100 - 11 May To John Bramhall, bishop of Derry

Summary

Salutem in Christo

My very good Lord.

I am glad the last Acts rested a night in Ireland, before the Parliament rose, and that they passed soe well as they did; God sent that Church, and the Bishopps of Ulster ioy of them.

Had I remembred that Clogher was one of the Bishops in Ulster, I should never have troubled you to have given me any accompt, whoe that Bishopp hath been, that was, and now is, carelesse of Succession. For I have knowne him of old, and had not I been att the Counsell-Table, when he came thether about his pretended Plantation, he would quite have swallowed upp that Bishopricke. And yet what with my want of knowledge of that Country, and the faire Pretentions which he made to other Lords, and the earnestnes of some of his Country men for him, he prevailed in more then was fitt to be graunted to a man of his disposition. ‘Tis true that his Brother hath robbed him, of all thinges that are worthy. And if you can keepe him in your mind of changing Clogher for another Bishopricke, it shall goe hard but I will doe it, and send a better into Ulster; but I feare this Statute of great improvement will keep him there.

I perceive when you writt last, my Letters were not come to you concerning the Impropriations, and therfore I shall write noe more of them att this time, till I heare, whether all be done according to your desires on that side, if it be, ther's an end, and God blesse the Church, if it be not, you shall have the Letters mended in what Forme you will. And I am heartily glad, I have soe farre overcome that busynesse. For the particular which you desire may be added in the Letters, I hope you will find it there, but if there it be not, ‘tis Secretaryes Cookes omission, for I gave him that branch of your Letters, in your owne hand to direct him.

It is very well gained by my Lord, if he hath gotten a confirmation for coercive power to the Clergy to take off the Commones of Excommunication, which was all Parliaments heere have complained of the one, and yet would never graunt the other.