194 - 22 May To John Bramhall, bishop of Derry

Summary

Salutem in Christo

My very Good Lord.

I have receaved your Letters of April 20^th. In which you tell mee, I shall now heare from my Lord Primate, what he thinkes fitt to bee done, in the Case of my Lord of Kilmores Synod. And I must tell you, I have receaved a Letter from my Lord Primat, since I receaved your Last, Dated indeed from Tredah; But there was nothing in itt, but Thankes and a very kinde Expression Concerning my Booke; Not a word concerning my Lord of Kilmore.

I am very sorry my Lord of Kilmore soe forgetts himselfe towards you. But you doe exceeding well by your patient forbearance. For should it be otherwise, they which Care for neither of you, would laugh at Both.

A great part of the rest of your Letter Concernes the Cause of the Bishop of Clonfert. But when I had receaved your Letters, I had receaved nothing from him about his owne Busines; but since, I did. For he sent me the Copie of the Petition presented to the Commissioners of Plantations, and a Letter besides. And they were deliver’d very seasonably to mee, whilest Sir George Radcliffe was with mee. So not understanding the Busines fully, nor able to Carry all the Circumstances of it in memory, I put the Petition itselfe into Sir Georges hands. Who tooke itt with him to his Lodging; And when he brought it mee agen, gave mee Advice, to write a Letter to my Lords the Commissioners in the behalfe of the Bishop of Clonfert; Which Advice of his I have followed, and sent the Letter by himselfe.

I thanke you for the paynes, which I see you have taken, in reeding over my Booke. But I much feare the great Testimony you give itt and mee, proceedes rather from your Affection, then anie Merit of the Thing.

In my Letters to the Commissioners concerning the Bishop of Clonfert, I have forborne to mention any Particular, save only quarta Episcopalis, because of your Direction, that it might not bee knowne to Come from you. And I shall not faile a second tyme, at or neere his parting to be earnest with Sir Geo Ratcliffe agen, and to desire him particularly to speake with the two Lords Chiefe Justices.