67 - 16 Aug. To John Bramhall

Summary

Salutem in Christo

Sir

I thanke you for the Accompt which you have given me concerning the Church of Ireland, but am hartily sorry to hear the horrible profanations which have seazd upon the houses of God in that kingdome. I gave my Lord Deputy some remembrances in writing, and one of them was about his Stable, which I hope he will change, unless he mean to teach his Horses to preach or to pray. I pray aske him who intended to make a Ryding house, of the Body of the Old Church at Yorke? But in earnest my Lord cannot serve God better, nor doe him self more honour, then by making his Goverment famous in the vindicating of Gods houses from such abhominable abuses. And this I thinke my Lord may doe with noe great difficulty if he will be as patyent as he is stout, and then thorough. And I pray tell him I say soe.

The Clergy men must needs be as ignorant and base as is theyr means: And theyr Residence cannot be great where they have not to eat while they reside. But less or great, great pitty it is, that any one man should hold soe many with cure, and I hope my Lord with the assistance of the Archbishops will remedy that, and the sooner the better. And the Revenews must needs be neglected to the loss of the King aswell as of the Church, where the Booke of Taxes hath been soe negligently kept, and soe many Alienations of Church possessions made as you mention. But I pray remember my service to my Lord and tell him that I hope this will put him in mynde of that great Busynes of the Impropriations, and his Majestys setling such as are in his power upon that poore Church, which is likewise upon my Remembrance, and my Lord cannot doe a more honourable worke. And I am hartily glad to hear that he hath begunn at his owne Chappell. I make noe doubt but the rest will follow upon those honourable intentions which you say, and I beleyve, he hath. And what Service I may be able to affoard him towardes the worke he shall be sure of.