LETTER CCCLXXXIV.

THE ARCHBISHOP of ARMAGH TO THE RIGHT HON. DAVID p. ROCH, VISCOUNT OF FERMOY.

AFTER our hearty commendations to your lordship, your lordship, by these presents, may understand that we have received from our well beloved in Christ, Richard, by the providence of God, lord bishop of Cork, Cloyne, and Ross, letters of request, to call into the king's highness's court of prerogative for ecclesiastical causes within this kingdom, certain differences between your lordship and others, and Elizabeth Lyon, widow, the relict and sole executrix of William Lyon, late bishop of Cork, Cloyne, and Ross, touching certain proxies of certain rectories and vicarages which your lordship do, or late did, hold, whereof it is complained on the part and behalf of the said Elizabeth, to our said brother, the said lord bishop of Cork, &c. that your lordship, amongst others, at the day of the death of the said William Lyon, her said late husband, was in arrear for divers years, then fore past, the which your lordship do still detain.

These are therefore to pray and require your lordship to make your lordship's appearance before us, or our substitutes, in St. Patrick's Church, Dublin, on Monday next, the twenty-eighth day of the present November, in the afternoon of the same day, between the hours of one and two of the clock, then and there to answer to the said Elizabeth Lyon, in the said cause. Whereof not doubting but that your lordship will have a

special care, we bid your lordship right heartily farewell, this twenty-third of November, 1626.

Your Lordship's very loving Friend,

JA. ARMACHANUS.

LETTER CCCLXXXV.

THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH TO

Salutem in Christo Jesu.

Ir is reported unto me by some who are well acquainted with the course of your ministry, that you trouble the Church with certain unsound opinions, touching predestination, free-will, falling from grace, and some other points, which are repugnant both to Scriptures, and to the articles agreed upon by the convocation held at the time of the last parliament.

Wherefore I thought it expedient, according to the place which God hath called me unto, to admonish you as a brother, charging you before the Lord, that you strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers, and that in a godly humility you give yourself to the study and preaching of the holy truth of God in the received principles thereof, which will take up your time with profit to the people committed to your charge, and comfort to yourself at the day of Christ. So, recommending this thing to your serious consideration, and beseeching the Lord to bless you with the spirit of a sound mind, I bid you farewell, and rest,

Your well-wishing Friend,

Dublin, December 8.

1626.

J. A.

LETTER CCCLXXXVI.

MR. R. SIBBS TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH.

RIGHT REV. AND MY VERY GOOD LORD.

I ANSWERED your letters presently upon the receipt of them, but out of a mind diversly affected as divers things presented themselves to me, it much moved me when I perceived your great care of the place, the cost, the trouble, the more than ordinary inclination towards me, far beyond any deserts of mine. Yet as I signified to your grace, when I consider God's providence in raising me so little before to another place, and that compatible with any present employment here in London, it moveth me to think it were rash to adventure upon another place. And I have entered into a course of procuring some good to the college, which is like to be frustrate, if I now leave them, and they exposed to some who intend to serve their own turn of them. The scandal whereof would lie upon me. The judgment of my friends here is for my stay, considering I am fixed already, and there must be a call for a place; as to a place, they allege the good which may be done, and doubtfulness of good succession here; and that it were better that some other man had that place that were not so fixed here. These and such like considerations move them to think, that when your lordship shall know how it is with me at this time, that you will think of some other successor. Nothing of a great time so much troubled me. I humbly desire you, my lord, to take in good part this my not accepting, considering now there be other difficulties than were when you were in England with us. It is not

yet openly known that I refuse it, that so you may have time of pitching upon another. I write now this second time, fearing lest my former letter might miscarry. I could set the comfort by you against many objections, were not that late chief in Cambridge. I count it one part of my happiness in especial manner, that ever I knew your lordship; the remembrance of you will be fresh in my heart whilst I live, which will move me to desire the multiplying of all happiness upon you and

yours.

I have not delivered the letter to my lord of Canterbury, because it hath reference to the business as it concerneth me. The Lord continue to honour you in his service for the good of many, and to keep you in these dangerous times.

Your Grace's to command in the Lord,

Gray's Inn,

Feb. 7. A. D. 1626.

R. SIBBS.

I humbly desire you to remember my service and respects to Mrs. Ussher.