LETTER CCCCLIX.

MR. ROBERT VAUGHAN TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH.

MOST REVEREND FATHER, &c.

I HAVE, according to your desire, sent you, in June last, Bishop Robinson's translation of Griffith ap Conan's life into Latin, and I hope that you have received it, though I had no notice thereof from you, which happened, as the gentleman with whom I sent it you told me, in regard that you were gone to the country for your recreation, when, at his departure from London homewards, he called at your lodgings; now, I desire to know if you have received it, and also by what time you will have done with it, that then I may send for it. I have not as yet had any time to look to the Triades, but after this month is ended, I will, if it please God, make the best survey I can of it. I am told, and I think it is true, that it hath been printed long since, together with some Welsh proverbs, but I cannot learn where any printed copy is to be found. I should be very glad if you can procure me the loan of one, and I will take especial care for the safe return thereof in a short time; and, in like manner, of whatsoever else concerning the Britons or ancient Irish you shall please to communicate with me. In the mean time I commit you to God's protection, desiring to hear of your welfare, and rest

Your lordship's most humble servant,

Hengwrt in Merionethshire,

The first day of November, 1653.

ROBERT VAUGHAN.

LETTER CCCCLX.

THE BISHOP OF NORWICH TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH.

MOST REVEREND AND MOST WORTHILY HONORED LORD,

THOSE learned volumes wherewith your Grace doth thus successively furnish the world, do justly oblige all readers, how much more those to whom your bounty seconds your labours. Amongst whom your Grace hath been pleased to account my unworthiness, who shall leave these pledges of your favour, as precious monuments, to those sons who succeed me in the honouring of your person and works. But, alas, why doth your Grace stoop so low, as in a way of counterbalance to mention those poor pocketings, which my retiredness hath dropped forth to the public, and presented to your hands; it was too much honor that your Grace would vouchsafe to mention those homely shreds of discourse, which yet are meant well to God's Church. It is for those great abilities to bring silk, and silver, and gold to the tabernacle, whiles we fill our hands with a ram's skin, or a badger's skin, or a little goat's hair; yet I bless God that even those poor essays find good acceptation with many, though not without some censures. Amongst the rest, I pity the injurious course held by the late Dr. Gouge, in that his causeless confutation. He grossly mistook me, if he conceived that I denied or opposed a general conversion of the known Jews (though herein I should have erred with great authors) before the end of all things. Only I contended that the total conversion of those twelve tribes (whereof ten are so long since lost), and the pompous monarchy and magnificence of that

nation, and the glorious re-edification of Jerusalem (so often mentioned in the Prophets), are not more properly to be taken, than the pavement of gold and gates of pearl; taxing (as I conceive, justly) those flatterers of that obstinate people, which do so servilely "hærere in cortice," and enslave themselves to the letter: wherein I doubt not but to be seconded by your Grace's more authoritative judgment, as by the stream of the hitherto-held-orthodox interpreters. But he is gone, and so is my thought of his uncharitableness. My prayers for your Grace's long life, and happy success of all your pious and profitable labours, are the only return which I can make for these many and rich favours which you have accumulated upon

Your Grace's humbly devoted,

Higham, Apr. 24.

In all thankful observance,

To the Most Reverend Father in God, James Lord Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of Ireland and Metropolitan, humbly present these.

JOS. NORWIC.

LETTER CCCCLXI.

SIR WILLIAM DUGDALE TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH.

MY VERY GOOD LORD,

CONCERNING Mr. Sumner, you may be pleased to understand that I have received advertisement lately from the gentleman that delivered your letter to him, that upon the sight of it, he grew very sensible of the misemploying that which his grandfather had given to advance the knowledge of the Saxon language, and said that he resolved to speak with Mr. Foster, on whom he had conferred it, and to use all arguments that might be to persuade with him to quit the interest he had given him therein; not knowing (as he said), when he so disposed of it, that any man else, Mr. Wheelok being dead, was likely to pursue those studies but himself, which seeing he doth not now do, he is very willing to encourage Mr. Sumner by conferring it on him: so that I expect shortly to hear from my friend again, when Mr. Spelman hath spoken with Mr. Foster, and to understand what the result therein is, wherewith your Lordship shall soon be made acquainted.

As for Rygate, I have nothing at all of its foundation, for in the Records of the Tower there is no more than an inspeximus of a grant to the Canons of that house (which were of St. Augustine's Order) made by John, Earl of Warren and Surrey, whereby he gives them some small rent and other petty things. Mr. Bysh tells me that he hath heard by a lawyer of Surrey, that the Countess of Peterborough hath great store of the original grants of that house. Perhaps the foundation charter may be amongst

them, or, at least, some principal donations. I beseech you, therefore, be a means that I may see them, for this will concern our second volume, which, if we succeed well in the putting of this, shall go on, God willing. Dr. Causabon hath now rectified his mistake by an ingenious acknowledgement of what I told your Lordship in reference to his coming to Sir Thomas Cotton. His letter I have sent to Mr. Sumner, to satisfy him therein, and do rest