LXXXII.
TO THE LOUD VISCOUNT WENTWORTH. [Strafforde Letters, vol. i. p. 272.]
Salutem in Christo.
MY VERY GOOD LORD,— The bearer hereof d hath been with me at Croydon, and these are both to give your Lordship thanks for your favour to him, and to certify you, that my opinion concerning his worth is the same that it was at first ; and I doubt not, but that he will every day improve himself for the service of the Church and your Lordship, in which way I shall heartily thank you for any encouragement you shall please to afford him. And for the Mastership of the College at Dublin, the sooner he shall be settled there the better.
b [Robert Dawson, appointed to the phrase to reprobate the dilatoriness of
Bishopric in 1627. The remark re- the English ministers.] lates to a proposed augmentation of d [Wm. Chappell, the Dean of
his Bishopric. See below, p. 400.] Cashel.]
c [Laud and Wentworth use this
LAUD. — VOL. VI.
C C
386 LETTERS.
I have only one more thing to trouble your Lordship with at this time, and that is concerning one Mr. Cressy e, a Divine who is lately arrived in Ireland. I have received good testimony of his sufficiency, as a younger man, and had thought to have recommended him to your Lordship a good while since, but that other businesses have caused me to slip it. I pray you, when he comes in your way, will you be pleased to take notice of him from me ? And as he shall approve himself by his good carriage, so let him stand or fall in your Lordship's estimation. Thus far in haste, that Mr. Dean might not return empty-handed. Of other things I will, God willing, give your Lordship an account by the next return. So I leave you to the grace of God, and rest Your Lordship's
Very loving Friend to serve you,
W. CANT.
Croydon, July 10th, 163-1.
LETTER LXXXIII.
TO DR. RICHARD ASTLEY, WARDEN OF ALL SOULS. [Tanner MSS. vol. cccxl. fol. 115 b.]
S. in Christ o.
Sm, — When the Fellows came to me the last year about the money which was to be divided among them at the end of their audit, I was willing the first act that I did as Visitor of that College should be with as much favour as could well be showed to the Company, preserving the state and govern ment of the College. And to that end I spake to the Fellows which were trusted, that they should not fail to let the Company understand how careful I then was, that the exercise of the House should be duly performed, as well as all other moral and civil duties.
• [This was Hugh Cressy, who had lin. In 1646 he joined the Church
already been Lord Wentworth's Chap- of Home, and was the author of the
lain when in the North. (See Went- ' Church History of Britanny,' and
worth's reply to this letter, Aug. 23, other books on the Romish side,
1634; Strafforde Letters, vol. i. p. 300.) which involved him in controversy
In 1642 he became, by the interest of with Lord Clarendon and Stillingfleet.
Lord Falkland, Canon of Windsor, and (Wood, Ath. Ox. iii. 101 1—1016.)] about the same time Dean of Leigh-
LETTERS. 387
Since this time I have had as watchful an eye as I might upon that government ; and do find that some things are very much out of order there, both against the local statutes and all other common rules of reason and government, which I must desire may be amended fairly. And, first, I understand that in the yearly choice of your Deans (an office of great con sequence for upholding, or perverting, the discipline of a College), you, and the rest of the electors, are quite departed from the statute and ordinance of your Founder. For your statutes require that your Deans should be chosen de discre- tioribus, et maturioribussociis*. And surely none but such are fit to be joined with the Warden in giving consent to punish ments. But contrary to this, you choose your Deans not by worth or judgment, but only by ordinary course of seniority ; and by that means descend to juniors, who are very unfit to govern such a College. And from hence it is, that some of the students neglect not only public exercise, but even their private studies also. Beside, when you, as Warden, would willingly, I conceive, punish not only these neglects, but other excesses in apparel and miscarriages in conversation, these young Deans refuse to concur to the punishing of such delinquents : and I doubt a great reason of it is, because themselves are equally culpable with the offenders, and so might be thought to punish themselves in others. And all this comes by departing from your Founder's statutes, in not choosing these officers according to worth and merit.
Secondly, I am informed that you, and the rest of the Fellows Electors, are run into the same error in the choice of your Bursars by seniority too, and not putting a difference. Whereas your statutes require that the Bursars should be aptiores, et magis circumspecti &, a quality not easily found in younger men, who usually are too profuse to be trusted with the estate of a College, and too often prove not responsible.
These are therefore to require you, Mr. Warden, to call the Fellows together, and to take notice yourself, and com municate to them, especially such as have voice in the choice of officers, that I give it as a strict charge, that hereafter you make neither Dean nor Bursar by seniority only ; but that you choose such as are seniors, or others that are very
f [See Statutes of All Souls College, cap. viii.] « [Ibid. cap. vii.]
C C 2
388 LETTERS.
deserving by their studies and conversation. And that you keep all those from being elected Deans, which have been defective in their studies, or are otherwise obnoxious in life and conversation. And if any man being once chosen Dean shall refuse to join with the Warden in the punishment of any excess whatsoever, where just proof is made against the delinquent, I shall take such course with him upon complaint made to me, as I hope shall remedy that notorious kind of maintenance by a governor against government.
Next, that I lay the same charge upon yourself and the Electors, that such Fellows only be chosen Bursars as are known to be provident, and fit for that place; for if the stock of the dead College be not well maintained, the state of the living College, which are yourself and the Fellows, cannot be upheld, which would turn to the great dishonour of a bountiful Founder. And, particularly, I do require of you and them, that no man be elected to the office of a Bursar, or any other office, that hath misbehaved himself in the office of Dean. Besides, I do hereby particularly give in charge, that every year one of the Bursars at the least be chosen out of the ancientest Fellows of the House, against whose carriage in former offices there hath been no exception. And this I do because I understand the College revenues have been in some later years in younger men's hands in this office, whence they have not been recovered without difficulty.
And this charge I require you, Mr. Warden, to deliver to all the Fellows, but especially the officers, that they use not long, undecent hair, nor wear large falling bands, nor boots under their gowns, nor any other like unstatutable novelty in their apparel. For these kinds of excesses, I understand, are much grown into that College ; and that some officers, especially the Deans, who should punish these faults in others, are too usually themselves seen in such uncomely habits. And now, Mr. Warden, I desire you both to let the officers and the Fellows in general know, that though I think fit to send yourself and them this admonition by letter, being most unwilling to fall upon the sourest way at first, yet I shall assure you, that if your elections shall not hereafter be regularly made according to your statutes, or that these and
LETTERS. 389
the like abuses shall continue without reformation, I shall, God willing, use that power which your honourable Founder hath left, and commended to me, and not suffer either the discipline or the thrift of that College to decay or be impaired. But I hope this fair admonition will amongst such ingenuous men produce all such good effects as are desired. In which hope I leave you to the grace of God, and shall ever rest Your very loving Friend and Visitor,
W. CANT.
Croydon, August 1, 1634.
LETTER LXXXIV.
TO EDMUND GRIFFITH, BISHOP OF BANGOR. [ Wilkins' Cone. torn. iv. p. 493 h.]
Salutem in Christ o.
MY VERY GOOD LORD, — Whereas his Majesty, in a princely consideration of the several bishoprics of this kingdom, hath, amongst others, written to your Lordship, to take care that hereafter the lands belonging to your See be let for one- and-twenty years, and not for three lives, for the benefit of the Church and your successors ; I make no doubt but you will carefully observe that his gracious pleasure : but in that diocese I hold it requisite you enlarge your care concerning the lands of your bishopric already demised. I pray, there fore, and do hereby require you to call upon every tenant that holds lands of your bishopric, that he make a survey of the lands he holds, and set the quantity of acres, the par ticular names of the closes and other lands as they are and have been called, and in what township, parish, or county the same and every part thereof lieth ; and if it be possible, that they do this before Michaelmas day next ; also, that they certify you how long they and their ancestors have held the said lands now in lease to them, and what houses they, or their ancestors, have suffered to decay, and what remain in repair upon the same ; and whether the rents answered unto
h [From Reg. Laud, fol. 2 07 a, where Archbishop on this subject are regis-
it is said to be addressed to the Bishop tered Reg. Laud, fol. 202 b, and to
of Bangor, which Wilkins does not the D. and C. of Cant., Reg. Laud,
specify. The King's letters to the fol. 203 a.]
390 LETTERS.
the bishopric, be out of the lands they hold by the said several leases respectively, or out of any other lands held from the archbishopric, which they do receive of the bishop's freeholders as a chief; and that they express by what right they receive such rents, and how much the rents are, if they be not issuing out of the lands demised unto them. And though this course be taken, yet it is not intended that you shall be concluded thereby; but the end is, to prevent the concealment of the Church's land, and to discover such as go about to conceal the same1; and if you make it appear that any tenant of your Lordship doth hold more lands than he doth acknowledge upon this survey, I will inform his Majesty of him, and his course against the Church, that such further order may be taken with him as shall appertain to justice. But I hope they will all deal fairly and conscionably with you. Thus recommending to you in this the care both of yourself and successors, I leave you to the grace of God, and rest
Your Lordship's very loving Friend and Brother, Croydon, August 16, 1634. W. CANT.
LETTER LXXXY.
TO JOHN WILLIAMS, BISHOP OP LINCOLN. [Lambeth MSS. Numb. mxxx. p. 28.]
MY VERY GOOD LORD, — These are only to remember my love to you, and to prevent any mistakes which may arise about my visitation, which now draws towards an end in your Lordship's diocese, and I am most willing it should end as it began, without any the least unkindness put upon you.
When your Lordship's servant, Mr. Prigeon, was last with me at Croydon, he desired, in your Lordship's name, that he might have my relaxation ready drawn by the eleventh of September next, about which time he said my half-year expired. I told him I could not foresee my necessary occa sions of absence, which might fall as well upon that day as
1 [There appears to have been much this Bishopric on its next vacancy ' for
concealment of Church lands in this discovering Church goods to the value
diocese, for William Roberts, Arch- of 1,OOOJ.' (Wood, Ath. Ox. ii. 888.)] deacon of Anglesea, was promoted to
LETTERS. 391
any other, but I promised it should be ready for him within two or three days after his then coming, and that he should have it with him ; or upon the very day he desired, if I were not necessarily hindered.
My Lord, this promise, as well as any other I have hitherto made, I am most willing to keep ; but then I must desire of your Lordship, that all like fair respects may be used towards me ; for if I hold my visitation but just my half-year, yet the procurations from the six several Archdeacons must be due to me, either for Our Lady-day, or for Michaelmas. Now, my Lord, I know not whether my Vicar-general have received them for Our Lady-day or not ; if he have received them, or that your Lordship will undertake to me that they shall be paid unto me, I shall most willingly make my relax ation accordingly; for I have no purpose to continue my visitation to gain both half-years; and the one which is my due, I presume you will as freely allow me. That which makes me move this to your Lordship is, because I know not whether you will acknowledge my visitation to begin from the date of my inhibition, or from Mr. Attorney's publishing his award. If from my inhibition, then Our Lady-day's pro curations are payable unto me ; if from the award, my half- year comes not out till Michaelmas, and then the procurations due at that time will be to me. I pray your Lordship to take which you will, so you leave one to me, that all things may end as fairly as they began, and that I may have cause still
to continue
Your very loving Friend and Brother,
Croydon, August 25, 1634. W. CANT.
Endorsed : ' August 25, 1634.
The Copy of my Letter to my Lord Bishop of Lincoln con cerning my procurations, &c.'
LETTER LXXXVI.
TO JOHN WILLIAMS, BISHOP OF LINCOLN. [Lambeth MSS. Numb. mxxx. p. 29.]
MY VERY GOOD LORD, — Being at Lambeth this day upon some necessary occasions, my secretary acquainted me that he
39.2 LETTERS.
received a letter from your Lordship's servant, Mr. Prigeon ; the contents were concerning your procurations of your Archdeacons, which I conceive to be due to me by reason of my visitation, and to that purpose I wrote my letters unto your Lordship about some three weeks since or more, and if they came not to your Lordship's hands I have been ill- used. But, upon the whole matter, all that I shall say is briefly this : I shall use my best endeavour to uphold the rights of that place where it hath pleased God and his Majesty to set me, but shall be very careful not to do your Lordship, or any other of my brethren, wrong, willingly I certainly will not ; and for this particular, if the procurations for the half-year be not due to me, I shall very easily and readily quit my claim to them whenever that shall be made apparent. But if it appear to be otherwise, and that they are due to me, your Lordship will give me leave in a fair way to preserve my rights; and that your Lordship may perceive how ready I am to show you what courtesy I may, I have without more ado sent you down by this bearer your relaxation, which you had received sooner, but that I expected every day your Lordship's letters in answer of mine. So in great haste I leave you to God's grace, and rest
Your Lordship's loving Friend and Brother.
Lambeth, Sept. 15, 1634. Endorsed: 'Sept. 15, 1634. The Copy of my second Letter to
the Bishop of Lincoln about the
procuration money, &c.'
LETTER LXXXVII.
TO THE CLERK OF HIS MAJESTY'S SIGNET.
[Prynne, Cant. Doom, p. 355 k.]
SIR, — You are to prepare a Bill for his Majesty's signature after the usual manner, containing a grant of the Bishopric of Limerick, in Ireland, now void by the death of the late
^ k [There is in the same place a on a like subject, but it has not been similar letter to Secretary Windebank considered worth while to print it.]
LETTERS. 393
Bishop there l, to George Webbe, Doctor in Divinity™1, and one of his Majesty's Chaplains in Ordinary. And for so doing these shall be your warrant.
W. CANT.
September 22, 1634.
LETTER LXXXVIII.
FROM JOHN WILLIAMS, BISHOP OF LINCOLN. [Lambeth MS3. Numb, mxxx. p. 31.]
MOST REVEREND FATHER IN GOD AND MY VERY GOOD LORD, My duty and respects unto your Grace remembered, —
I have not indeed received any letter from your Grace since my coming down unto this country, before that which was delivered unto me upon Saturday last at night, together with the relaxation, for which I humbly thank your Grace. Your Grace hath all the reason that can be to receive those procurations mentioned in your Grace's letters from any parties which by law or practice ought to pay them, but truly I cannot hear or find that ever any sum of money was paid at all, or any such sum demanded from any Bishop of this See by any of the Lords your Grace's predecessors in their visitations, under what power or letters of associa tion soever they were performed. The procurations which the Archdeacons pay unto me are valued in the King's books to a penny in the corps and temporalties of my bishopric, for the which I answer firstfruits, tenths, and subsidies.
Nor are they paid unto me half-yearly by the Archdeacons, but as it happeneth once within the year, when their visi tations are despatched, for want whereof they have yet for borne to pay me anything all this year. Thus I conceive the case to stand, if it please your Grace j but if either by your Grace's records or mine own I may be otherwise informed,
1 [Francis Gough.] of King Charles, who died soon after
m [George Webbe, of C.C. C. Oxford, his birtb. On Dec. 18, 1634, he was
inducted to the Vicarage of Steeple consecrated Bishop of Limerick. He
Ashton, Wilts, May 15, 1605 (Church- was imprisoned in Limerick Castle by
wardens' Books) ; in July 28, 3621, to the Irish rebels, and died there in
the Rectory of St. Peter and St. Paul, 1641. (Wood, Ath. Ox. iii. 29.)] Bath. He christened the eldest son
394 LETTERS.
I will not in any matter of money be found obstinate, but remain always, with my prayers to God to bless your Grace with all health and happiness,
Your Grace's most humble
Servant and Suffragan, Jo. LINCOLN.
Buckden, this 22d of Septemb. 1634.
To the Most Eeverend Father in
God and his very good Lord, the
Lo. Archbishop of Canterbury,
&c. &c. Present these.
LETTER LXXXIX.
TO PATRICK FORBES, BISHOP OF ABERDEEN, AND CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY11.
[Fasti Aberdonenses, pp. 400, 401.] S. in Christo.
MY VERY GOOD LORD, — I was very sorry, at my being in Scotland, that your want of health denied me the sight of you with the rest of my brethren there. For I had heard so well of you, that I was desirous to know you; but it pleased God to dispose otherwise both of me and you. For the business which you have recommended to me, Doctor Gordon hath been with me, and delivered me a copy of all those things which he hath to move to the King. I have already spoken to his Majesty about them, and shall con tinue to do him all the kindness I can to help on his des patch, and to show all the favour I can to the University. But I doubt, the particular suits being many, and the King not being well acquainted with some of them, there must some reference be made before you can have his Majesty's full answer to your demands ; howsoever, I shall do you all the service I can. So wishing you health and comfort in
n [Bishop Forbes held these offices and priviledges, according to hir
from 1618 to 1635. He had requested ancient rightis grantit thairanent."
Laud's good services in order to re- The Bishop of Aberdeen was ex
establish the University of Aberdeen officio Chancellor of the University.] " in hir jurisdictioun, conservator ie,
LETTEES. 395
your infirmity, I leave you to the grace of God, and rest
Your Lordship's very loving Friend and Brother,
W. CANT.
Croydon, Sept. 23, 1634.
I pray you commend me to your son, Doctor Forbes °, from whom I received a letter about the same business, and there fore by you return the same answer, with thanks to him for his kindness.
LETTER XC.
TO ADAM BALLANDEN, BISHOP OP DUNBLANE.
[Baillie's Letters and Journals, Append. II. No. ix. p. 434 ».]
S. in Christo.
MY VERY GOOD LOED,— I have a second time moved his Majesty concerning them that obeyed or disobeyed his commands in receiving the Communion in the chapel at Holyrood House q, and you shall not fail to receive his Majesty's answer by my Lord [of Rosse] ; so that I shall not need to be further troublesome to you in that parti- [cular] .
His Majesty is fully satisfied that the English . . in . .
the Chapel Royal before my Lord of Rosse
and in all things else, onl
satisfied me concerning ....
his Majesty such satisf . .
doubt not but
your L
so much to your fi
Your
Gentlemen of the Chap
to move his Majesty conce . . .
° TDr John Forbes, Professor of fol., vol. Ixvi. numb. 17.] Divinity and Ecclesiastical History 1 [This letter is referred to in the
in King's College, Aberdeen, the first charge of the Scottish Commis-
author of the ' Instructions His- sioners. See above, vol. in. p. 305 ;
torico-Theologicse.'] and Prynne's Hidden Works, p. 150.J
P [The original is in Wodrow MSS.
39G LETTERS.
and lie told me that a little
before his ... d since the .... your Lordship half the money was paid unto them. And that the other half was paid before to one, I think, of their company, whom themselves employed to receive it : who, it seems, was a bankrupt, and either ran away with their money, or misspent it, or else served his own turn with it. Now, what to say to this I cannot tell, for the chequer is not in that case that I can think it fit, or if I do, I am sure the Lord Treasurer will not think so, that the King should pay the same sum twice ; and yet I must confess, it falls very hard upon the poor men to bear the loss ; but they should have been wiser in the choice of their agent. Notwithstanding, if there can be any hope in this case to relieve them, I shall do my best ; and for the future, my Lord hath promised that they shall be duly paid. So I leave you to the grace of God, and rest Your Lordship's very loving Friend and Brother,
Croydon, Octobr. 4, 1634. W. CANT.
To the Ht. Eeve my very good L Lo. Bp. of Dun
Endorsed : ' Against these the . municat.'
LETTER XCI.
TO THE LOED VISCOUNT WENTWORTH. [Strafforde Letters, vol. i. pp.329— 331.]
Salutem in Christ o.
MY VERY GOOD LORD, — To the answer of your letters1, and as briefly as I can. I like your resolution well, not to men tion things in fieri, but where you would have advice, of which God be thanked you need little, and I am not able to give much.
I knew how you would find my Lord Primate affected to the Articles of Ireland ; but I am glad the trouble that hath been in it will end there without advertising of it over to us. And whereas you propose to have the Articles of England
r [This was the letter of Aug. 23. See Strafforde Letters, vol. i. pp. 298 — 301.]
LETTERS. 397
received in ipsissimis verbis, and leave the other, as no way concerned, neither affirmed nor denied, you are certainly in the right, and so says the King (to whom I imparted it) as well as I; go, hold close and you will do a great service in it8.
I am glad Streatch hath refused, since the Bishop hath the land*.
Now, fie upon it, if the salmon of that river be bad, yet your loss is the less, since you have so many trouts that may be tickled into anything, or anything out of them. And I see you owe me much for that praise and commendations, which works upon the dullest capacities. And the more because it works not only on them, but on all Parsons and their children, and them that marry them, especially where praise is Lowder than ordinary, and hath it entailed u.
Your letters, you tell me, came by so safe a hand, as frees us both from the trouble of cypher. Be it so. And I am always glad in this kind to have but little arithmetic ; yet was your letter written by so safe a hand too ? Your own hand it is not j whose it is I know not ; nor will I cast any jealousy causelessly on any. But Til tell you a tale, which I assure you comes from very good hands, and I will for all this sure hand tell it you in arithmetic, and enjoin you silence. The Lord Treasurer says, that the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Lord Deputy of Ireland are very great and the Lord Deputy poisons me by letters, and then the Archbishop doth him all the ill offices that may be to the King. If ever I hear of this again I will call you blab, and never write more.
Now for that great matter which you trust so freely ; you see what you great men do with us Churchmen and our cer tificates. But if now the Earl will take down the tomb x, to prevent pulling of it down, all is well.
Sir Philip Maiiiwaring hath paid me thanks enough; but I hope he will not be known that he owns me any. I take it all for compliment.
8 [This refers to the adoption of the sentence refer to Sir Gerard Lowder,
English Articles, as well as the Irish, who was about to marry Sir William
in the Convocation.] Parsons's daughter, and are in allusion
1 [See above, p. 308.] to a remark in Strafibrd's letter.] u [The two words in italics in this x [See above, pp. 358, seq.]
398 LETTERS.
As for my marginal note, I see you deciphered it well ; and I see you make use of it too. Do so still, thorow and thorow. Oh that I were where I might go so too ! but I am shackled between delays and uncertainties. You have a great deal of honour here for your proceedings. Go on, a God's name.
The next passage in your letters, concerning the great man that hath engrossed so many parsonages, &c. as are mortgaged for four thousand and eighty pounds y, I read over to his Majesty, who bids you be sure your ground is good, and then spare none.
Since you would fain know in good earnest who it was that took so much pains to abuse you about your speech, certainly it could be none but that old companion of Lerma and Rotherigo z ; and I verily think he got some one or other in the house by brachygraphy to take your speech, or some notes of it, and send it over in haste ; if this were not it, I am at a loss.
I thank your Lordship for the Dean of Cashells ; I hope he will play the Provost well ; and that he may do so, I will do the best I can to set their statutes right ; they are now in my hands, and I will perfect them before I return them if God say ' Amen ' to it. And I thank your Lordship as much for dispensing with his oath, as for the Provostship ; for there are very good reasons of his refusal a. I have received a letter from the Archbishop of Tuam, that he is willing to leave his commendam which he hath in Dublin b; and I thought to be an earnest suitor to you, that now Dr. Bramhall is better fitted c, you would give the Deanery of Christ Church to the Dean of Cashells, that so he might be nearer the College, and make another Dean of Cashells. But asking about this, I am told you are resolved upon another4, and if it be so, there's an end of that business, for I love to be modest with my friends.
r [Lord Clanricarde.] b [Dr. Randolph Barlow held up to
z [ Lord Cottington. This refers to this time the Deanery of Christ Church,
an expression in Wentworth's letter.] Dublin, in commendam. See above
a [The oath of the new Provost was p. 258.]
dispensed with in order that a way «= [Recently appointed Bishop of
might be left for the introduction of Derry.]
the proposed new Statutes. ( See d [Henry Tilson, one of Wentworth's
Chappell's Life in Biogr. Brit, note Chaplains, afterwards Bishop of El-
c-)] phin. (Wood, Ath. Ox. iv. 814.)]
LETTERS. 399
I like your proposal to have half-a-dozen good scholars sent over to help fill that College, and the hopes you put them in, c&teris paribus. For that, none so fit to think of it as the new Provost ; and when he shall send me word of what degree they may or must be, I will give him the best assistance I can.
I am very glad you are so confident for Youghall c; and for Lismore you have all the records which the rats have left uneaten. If any Nemesis have a better stomach to the Earl, than the rats had to the records, let her eat on. And I think your Lordship is very right, that one great example will do much good on that side ; and so it would on this too, could we light upon the making of it. I spake both with his Majesty and with Secretary Coke ; to the one to grant, and to the other to hasten a new Commission for the Castle Chamber. Mr. Secretary told me at Nonesuch it was ready, so I hope you have it by this time. And God speed you.
Well, you have given me freedom, where I dissent in judgment; I will make use of it, and not deny you that which you so kindly challenge to yourself, and give to me ; and as long as you shall retain the obedience of a son, I will take upon me to be your ghostly father. If, therefore, from henceforward I take on me to command, lay down your sword for the time, and know your duty.
For the Lady Mora 1 have said all, and I see you will not let me be alone in that opinion. In too much earnest here is such delay and uncertainty, that I know not where I am, if I step never so little out of myself, as needs I must, having so much to do and with many.
As concerning Mr. Chadwick f, he is a stranger to me ; I writ upon entreaty, and I think I sent you such word. But to me you shall not be answerable for him, if he answer not your judgment of him there.
So soon as ever the King returned from progress, I stepped to him, and read over that part of your first letter to me,
e [Wentworth desired to recover for despoiled by the Earl of Cork. (See the Churches of Youghall and Lismore above, p. 332.)] the property of which they had been f [See above, p. 382.]
400 LETTERS.
which concerned the keeping of the subsidies on that side for the necessities of that kingdom, and that they might not by any art be drawn over hither &. His Majesty liked the motion very well, and promised me you should order them there according as you have proposed. Yet, finding in these your last, sent by Secretary Main waring, another passage large and full to the same purpose, I took an occasion to second the motion I had formerly made, and read that over to his Majesty, not sparing either ' the raising up of a kind of emulation/ as you there wish; nor this, 'that they on this side are driven to such straits, that, like sinking men, they catch hold of each twig to keep themselves above water, &c.h' His Majesty gave the same answer, that the money should not be called thence. So I have done in that, all that you desire, and all I can.
I have before given you all the account I can, how the Lord Cottington got so many passages of your speech, and so soon. But I thank you for giving me warning of a man that hath traded twenty years with Lerma and Rotherigo. If he deceive me after such a warning, he hath good luck ; yet I cannot tell what he may do, if he fall to pray upon his beads again J. I have got him to tell me the tale. I assure you, it is the most exquisite piece of hypocrisy that ever I heard of, and what 'tis else your letters have told me already.
I here send you back letters signed for the Bishop of Clonfertk. God's blessing be upon you; 'tis an excellent work. Mr. Secretary Windebank told me, he would remit his fees ; and if it be not done, somebody is in fault ; but I hope it is.
So I am come to the end of your letters. Now I shall first thank you for the duplicate of the despatch you sent me. Next I am to tell your Lordship, that the King hath giver the Bishopric of Limerick to Dr. Webbe, one of his ancient
* [This was Wentworth's letter of Wentworth of Lord Cottington.
July 19. (See Strafforde Letters, vol. (Ibid.)]
*• P- 273-)l k [This was a warrant for the re-
[See Wentworth's letter of Aug. storation to the See of Clonfert, of the
23- (™d. p. 300.)] Abbey of Fortu-puro. (See ibid. pp.
1 [This refers to a story told by 302, 303.)]
LETTERS. 401
chaplains, who I hope will discharge that place well, and give you content. For Dean Lesley \ I think him one of the fittest on that side, and shall be ready to assist him, when you shall find it fit. I received a letter from the Dean of Limerick, Mr. Geo. Andrews m, that he might now succeed in the bishopric ; but his letters came too late, and had they come sooner they could not have varied his Majesty's reso lution for Dr. Webbe. I did formerly receive a letter from the Lords Justices of that kingdom in Mr. Andrews's behalf, with a great testimony of his sufficiency. And truly, my Lord, I should have done any reasonable thing for him upon their testimony, had not the King been settled upon another. Now my thoughts do a little stagger, and by the letters which he hath sent me that staggering is occasioned. I send you herein his letters, that you may see what fustian they are ; but when you have read them, I pray you burn them, (for I would not publicly disgrace him,) and send me word in your next what esteem you have of the man for honesty and sufficiency.
My Lord of Derry writ unto me, what good might be done by buying in impropriations n. And he conceives a stock might be raised to do it out of the fourth part which is to come to the King upon Mr. Porter and Mr. Murray's patent; and he writes further, that your Lordship approves of it. I have acquainted his Majesty with this, and he likes it well, and bid me tell you, he hopes if you turn this from him to the Church, you will be so circumspect as that you will not fail to find some other thing, as good or better for his profit. And I pray of this be careful, else some great mountain or another may be made of it, I know by whom °.
I herein likewise send you a letter of the Bishop of Waterford, in which he desires your Lordship's favour towards him for the bettering of his means. I pray let him
1 [Henry Lesley, Dean of Down, lion, and died in 1648. (Wood, Aih.
He was consecrated Bishop of Down Ox. iv. 806.)]
and Connor, Oct. 4, 1635, on the death " [This was one of the great services of Bishop Echlin. " He is recorded as performed by Bramhall for the Irish a man of vigorous intellect, and large Church. S-je Life of Bramhall, re- acquirements." (Mant's Hist, of Irish printed from Biogr. Brit., Works, vol. Church, vol. i. p. 514.)] i. p. vii., and Bishop Jeremy Taylor's
m [George Andrews, of Magd. Hall. Funeral Sermon, ibid. pp. lix. — Ixii.]
He was consecrated Bishop of Ferns ° [As it was, this was made one of
and Leighlin, May 14, 1635. He the charges against Laud at his trial,
retired to London during the Rebel- See above, vol. iv. p. 176.]
LAUD. — VOL. vr. D i)
402 LETTERS.
know I have written ; and I know you will do what is fitting, according to the merits of Churchmen, and that's all I can ask.
When I had written almost thus far, in came your letters of Sept. 22, with a duplicate in them; and truly I made just account at my next coming to Court to see as much as I might (your own rules being observed) what became of your suit P ; but I fell very ill, and have not seen the King this fortnight. Now I am going to Court again, and if I find anything worth the adding, you shall be sure to find it at the close of these. Yet whatsoever become of your suit, or anything else, I love my master's service, the com mon good, and your own person so well, that I here take the liberty to desire you not to guide yourself so much by that compass, but to go as resolutely on, be the suit denied, as if it were granted. I have weighty reasons for this, but for the present want strength to express them to you. All my comfort is, I assure myself you understand me fully, and can give reason enough to yourself for what I say.
After this I received your Lordship's letters of the 1st of October, in which you do not complain without cause; and if at any time I meet with any opportunity, I will do you and your services there all the right I can to the King ; so shall I do in this, if any hint be given me.
"Tis true, the Primate hath recommended Dean Andrews to me, but 'tis upon the old stock, and very fairly, and I have returned him my answer, fit for me, and true from the King. I came to know that man's zeal before these last letters of yours described him, and I doubt it is not much according to knowledge q.
This 19th of October, at Hampton Court, (where I was in great faintness,) the Irish Committee was called by the King, and in his presence your despatches1 read, and Secretary
P [This was a request made by you would chastise him for it, make Wentworth for some mark of the him Bishop of Ferns and Leighlin . . . King's favour. See the King's reply to have it without any other corn- in Straffbrde Letters, vol. i. pp. 331, mendam than as the last Bishop had, 332.] and then I assure you he shall leave
i [Dean Andrews incurred Went- better behind him, than will be re- worth's severe displeasure for his con- compensed out of that Bishopric.' duct in the Convocation held shortly (Strafforde Letters, vol. i. pp. 343, afterwards. Wentworth writes to Laud, 344.)]
' If your Lordship thinks Dean An- r [See Strafforde Letters, vol. i. pp.
drews hath been to blame, and that 304—310.]
LETTERS. 403
Coke directed to all the haste that might be for return of answer to each particular respectively. To that I refer you. Only your matter of the tallow is put off to further considera tion. But it is strongly alleged, that there is no restraint upon it. My Lord Treasurer was in the house, but very ill- disposed, and came not up to the Committee.
I am very weary, therefore here's an end for this time. To God's blessed protection I leave you, and rest
Your Lordship's loving poor Friend and Servant,
W. CANT.
Lambeth, Oct. 20, 1634.
LETTER XCII.
TO THE DEAN AND CHAPTER OE NORWICH. [Wilkins' Cone. torn. iv. pp. 494, 495s.]
S. in Christo *.
After my hearty commendations, &c. — I do very well remember the late alteration of your Statutes ", and the set tlement of them in Bishop Harsnet x and Dean Suckling's * time ; my predecessor and myself, among other, being em ployed in that service. At that time it troubled me very much, as it hath since done, upon the consideration of other Churches, to see the weakness of that quire, and the small means that was left to make it better; considering that neither the quire, nor anything else about the Church, can flourish without some proportionable reward to service. The good old Dean, to help things on as far as he might, projected two things ; the one was some proportion of corn to be allowed them, which I think was then settled, and I hope continues ; the other I do not well remember that it was settled by statute, the more the pity, but it was generally thought fit and approved by all of us, to whom the consideration of the Statutes was then recommended; that is, that such small benefices, or cures, within the city and suburbs as are in the Church's gift, should, as they fell void, be given to the petty
8 [From Keg. Laud, foil. 213 b, Rymer, Feed. VIII. iii. 40, 41.]
214 a.] * [Samuel Harsnet, successively
* [This is printed ' Domino ' in Bishop of Chichester and Norwich,
Wilkins, The other variations from and Archbishop of York. See vol. iii.
Wilkins, are the result of a collation p. 152.]
of the Register.] r [Edmund Suckling.]
u [See a copy of the Statutes in
D D 2
404 LETTERS.
canons respectively, and to no other; and that the Church should be very careful, from time to time, to choose such petty canons into vacant places, as might be fit and able to discharge both duties, both to sing in the quire, and to catechise and preach in the parish. This custom of giving those small cures to the petty canons is usual with other Churches, where the quire is as mean as yours, and it being great help to them ; and fit and able men will never be wanting, if this course for their preferment be held constant. I write this unto you, because I am informed that there are divers very sufficient men already in expectation of those places, whensoever it shall please God to make any void, so that you need not be to seek to furnish yourselves. But I hear withal there is a purpose amongst some of you, with out any regard of the honour and good of the Church, to bestow these livings, when they fall, upon their private friends, without any respect had to the quire ; which, if it be, will utterly overthrow the quire service, and you will not be able to retain either voices or skill amongst you. I would be glad to hope this information were not true, but it is so con stantly affirmed to me, that I cannot distrust it altogether. These are, therefore, to pray and require you to be careful in this business, as you have any care of the Church's good, or of any good opinion that I shall hold of you; and this I assure you, that if I shall find, that you do at any time put other men in those cures, and leave the petty canons destitute, to the utter prejudicing of the quire, I shall take all the ways that wisely I can, to make you see your error; but I hope you will do your duties, and so preserve my love to you, and my care for you, which I shall be glad to extend to the utmost, if you shall make yourselves capable of it. Thus, not doubting of your obedience to this direction, I leave you to the grace of God, and rest
Your very loving Friend,
Lambeth, December 3, 1634. W. CANT.2
To my very loving friends, the Dean and Chapter of the Church of Nor wich, These.
* [In the reply of the Dean and of the canons. See Keg. Laud, foil.
Canons, they promise at their next 214 b, 215 a; and Wilkins' Cone. torn,
grand Chapter to settle a particular iv. fol. 495.] and perpetual provision for every one
LETTERS.
405
LETTER XCIII.
FROM JOHN WILLIAMS, BISHOP OF LINCOLN. [Lambeth MSS. Numb. mxxx. p. 32.]
MOST REVEREND FATHER IN GOD, AND MY VERY GOOD LORD, —My humble service and all due respects remembered, I humbly beseech your Grace to excuse me for this year's representation, and to receive the account of my diocese from your Vicar-general. I hope he will assure your Grace, as he hath done me and others, that all things are here prac tised, required in his most excellent Majesty's instructions.
And so they shall be, (by God's grace,) as far as my unworthy ministry can advance that service.
I humbly beseech your Grace not to cease your mediation unto his most excellent Majesty, for his mercy towards me. I do endeavour, by my life and conversation, to make myself a vessel not altogether uncapable of that sacred oil; and will be ever as ready to acknowledge, as I am now to implore, your Grace's mediation; and shall never cease to pray unto God for your Grace's health and happiness, as well becometh
Your Grace's most humble Servant and Suffragan,
Jo. LINCOLN.
Westmr. Coll. 18vo. Decembr. 1634. To the most Reverend Father in God my very good Lord the Lord Arch bishop of Canterbury, &c. &c.
LETTER XCIV.
TO JOHN WILLIAMS, BISHOP OF LINCOLN. [ {Lambeth MSS. Numb. mxxx. p. 33.]
S. in Christo.
MY VERY GOOD LORD, — I lately received a letter from your Lordship by the hands of Mr. Ireland a, to the first part whereof I can give you full satislaotion, namely, That I shall, according to the time prefixed, give his Majesty an account from the Bishops within my province. And I shall for this
a [Richard Ireland, Master of Westminster School. See vol. iv. p. 317.]
406 LETTERS.
year take it for your diocese, being one of them which I visited, from my Vicar-general's report, and shall not fail to represent it so to his Majesty, as he hath done it to me b.
The second part of your Lordship's letter is fuller of diffi culty, to me especially, who have been employed twice at least already in the same business and without success. Yet I resolved to put it once more to his Majesty, which I did yesterday. And, because I found your Lordship had ex pressed your desires very briefly and yet very effectually, and in fair terms of respect to his Majesty's goodness, as in other of your Lordship's letters you had formerly done, I did not only move your suit, but obtained liberty to read that part of your letter to him ; but all the answer I could gain from his Majesty was, that he had answered me already to that particular, and could not as yet say any more to it. If I have any fair opportunity these holidays to move his Majesty again, I shall not fail to do it; but the present answer given me I have truly related to your Lordship. So wishing you health, I commend you to God's blessed protection.
Your Lordship's loving Friend and Brother.
Lainbetli, Decemb. 22, 1634. Endorsed : ' December 22, 1634. The copy of my letter to my Lord
Bishop of Lincoln, to move the
K. &c.'
LETTER XCV.
FROM JOHN WILLIAMS, BISHOP OF LINCOLN. [Lambeth MSS. Numb. mxxx. p. 34.]
MOST REVEREND FATHER IN GOD AND MY VERY GOOD LOKD, —May it please your Grace to accept of my most humble thanks for that letter of your Grace's which I received from Mr. Ireland this last week, and especially for laying my humble petition for grace and mercy with so much expedi- tion, at his Majesty's feet.
Indeed, if I should believe either the vain reports of that man that is appointed relator against me c, or the surmises of
b [See . <[-K
Accounts of Province for 1634. Works, vol. v. pp. 325—327.] Kilvert. See above, pp. 81, 82.]
LETTERS. 407
greater persons, I should not dare to hope so much upon your Grace's favour. But finding in mine own bosom no want of true affections unto TOUT Grace, nor of taking all oppor tunities to express the same when I had some power, and withal calling to mind of what small consideration it were unto your Grace (though disaffected unto me) to suffer a Bishop to end his days in a private manner, amongst books and papers, without shame or undoing, I have resolved with myself, to make (beside my private prayers unto God) no other mediation unto his Majesty for his mercy and goodness, than by your Grace, and to reserve my greatest obligations and acknowledgments unto your Grace, for any comfort I shall receive thereby, submitting in all humility the effect to God's good will and pleasure, whom I beseech, with all my heart, to bless your Grace with all health and happiness, remaining
Your Grace's most humble Servant and Suffragan,
Jo. LINCOLN.
Buckden, this 29th of
Decemb. 1634.
To the Most Reverend Father in God hU very good Lord the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, &c.&c- Present these.
LETTER XCVI.
TO JOHN WILLIAMS, BISHOP OF LINCOLN. [Lambeth MSS. Xumb. nixxx. p. 35.]
MY VZRT GOOD LORD, — I perceive my late letters came safe to vou, because you gave me thanks for them ; and truly, my Lord. I did present your humble petition to his Majesty with the expedition mentioned in those my letters. And I read that passage of your letter over, so that he might see your suit in vour own expression.
But whereas it follows in your letters now sent, that you could not hope for much upon my favour, if you did believe either the vain reports of your relator, or the surmises of greater persons ; my Lord, here I take myself bound to say something to you both of and for myself, especially since in one of your former letters to me, dated Dec. 3, 1633, you are
408 LETTERS.
pleased to say that other men had made me formidable to you, which I took to be some slip, till now I see it in a manner repeated.
First, therefore, the relator, he is a mere stranger to me ; I do not remember that ever I spoke with him in my life but once, and that was about a reference from the King. But, concerning you or your cause, I never spake word with him. As for his tongue, I have no bridle for it, nor for other men's who have taken this liberty with me. Secondly, for the sur mises of greater persons, I can say as little : though the greater the men be, the less liberty should they take to speak otherwise of me than they know ; for if to surmise be enough, I know not that man that may not be made guilty of any thing. But, my Lord, this is truth, and I will avow it. You did never put letter or petition into my hand about your business, but I did (and with all the expedition I could) pre sent it carefully, and with all due respects, to his Majesty, and returned you from time to time such answer as I could obtain.
Thirdly, since there are such surmises upon me (as you write), I will take this occasion to express myself clearly to your Lordship. "What I have formerly done both upon your letters r.nd petitions I have above related, and shall at any time do the like, for I find not myself under surmises for it. But, my Lord, as I should be glad, with the preservation of the King's honour and justice, to do your Lordship, or any Bishop, all lawful favours, and give you or them my best assistance for mercy where they deserve it ; yet, if my suit for mercy be not heard and received, I shall not hold myself so bound to any Bishop, as for his sake to forget the duty which I owe to the King's honour and justice, where and when it shall appear they are alike concerned. Therefore, if your Lordship, upon any greater persons' surmises, shall think I have not performed towards you all I undertook, you wrong me ; but if you think I shall forsake any just cause of the King's to assist you, you deceive yourself; for it is one thing to sue for favour, and another to do justice, if proofs arise, and you be left unto them.
The rest of your Lordship's letters expects no answer from me, further than that, in the way of asking favours, I shall
LETTERS. 409
at any time be ready to do your Lordship such service as is fit for me to undertake. But what you mean by ending your days in a private manner, amongst books and papers, without shame or undoing (for so you write), I confess I know not. Thus, wishing you a happy new year, I leave you to God's blessed protection, and rest
Your loving Friend and Brother,
Endorsed: 'January 10th, 1634. W. CANT.
The copy of iny Letter to the Bishop
of Lincoln in answer to his about
surmises, £c.'
LETTER XCVII.
[ TO ADAM BALLANDEN, BISHOP OF DUNBLANE.
[Baillie, Letters and Journals, Append. II. No. x.d] S. in Christ o.
MY VERY GOOD LORD, — I am very glad to hear your resolu tions for the ordering of his Majesty's Chapel Royal, and that you are resolved to wear your whites, notwithstanding the maliciousness of foolish men. I know his Majesty will take your obedience and care very well; and being fully satisfied both concerning your sermon, and all things else committed to your trust, you may, as opportunity serves, expect from his Majesty all reasonable things; and I shall not be wanting to give you all the assistance that I can upon all occasions ; of which I heartily pray you not to doubt.
My Lord the Earl of Traquair e is now come, and I shall take care, the first opportunity I can, to speak with him once more about the Gentlemen of the Chapel, and shall show him what your Lordship writes concerning one Edward Kelly, whom you mention ; and what answer soever I can get, you shall receive from me. So in haste I leave you to the grace of God, and rest
Your Lordship's very loving Friend and Brother,
Lambeth, Jan. 12, 1634. W. CANT.f
I have spoken with my Lord Traquair, and he tells me (if I mistook him not) that payment was made to Kelly with
d [The original is in Wodrow MSS. Prynne, Hidden Works, p. 150 ; and
fol., vol. Ixvi. numb. 14.] in Art. i. of the Scottish Commis-
e [Lord High Treasurer of Scotland.] sioners. See above, vol. iii. p. 301.] f [This letter is referred to by
410 LETTERS.
relation to the Gentlemen of the Chapel g, and that your own hand, as well as others', is to some agreement that was made thereabout. The paper was not then about him, else he had showed it me. Your Lordship, therefore, shall do very well to speak with him again about this particular. As for the time to come, he hath assumed to me they shall be duly paid.
To the Rt. Eeverend Father in God,
my very good Lord and Brother,
the Lord Bishop of Dunblane, at
Edenburrowe, These. Endorsed : ' Anent wearing of the
whites.'
LETTER XCVIII.
TO JOHN DURY.
[Benzelii Dissert, de J. Dimeo, p. 127; Helmst. 1744.] Salutem in Domino.
Eeversus e Germania in Britanniam, literas mihi attulisti gratissimas a quibusdam venerabilibus Theologis, Augustanam Confessionem profitentibus. 'Per illas intelligo, quam stu- diose, non sine sudore et periculis, pacem Ecclesise sis pro- secutus : ex iisdem etiam facile perspicio, quam misere sit afflicta ibidem bellis et tumultu facies Ecclesiee. Et certe quod ad has miseriarum angustias redigatur, dissensionibus propriis nimium debet, Deo meritissime religionis dissidia bellis (dolet dicere) plusquam civilibus vindicante ; eo magis necessarium illis pacis studium, eo magis in te laudandum simul et fovendum pacis Christianse desiderium. Quod et in illis summis viris, et in te ipso non solum ipse (qualis qualis sim) medullitus approbo, sed (audeo dicere) tota etiam Ecclesia Anglicana ; publice tamen nihil possum, priusquam
* [Mr. D. Laing, in his note to this gister House, entitled, 'Information letter, states, that Edward Kelly was touching the Chapel Royal of Scot- appointed by writ under the Privy land,' dated at Whitehall, 24th of Seal, Receiver of the Fees of the Chapel January, 1631 , which has been printed Royal, Nov. 26, 1629 He adds, that in the Appendix to Mr. D^nney's
there is an original and interesting Ancient Scottish Melodies, Edinb.
paper preserved m the General Re- 1838, 4to."]
LETTERS. 411
constiterit de pace inter partes per Germaniam dispersas amplexanda. Interim ne optime inceptos tuos labores frustra reassumeres, ne tot et tarn docti Theologi te uihil egisse putarent, salutes meo nomine dilectos in Christo fratres, significesque, me esse et semper fore paci reconciliandse para- tissimum, facturumque, quod in me est, ne Christianum nomen ubique male audiat ob rixas, pene dixerhn, foemi- neas plusquam. Liters hae testes sint, te fideliter literas, tua3 cura3 commissas, mihi in manus dedisse, meque opus hoc, Deo et Ecclesise gratissimum, tibi illisque omni nisu commendare ; neque tamen singulis singulorum, licet eximi- orum, Theologorum literis, prse mole negotiorum premen- tium, respondere, in hoc velim me illis excusatum. Vale et sis memor, pacificos ipsius Christi inter beatissimos reponi. Tui et horum Fratrum
meorum in Domino amicus,
GULIELMUS CANTUARIENSIS.
Datoo ex aadibus Lambethanis, 10 Febr. 1634.
Viro Doctiss. D. Jo. Durseo.
LETTER XCIX.
TO G. J. VOSSIUS. [A pud Claror. Viror. ad Vossium Epistt., Epist. cxcviii. pp. 125, 126h.J
Cl. Ger. Jo. Vossio S. in Christo.
Accipies hie, mihi merito charissime, unam, eandemque brevem epistolam. In ea tribus tuis mihi exoptatissimis responsionem, sed qualem moles negotiorum, qua pene opprimor, permisit, rudem scilicet et incultam, sola brevitate gratam, solo amore candidam. Reliqua tota una litura sunto.
Et primis literis tuis, de tempestate, qua3 domum tuam invisit, et filium prostravit i tam meritis quam natura chari- orem, consultius non respondi, ne manus meas in crudum adhuc vulnus immitterem. Spero jam cicatricem contraxit. Et tu, quod decet, teque dignum est, fecisti, patienter te,
h [Exstat etiam, maxima vero parte 789.]
sui mutila, apud Praest. ac Erudit. ' [Dionysium scv de quo plura apud Viror. Epistt., Epist. dxxxiii. pp. 788, Patris sui Epistolas.]
412 LETTERS.
et tua Deo (qui suis, quae optima novit, impertire solet,) per mittendo. Ibi enim aut acquiescendum, aut in hac vita nullibi. Sed opera qusedam filii tui si placet edere, quibus ille etiamsi mortuus luce fruatur, aut perfecta des nobis, aut nulla.
De Novatoribus nostris apud vos quse scribis vera sunt ; quse contra illos conaris pia, et pro pace Ecclesiae. Si nolint se ad pacatiora studia recipere, (et certe nolunt,) sint quod esse cupiunt, inter pusillos gigantes, modo sint, quod et esse et haberi merentur, inter doctos scioli, et inter prudentes temerarii.
Literae tuse secunda? causam Blauii tantum exponunt, patris, filiique, et quo consilio Twissum typis niandarit k. Certe prudenter Farnabius, qui mentionem privilegii sui fecit l; sed valde inconsulto Londinenses typographi privi- legia sua silentio damnarunt. Unde enim exteri caveant quod nesciunt? Num prophetas volunt typographos esse? Sed responsum his literis retulit diu abhinc Blauii Films, utpote quern statim post literas tuas acceptas, sine ulterior! processu, sumptibusve, dimisi e curia in tui solius gratiam. Responsum putavi illud scripto melius, prsecipue cum tune nihil mini daretur otii. Et video ex subsequentibus literis tuis, fidum se fuisse narrando tibi parentique suo, quid in ea re fecerim. Gratias enim literee tua3 referunt et tuas et patris. In literis autem tuis novissime scriptis m non solum lego gratias mihi supra meritum repensas, sed hoc etiam, te labores tuos Grammaticos ad finem perduxisse. Gaudeo certe, et eo magis, quia semper cogito de Baronio. Librum etiam una cum literis misisti, tradidit mihi Goffius, qui et ante hsec literas has ad te detulisset, si citius redire potuisset. Goffium antea non vidi, de eo^ modestia, et doctrina ejus, ab aliis, ut etiam e teipso ssepius audivi. Si pergat, nil dubito, possit pro meritis prsemium et expectare et recipere.
Consilium tuum in Editione horum librorum, nempe ut sub nomine et auspiciis, aut Principis Walliae, aut Ebora- censis, prodeant, valde probavi. Necessarium tamen duxi
u apud Wood> Ath- Ox-
oG.J. 1 [Vide Privilegium Thorn. Farna-
LETTERS. 413
illud cum serenissimo Rege Carolo communicare. Partim ut intelligat, quam memor et gratus sis pro Beneficio in te col late n; partim ut sciat obsequium tuum non sibi solum, sed et suis, paratissimum, prsecipue vero, ut penes ilium sit eligere utri horum Principum Illustrium liber iste tuus inscriberetur, an utrisque ? Gratiose quidem accepit Rex optimus, quod iu- tendis. ' Et forte aliquando ' (inquit) ' nomen fronte inscrip- tum invitabit filium meum ad ejus lectionem, licet forte minus seriam/ Hoc vero jussit, ut tibi rescriberem ; velle se, ut libri hujus dedicatio (quando ita tibi placuerit) sit Illustrissimo [Principi °] Wallire Carolo. Perge nunc, et librum liunc habeamus publici juris.
De Novatoribus iterum in his literis scribis. Certe quod vellent turbare omnia, suum est, quod non possunt, Dei. Interim miserrime laceratur Ecclesise Christi facies, cor- pusque ; neque, diseiplina penitus fracta et concussa, videt ipsa prudentia, quibus artibus vulneribus hisce possit suc- curri.
De Jolianne tuo doleo quod nequeas in eo ilium studio- rum amorem, quern desideras, excitare. Sed quum res ita se habeant, alia aggrediendum est via, et sapienter meo judicio facis, si alia animo tuo agitare incipias. De reditu autem ejus in Angliam noli cogitare. Nam men sis vix prseteriit, quo publica fama Cantabrigise increbuit, ilium non solum fidem dedisse mulieri illi, de qua antea scripsi, sed cum ea solennia matrimonii publice in facie EcclesiaB celebrasse. Nominatur locus tempusque. Prsepositus et Socii Collcgii Jesu consilia ineunt, de alio in ejus locum, utpote sic vacantem, surrogando. Fama etiam in aures meas volat. Ego ad Ecclesiam Parochialem nominatam mitto, Registrum Ma- trimoniale (quo in singulis Parochiis utimur) inspiciendum euro ; nihil ibi reperitur de solennizatione matrimonii. De- sistunt ergo ab intentione sua Socii, nee alium eligunt. Sed vides, quse sit opinio, quse expectatio ; et si redierit filius, certo certius aliquid eveniet, quod nolis. Et, ut finis sit huic malo, optime opinor consules et famae et saluti filii tui, si ibi eum retineas, disponasque, ut ei magis congruum esse inveneris. Resignatio autem Societatis in Collegio
n [Canonicatu sc. Cantuariensi.]
0 [Vide Freest, ac Enid. Viror. Epistt. p. 789.]
414 LETTERS.
Jesu, in forma Juris maim propria subscripta, si ad me mit- tatur, ut in manus Prsepositi illius Collegii tradatur, quam- primum curabo, ut sic honeste a Collegio discedat. Aliter probabile est, illos tarn diu absentem ulterius non expecta- turos, sed locum ejus vacuum pronunciaturos, quod nollem factum.
Quod reliquum est, gaudeo te vinculis morbi tui liberatum, ut possis iterum Ecclesise, Reipublicse, et amicis inservire. Valeas. Ex animo sic optat
Amicissimus tibi,
GUIL. "CANT.
Dat. ex sedibus meis Lamb., Febr. 27, 1634. Stilo nostro.
LETTER C.
TO TEE LORD VISCOUNT WENTWORTH.
[Strafforde Letters, vol. i. pp. 374—376.]
S. in Christ o.
MY VERY GOOD LORD, — I was never so busy as I am at this present, and am very heartily weary, and therefore to your short letters P I shall give as short an answer.
And, first, this afternoon we are to sit at the Irish Com mittee, where I purpose, God willing, to press the passing of the statute concerning the Bishops in Ulster 1, with all the - strength I have. For I confess I was not only absolutely tied, and you satisfied concerning the business before my last letters went your act to out of my hands, but did further think, that there was a tentme°nt. great mistake both in myself and the rest of the Lords. For, for myself, I ingenuously acknowledge, that though I did much wonder why that favour should be showed to four or five bishops, and not the rest, and that the Bishop of Derry was one of them, yet all this did not make me reflect upon the plantation ; which thought alone, had it come into me, would have suggested all the reasons your Lordship gives for
P [These letters are not preserved.] by King James to the sees of Armagh,
i [This was a statute for confirma- Derry, Clogher, Raphoe, and Kilmore.
tion of leases made by the Primate It was the Irish Statute 10 Charles II.
and other prelates of Ulster, of the sess.iii. capp. 1 and 5. See Mant's His-
endowment which had been granted tory of the Irish Church, vol. i. p. 482.]
LETTERS. 415
the statute. Well, I am glad you have sent it back again, and I hope to give your Lordship and the Bishops content ; I have already possessed the King that there is great reason in it, so I hope well.
Concerning Dr. Bruce1', the King hath heard nothing of him yet, neither have I, nor hath any man in Court spoken to me concerning him or his cause, which is more than a wonder,*should he be in England. For his appeal, I think it will hold, if it be made within fifteen days; but I purpose shortly to speak with Sir Henry Martin, and other civilians here, about it ; and you may be sure I will do whatsoever I may against that palpable simony. The King thinks, as your Lordship doth, that there is great reason that it should be tried there, upon the place where the witnesses are at hand.
I have now a very great suit to your Lordship ; 'tis this. Sir William Paddy3, our old St. John's man, is dead, and hath left the College money to purchase land, to set up the quire and maintain it. Perhaps you will think it no wisdom to sue for a particular purchase, lest we be made pay unreasonably for it ; yet there is such a convenience to the house in a particular following, as that we are resolved, if the land may be had, to overbuy it, so we be not put to extremity, and herein I must heartily pray your Lordship's assistance in your full strength. Sir William Kives, his Majesty 's Attor ney in Ireland, hath land within two miles of the College, and less. It lies in several portions, all intermixed with the College land, no house upon it, nor do I know that Sir Wil liam hath any other land near it, so it's far fitter for the College than anybody else, and we are well content to give the very utmost value. Sir William offered the sale of it some five or six years ago, and it may be would part with it yet. I hear of late he hath richly married his son in Ireland, and stated this land upon him ; but I doubt not but his son and his father-in-law will be well enough content to part with it, so there be money enough given, and as much other land in value stated upon his son. And to the end my letters may come with the more credit to Mr. Attorney's hands, though
r [This was, probably, Thomas has not been ascertained.] Bruce, Archdeacon of Raphoe. The » [See vol. iii. p. 136.] nature of the cause here mentioned
416 LETTERS.
it be somewhat unmannerly, yet I shall pray your Lordship to receive them here enclosed, and to let one of your gentle men deliver them to him.
One word more for Croxton, and I have done. I hear from my Lord of Derry that my Lord Primate is not very well pleased with him, nor his manner of preaching. I am sorry if the young man hath given any just offence, but I hope he hath not ; and I doubt this is some foolish business of Arminianism. I see that sin of his, in speaking freely in the Convocation *, will not be forgiven him ; yet I hope your Lordship will not be brought to join in the punishment, but that you will give him the living which you intended to him. I see you can conceal your infirmities ; for your brother tells me you are in the gout, but there's not a word of it in your letter. This 'tis to write with your fingers, and not with your toes ; had you been to write with these, I should have heard some complaints, or discovered it by your manner of writing. I promise you, you can make haste, that can get the gout so soon ; I thought you had been contented to stay till you had been nearer threescore first ; 'tis no such lovely companion, and I know you would be glad to be rid of it. Well, now there's work for Dr. Williams u, and I know, if he had not been so near you, you would have sent to me for my counsel, who have more skill in those things than you are aware of. And though he be there, I'll venture to prescribe to you. Take heed of applying any medicine to it that may beat it back, but draw it out into public as much as you can, and now while you have so good an advantage, follow it, use your power in both Houses, make an Act of Parliament against it; that if ever it comes to lay hold of you again, especially when you are so busy in the King's service, it shall incur your high displeasure, and be expelled the Castle, so soon as ever you can be rid of it, and not return again, under pain of being endured there against your will. Indeed I do much marvel how it durst venture upon you in a Parliament time, and do verily think, it would hardly have been so bold, had it not had the suffrages of some mutineers in the House. Well,
» [Croxton, in his letter to Arch- Convocation. (Prynne, Cant. Doom,
bishop Laud, speaks of his opposing pp. 194, 195.)]
singlehanded the decree of Predesti- « [Afterwards Sir Maurice Williams,
nation which was obtruded on the Wentworth's physician.]
LETTERS. 41 7
I pray, while you are wrapping of this foot of yours, com mend me to the Master of the Rolls x, or the Mistress rather, and let them enrol it, that the more you make of it, the longer it may continue to do you service. I hope now the sentence is passed in the Star-Chamber for the King y, and that your Lordship is to take care of the Plantation, you will be sure to send it to Culmore ; it will be an excellent thing to bestow upon some one of the warders there, for it will be sure to keep him within the Castle, and not suffer him to go a gadding to Coleraine, while he should guard the Castle. Well, I wish you health, and hope I shall hear of it in your next letters. So I leave you to the grace of God, and rest
Your Lordship's very loving Friend to serve you,
W. CANT.
Lambeth, March 4, 1634.
LETTER CI.
TO THE BISHOPS OF JUS PROVINCE. [Wilkins' Cone, torn. iv. pp. 516, 517 z.]
S. in Christo.
MY VERY GOOD LORD,— It hath pleased his Majesty, out of his princely compassion towards the distressed estate of the Ministers of the Palatinate, to grant them his letters patents for a collection throughout this kingdom of the charitable contributions of well-minded people towards their relief; and though not many years past they have had some former collections in this kind, yet having lately suffered sundry calamities by the continual incursions of their enemies, they are now in very low and dangerous estate, and with the same fears attending. These are therefore heartily to pray your Lordship, that you will take care by some of your officers, that the Briefs, which are herewith sent you by his Majesty's command, be diligently dispersed into the several
* [Sir Christopher Wandesworth.l of Londonderry.] y [This relates to a decree of Star- * [From Reg. Laud, fol. 224 b,
Chamber, concerning the plantation which has been collated.] LAUD. — VOL. vi.
418 LETTERS.
parishes within your diocese, and that the collection which shall be made thereupon be duly, carefully, and with all convenient speed returned to me, according to the tenor of his Majesty's said letters patents. Thus not doubting of your best assistance arid furtherance in a work so pious and full of charity, I leave you to the grace of God, and rest
Your Lordship's very loving Friend and Brother,
W. CANT.
I pray your Lordship, upon the receipt of these my letters, to take care that the Briefs be presently dispersed, and there upon to give me notice in writing accordingly. Lambeth, Mail octavo, 1635.
LETTER GIL
TO JAMES USSHER, ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH.
[ParrVj Life, Letter clxxxiv. pp. 476, 477.]
Salutem in Christo.
MY VERY GOOD LORD, — I thank you heartily for your letters, and am as heartily glad that your Parliament and Convo cation are so happily ended, especially for the Church ; and that, both for the particular of your letting leases, which is for maintenance a, and for the quiet, and well ordering and ending of the Book of Canons b. I hope now the Church of Ireland will begin to flourish again, and that both with inward sufficiency and outward means to support it. And for your Canons, to speak truth, and with wonted liberty and freedom, though I cannot but think the English Canons entire (espe cially with some few amendments) would have done better ; yet since you, and that Church, have thought otherwise, I do very easily submit to it, and you shall have my prayers that
B [There were two Acts of Parlia- Statutes, 10 and 11 Charles I. chap. 2
merit passed in the last session, relating and 3.]
to the Church. The one limited the b [See an account of the differences
time for which leases might be granted between the English and the Irish
by ecclesiastical persons, and the other Canons, in Mant's History of the Irish
permitted restitutions of impropria- Church, vol. i. pp. 495, seq.] tions, &c. to the Clergy. See Irish
LETTERS. 419
God would bless it. As for the particular about subscription, I think yon have couched that well, since, as it seems, there was some necessity to carry that article closely. And God forbid you should, upon any occasion, have rolled back upon your former controversy about the Articles. For if you should have risen from this Convocation in heat, God knows when or how that Church would have cooled again, had the cause of difference been never so slight. By which means the Romanist, which is too strong a party already, would both have strengthened, and made a scorn of you. And therefore ye are much bound to God that in this nice and picked age you have ended all things canonically, and yet in peace. And I hope you will be all careful to continue and maintain that which God hath thus mercifully bestowed upon you.
Your Grace's very loving Friend and Brother,
W. CANT.
Lambeth, May 10, 1635.
LETTER CIII.
TO ADAM BALLANDEN, BISHOP OF DUNBLANE.
[Baillie's Letters and Journals, Append. II. No. xi. c]
S. in Christ o.
MY VERY GOOD LORD, — The King hath been acquainted with your care of the Chapel Royal, and is very well pleased with the conformity that hath been there at the late reception of the blessed Sacrament; and, for my part, I am heartily glad to see in what a fair way your Church businesses now are in those parts. I hope, if the Bishops be pleased to continue their good example and their care, all things will settle beyond expectation.
The King hath declared his pleasure concerning the bishoprics now void, and hath given you the bishopric of
c [The original is in Wodrow MSS. fol., vol. Ixvi. numb. 19.]
E E 2
420 LETTERS.
Aberdeen d, as you will hear more at large by my Lord of Ross e. But being an University, and a place of consequence, he will have you reside there, and relies much upon you for the- well ordering of that place. I am very glad the King hath been so mindful of you, and given you so good a testi mony upon this occasion of your remove. So I leave you to the grace of God, and rest
Your Lordship's very loving Friend and Brother,
W. CANTf. Lambeth, May 19, 1635.
To the Rt. Reverend Father in God, my very good Lord and Brother, the Lord Bishop of Dunblane, at Eden- burrowe, These.
Endorsed : ' Anent their encourage ment.'
LETTETl CIV.
TO THE PROVOST OF EDINBURGH. [Steven's History of Heriot's Hospital?.]
S. in Christ o.
After my hearty commendations,— I thank you all for the kind letter which I have received from you, in which you are pleased to acknowledge more favour than I have done, and to give me more thanks than I have deserved ; yet I have done what I can for the furtherance of your hospital. I have likewise, since the receipt of these your letters, moved his Majesty again, but the occasions of the time are so necessary and pressing, that I have not been able to do you the good I intended ; but, God willing, I shall omit no opportunity in this or any other particular, to do that city all the service I can. And now very lately what I have done, in another great
d [Void by the death of Patrick been transcribed from the original in
Forbes.] the Charter-room in George Heriot's
e [John Maxwell.] Hospital, Edinburgh, by the author of
f [This letter is referred to by the above-mentioned volume, expressly
Prynne, Hidden Works, p. ] 50.] for this Edition, and varies in one or
if [This letter is printed in the place two points from the copy published by
here noted, but the present copy has himself.]
LETTERS. 421
business concerning you, I leave to the Lord Register's report, to whom ye are all very much beholding. So having not further to trouble you, I leave you all to the grace of God, and rest
Your very loving Friend to serve you,
W. CANT.
Lambeth, May 19, 1635.
To the Eight Worshipful my very worthy Friends the Provost, and the rest of his Brethren, of the City of Edenburrowe, These.
Endorsed : ' 8 Junii, 1635, producit in Consilio.'
LETTER CV.
TO THE LORD VISCOUNT WENTWORTH.
[Strafforde Letters, vol. i. p. 431.]
Salutem in Christo.
MY VERY GOOD LORD, — I am bold to trouble your Lordship with this short letter after the making up of the packet, and upon this occasion: the business about the Impropriations, by the King's gracious favour, and your Lordship's nobleness, is now in so fair a way11, that I hope, ere long, by God's bless ing, to see it fully settled ; and I assure myself you will not vary from what you have formerly written. But I have lately understood of some practising on the Queen's side about portions of tithes \ to keep them still alienated from the Church. I am bold to give your Lordship notice of this which I hear, that if there be any such thing, you would be pleased to make stay of it, till his Majesty's pleasure be further known, whose royal intendments I make no doubt are alike gracious touching the portions of tithes, as the im-
h [The King restored all impropri- p. 508.]
ate livings as the leases expired, and ' [These were probably portions of
Wentworth restored several livings tithes which formed part of the Queen's
which his predecessors held for the dowry. Such portions of tithes in
endowment of their office. See Mant's England were granted to the Queen.
Hist, of the Irish Church, vol. i. (Sec Bymcr, Feed. VIII. ii. 50, scq.)]
422 LETTERS.
propriatioos themselves. So not doubting of your Lordship's care and favour herein, I leave you to God's grace, and rest in haste
Your Lordship's
Very loving poor Friend to serve you,
W. CANT.
Lambeth, June 17th, 1635.
LETTER CVL
TO THE LORD TISCOUNT WENTW011TH.
[Strafforde Letters, vol. i. pp. 438, 439.]
Salut. in Christo.
MY VERY GOOD LORD, — I have not much to write to your Lordship, and 'tis well I have not, for I never had so little leisure in my life, as I have had since I was a Commissioner of the Treasury k, and so have still ; yet I must find some what to write to you, that your Secretary may not go empty from me.
I will not offer to write any foreign news, because I assure myself you know as much as I do, and at home I know little, and inquire after less ; yet, if you know it not already, let me tell you, that, as the last year there was money raised upon the ports, according to ancient precedent, for the setting out of the navy, which is now at sea, and there God bless it, so we are now going on to prepare for a greater navy against the next year ; and because the charge will be too heavy to lay it upon the ports or maritime counties only, therefore his Majesty hath thought fit, a paritate rationis, and for the like defence of the kingdom, to extend it to all counties and corporations within England and Wales, that so the navy may be full, and yet the charge less, as coming from so many hands. I pray God bless this business, for if it go well the King will be a great master at sea, and in these active times we, by God's blessing, may be the more safe at land. But of this I shall write more to you as it proceeds *,
* [See Diary, March 14, 1634. J [Hence arose the celebrated case of
Among the Treasury papers in the ship-money, which the majority of the
custody of the Master of the Rolls, is judges decided against John Hamp-
a record of the Archbishop's proceed- den.] ings as Commissioner of the Treasury.]
LETTERS. 423
There's no speech here, but who shall be Lord Treasurer ; and I would to God the King would name one, that our troublesome Commission were at an end ; and yet I can not be so ill a servant to my master arid the public, as to wish an end to this Commission for my own ease, till the King resolve of a good one ; for certainly such an one he will need, and perhaps more an honest than a cunning one™. I would write more at large to you in this argument, were I at leisure for my own hand, which at present I am not ; yet let me tell you, here is no speech at all for any but 29, 16, and 110 n; but which of these will speed, I know not; if either of the former speed, they will be as empty in the place as cyphers ; the third is able enough ; but I would fain hear from your Lordship, how you think business would be carried by that hand. For what I think both in regard of King and Church, I have written to you already.
About a year since, your northern neighbour, Sir Arthur Ingram °, took many occasions to apply himself to me, inso much that Sir Edward Osborne P, and some others, were doubtful of his getting too near within me, and I thank them, not without some fear (as I have heard) of my safety, in case I should admit him to any nearness. What danger is in the man, I do not know ; but for any nearness with me, I shall give him leave to hurt me with it if he can. But here, I pray, let me ask you a question ; I know you have known the man long. Do you not think him fit to be a Chancellor, if the party above figured be preferred ? I pro mise you, we do here ; and it is in many men's mouths, that it shall be so ; the rather, because 'tis thought that Chancery is no court of conscience, as may be proved both by ancient and modern precedents. Two little circumstances I have of late observed concerning Sir Arthur, and they be pretty ones ; the one is, that since the Lord Treasurer's q death, by which he conceived the other way open, he never came at me ; the
m [Bishop Juxon -was ultimately ap- P [He was Yice-President of the
pointed to the office. (See above, vol. Council of the North, and on the
iii. p. 226.)] breaking out of the Rebellion, was
11 [Knowler in his note on this place, General of the King's forces in those
states that this was Lord Cottington.] parts. His son, Sir Thomas Osborne,
0 [The son of the elder Sir Arthur was the first Duke of Leeds.] Ingram, who purchased the manor of 1 [Richard Weston, Earl of Port- Temple Newsome, in Yorkshire, which land, died March 13, made him a neighbour of Went worth's.]
424 LETTEllS.
other is, that I having interest in the Master of University College r, and writing to him iu your brother's behalf, that he might be tenant to the land given that College by Sir Simon Beniiet s, I know not by whose motion, but Sir Arthur was desired to write too, and, as I am informed, did so in your brother's behalf. But when the Master came to speak to his daughter *, the Lady Bonnet, she answered directly, that she intended it for a servant of her own. I doubt not but you can make English enough of this.
I have lately received a letter from Sir William Rives ; .there is nothing in it, but that he means to come into Eng land this summer, or the next spring at furthest, and then give me satisfaction about the sale of his land to the Col lege11. I heartily pray your Lordship to excuse my not writing to Mr. Attorney, and to thank him for his love and care in that business ; but if he hath no other occasion to bring him into England, he shall not need to stir for this, for that land of his is held in capite, and the College Mort main makes them capable of no tenure but soccage, so we must look other, and may not think of that land.
So for this time I will cease to be further troublesome to you, but wish you all good success in the plantation of Connaught, where while you are, the King's express pleasure is, that you take consideration of this enclosed paper*; it concerns a Lord of Scotland that is a tenant to the Lon doners, but to tell you the truth, his name is too hard for my memory; and when you have considered it, the King would have you return me your answer, and then he will grant or deny, as you hold the thing and conditions fit. I leave your Lordship to the grace of God, and rest
Your Lordship's very loving Friend and Servant,
W. CANT.
Lambeth, July 6th, 1635.
r [Thomas Walker, sometime Fellow for the foundation of additional Fel-
of St. John's College, a kinsman of the lowships and Scholarships in Uni-
Archbishop s, and as such left, after versity College.]
the death of his more immediate rela- * [Elizabeth, the daughter of Sir
tions, the executor of his will. The Arthur Ingram, and wife of Sir S.
Archbishop bequeathed him his ring Bennet.]
with a sapphire in it.] u [See above, p. 415.]
• [He was created a Baronet, July * [A letter from Lord Kirkud-
17, 1627. Pie died in 1631, and be- bright, appended to this letter in the
queathcd lands in Northamptonshire Straffordc correspondence.]
LETTERS. 425
LETTER CVIL
EROM JOHN WILLIAMS, BISHOP OP LINCOLN. [Lambeth MSS. Numb. mxxx. p. 36.]
MOST REVEREND FATHER IN GOD AND MY VERY GOOD LORD, My duty and service unto your Grace remembered, — Being to ride this visitation in person (if it shall please God to pre serve me in any reasonable health), the rather for the advancing of some especial services which your Grace hath recommended unto my care, I beseech your Grace to give me leave to crave your Grace's opinion in some few par ticulars.
If peradventure your Grace hath already spent any thoughts upon them, and not otherwise either to give your Grace any offence, or create unto your Grace any moles tation.
First, concerning the contribution to Paul's. If I find any brethren of the Clergy, that either have not given at all, or have given nothing to the purpose, willing to contribute annually, though in lesser sums, towards that repair, whether may I safely run that way witlfout any disservice to that great work, or shall I call upon them to present their respects at one entire payment? I do conceive (under reformation) the former way in a poor Clergy will be more willingly entertained, and, at the last, make up a greater produce.
Secondly, in that most gracious intention of his Majesty, (for the which God Almighty ever bless him in this, and crown him, but after many years, with an accumulation of all hap piness in the other life,) to better the poor vicarages of the kingdom with an augmentation of their compositions, which all Diocesans are supposed able to effect jure communi, and some of them jure particulars, by special pacts and reserva tions in the compositions themselves ; — I humbly beg your Grace/s advice in two points, being so cordially addicted to the service, that I would willingly spend the remainder of my life to bring it into any hope of perfection.
426 LETTERS.
First, whether your Grace hath not heard from the lawyers, grounding themselves upon 32d Hen. VIII. c. 7, and some other statutes and judgments at common law, that the impropriations now, as they stand in England, to all intents and purposes, except only the recovery of their tithes, are translated (as it were) into lay fees or uses (as the statute terms them), and so put out of our cognisance in courts ecclesiastical ; howbeit, I should conceive the statute cited to aim only at the conveyances and assurances in law of the said impropriations, but not at any transubstantiating (as it were) of their essence into another nature, than they were of in the Abbots' or the King's hands, from whence they were purchased or obtained by the subject. If your Grace have received any notes or directions in this particular that may be imparted, I will promise to improve them to the best of my poor endeavours for the advancement of the service.
The second point is of vicarages endowed upon such rectories as are possessed by Colleges, Bishops, Chapters, Prebendaries, and some other particular persons, who have but small rents reserved upon the same, the corps (and, consequently, the fat and the profits) being in the hands of lessees for long terms of lives or years. I humbly crave your Grace's direction, whence %the Diocesan shall expect an in crease for the Vicar's composition in this case ? If he fall upon the lessors, he shall sink many Colleges, Bishoprics, Chapters, and (in a manner) all the Prebendaries of most Churches of the old foundation in this kingdom which are erected upon tithes. If upon the lessee, quere whether in this case he will be denied a prohibition ? Also, it is very considerable, if it may please your Grace, what shall be done in that other case, which falls too too often in this diocese, where there is no vicarage endowed at all, but a bare and dry pension, and that of a miserable poor value, such as peradventure the religious house did allow to a member of their own, or to some poor secular priest, that for this service had his chamber and corrody Lat their convent. Is there any law whereby the Diocesan may help iii such a case ?
Another question, but of a meaner alloy, I presume to
LETTE11S. 427
move unto your Grace; that is, whether your Grace doth conceive the Injunctions of the late Queen Elizabeth to be of any binding, but only of a teaching and directing, force in the present Church 'of England ? I conceive the doubt lieth in this : first, whether they needed not a revival ; and then, whether they obtained any such from the late King of famous memory ? I do not trouble your Grace with this question for any fancy I have to all of them, but only that I found the Lord Chancellor, whom I served y, much taken with two of the number. The one, that all Rectors or parsons of one 100/. a-year and upwards, should allow somewhat to maintain poor scholar in one of the Universities (which that Lord always, and I have sometimes, caused the King's presentees in that nature to do, giving them the nomination of their own scholars) ; and the other, that every non-resident who kept no house at all upon his benefice, should allow the fortieth part thereof unto the poor, which is a very small allotment, if we look into that collop which the ancient Councils do cut out as due unto the poor from every benefice ecclesiastical. Lastly, I beg your Grace's leave to make not a complaint, for it is not of such a moment, but a representation only of one particular to your Grace. Ycur Grace knoweth well how things stand between Sir John Lambe and me at this time, though neither of us peradventure will confess himself in an error. I am informed from good hands, that no inhibitions have used to issue forth heretofore to stay proceedings in acts despatched by any Bishop in person, without first acquainting your Grace's predecessors; and I am sure I have continued thirteen years a Bishop, and in all that time I saw but one inhibition,' which was deserted presently by the party who procured it. But, in the compass of this last year, I have been saluted with them sans nombre in matters of no moment or effect. If your Grace wdll be pleased to take notice thereof, whatsoever your Grace shall determine shall be acceptable unto me, who am by nature not very unwilling to be rid of businesses. And so, craving your Grace's pardon for this tedious paper, whereunto I expect no answer, but at your Grace's best leisure, I humbly take my
>' [The Lord Chancellor Egerton, to whom Williams was Chaplain.]
4.28 LETTERS.
leave, and beseeching God to bless your Grace with all hap piness, do rest
Your Grace's most humble Servant and Suffragan,
Jo. LINCOLN.
Buckden, 15 July, 1635. To the Most Reverend Father in God, his very good Lord the Lo. Archbishop of Canterbury, &c. &c.
LETTER CVIII.
TO JOHN WILLIAMS, BISHOP OF LINCOLN.
[Lambeth MSS. Numb. mxxx. p. 37.]
S. in Christo.
MY VERY GOOD LORD, — I pray God bless you and speed you in your visitation, nothing doubting but your personal presence there will give good satisfaction to your Clergy, and be otherwise beneficial to the Church2. For the par ticulars contained in your letters, though you are pleased to leave me free from giving any answers till I may have leisure, yet, because there is scarce any one of them which I have not in some measure thought on before, I am willing to strain upon my other occasions, and give your Lordship present answer, reserving my fuller answer to further consideration. And I do the rather give this answer present, that no oppor tunity may be lost in this your visitation.
And, first, concerning the contribution to St. Paul's Church. As I thank your Lordship heartily for the pro fession of your love and care to that great work a, so I give you hereby to understand, that it was provided at the first, and hath been practised since in divers dioceses, that our brethren the Clergy might contribute by annual payments, which will be more ease for them, and all one for the work; and therefore I pray your Lordship to proceed in that way, being most agreeable also to your own judgment. Only I desire that a book may be kept, and one copy of it sent to the Chamber of London, according to which those annual payments may be demanded.
z [See Accounts of Province for 1635. a [See Racket's Life of Williams, Works, vol. v. p. 333.] par. ii. p. 59.]
LETTERS. 429
Secondly, we have all great reason to bless God and his Majesty, as your Lordship doth, for his care over the Church, and particularly for the bettering of the poor vicar ages throughout the kingdom, according as by care