48 - 13 Dec. To James Ussher, archbishop of Armagh

Summary

Salutem in Christo.

My very good Lord.

I am not able to give your Grace any farther account as yet as any Church buysiness concerning Ireland, but Mr Hamiltons last Letters informed you of as much as is yet done.

That which makes me trouble you now is breifly this. You shall fynde here inclosed a Petition referrd by his Majesty to the Lords of the Committee for Ireland. The Contents are fully therin conteynd, and I shall not need to repeat. I make bold to send it for two Causes. First that your Lordship may consider and weigh it well, that if you lyke it, you may with as much convenyent speed as you can send me a Letter of your approbation: and if you dislyke it, you would with the same speed send me your dislyke, fortifyed with as good Reasons as you can give for it. And till your Answere come I presume the Committee will not pass it, For for my self unless I were upon the place, and acquainted with the Customes of the Country, and saw the neglects of the People to reedify theyr Churches, and soe upon the whole matter had well consyderd what might be the best remedy for those demolished Places, I can say little to purpose.

Secondly that you may know what motyve those Gentlemen had to make theyr Petition. Sir John Wishart I have little acquaintance with, but Mr Elphinstone hath ever shewed himself a very good Freind to the Church, to the utmost of his power, and I verily beleive he would not be in an Action that might tend to any disadvantage of the Church if he knew it. Therfore from him I am to certify your Grace thus much, that Mr Highgate (now Bishop of Kilfanora) when he was last year in England, put them upon this way by his perswasion, and told them to this or the lyke effect; That such a Graunt as this Petition import's would be very beneficiall to the Church of Ireland, very wellcome to the Churchmen, and without any burden or discontent to the People. Nevertheless I think it very fitt your Grace should well consyder of it, and then I will governe my self accordingly, first for that Churches Good, and then for the Content of those Gentlemen.