YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY The Publication of the Fourteenth Volume is unavoid ably postponed. THE WHOLE WORKS MOST REV. JAMES USSHER, D. D. LORD ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH, AND PRIMATE OF ALL IRELAND. VOLUME XV, THE WHOLE WORKS OF THK MOST KEY. JAMES USSHER, D.D., LORD ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH, AND PRIMATE OF ALL IRELAND. NOV.' mu THE FIRST TIME COLLECTED, WITH A LIFE OF THE AUTHOR, AND AN ACCOUNT OP HIS AVEITINGS, BY CHARLES RICHARD ELRINGTON, D,D., LATE REGIUS PROFESSOR OF DT-^nNTlT IK THE UNIVEBSITr OF DUBLIN, AND RECTOR OP ARMAGH. IN SEVENTEEN VOLUMES. VOL. XV DUBLIN: HODGES, SMITH, AND CO., PUBLISHERS TO THE UNIVEKSITY. 1864, DUBLIN : ^tinWa at tije fflnifttraitii ^tess, BY M. H. GILL, The Letters in this volume are principally taken from the collection published by Dr. Parr, but they are in many places differently arranged, in order to pre serve the chronological order. Letters 2, 13, 34, 68, 86, 89, 132, 134, 143, 168, 187, are not in Dr. Parr's collection, but are taken from the works of Camden and Mede, or from MSS. preserved at Ox ford and Dublin, There is a great similarity between Letters 180 and 195, but as they are not exactly the same, it is most probable that the second was writ ten in consequence of some apprehensions that the first had not reached its destination : a circumstance of not unusual occurrence at that time, as will ap pear from some other letters in this volume. Letters 22 and 23 of Dr. Parr's Collection being disserta tions rather than letters, are printed in vol. xii. The Editor has felt considerable doubts as to the course he ought to pursue with regard to the ortho graphy of the names : the variety of spelling is very extraordinary, even in the signatures printed by Dr. Parr, as, Gatacre, Gattaker, Gataker; Davies, Davis, &c. &c. He has, however, determined to leave them as given by Dr. Parr, for it is probable that he, being in possession of the autograph letters, adopted the spelling he found in them, and that the writers IV had, at different periods of their lives, changed the mode of signing their names. Dr, Parr seems never to have even attempted a correction of the passages which were given in the Oriental languages. He evidently printed whatever characters resembled most his MS., without any re gard to the sense. The Editor has endeavoured to correct them, and trusts he has succeeded wherever quotations occurred, but he cannot be sure that his conjectures are right, where Hebrew phrases are composed by the writer himself This difficulty oc curs particularly in Mr, Skynner's letters, who gives Hebrew passages of his own composition, and goes so far as to seek out a Hebrew anagram of his own name. This idle waste of learning certainly but ill repays the time spent upon endeavouring to exhibit it correctly, more particularly as the success of the attempt must be uncertain. In parts, however, of Mr, Skynner's letters there is considerable ability, and in his comments upon the books of Exodus and Daniel a display of much learning and ingenuity. CONTENTS THE FIFTEENTH VOLUME, LETTEBS, PAG, '1, From Mr, James Ussher to Mr, Richard Stanihurst, . . 3 [ 2. From Mr. James Ussher to Mr. William Camden, ... 5 3, From Mr. James Ussher to Mr. William Eyre 19 4. From Mr. William Eyre to Mr. Ussher, 21 ^ 5. From Mr, James Ussher to Mr, Samuel Ward, , , , , 37 6, From Mr, Samuel Ward to Mr, Ussher, 47 7, From Mr, H, Briggs to Mr, Ussher, 62 8, From Mr, Thomas Lydyat to Mr, Ussher, 65 -/ 9, From Mr, James Ussher to Mr. Lydyat 67 HO. From the same to the same 70 vll. From Mr. James Ussher to Dr. Chaloner, 72 ] 2. From Mr. Samuel Ward to Mr. Ussher 76 ^13. From Mr. James Ussher to Mr. William Camden, , , . 77 14, From Mr. Alexander Cook to Mr. Ussher, 80 15. From Mr. Samuel Ward to Mr. Ussher, 83 16. From the same to the same 85 17. From Mr. William Eyre to Mr. Ussher, 87 18. From Mr. Henry Briggs to Mr. Ussher 89 19. From the Archbishop of York to Mr, Ussher 91 20. From Mr, Thomas Gattaker to Mr. Ussher, 93 21, From Mr, Robert Ussher to Dr. Ussher, 95 22. From Mr. Thomas Lydyat to Dr. Ussher, 98 >/ 23. From Dr. Ussher to Mr. Lydyat 108 24. From Sir Henry Bourgchier to Dr. Ussher, 113 25. From Mr. William Crashaw to Dr. Ussher 115 26. From Mr, Thomas Gataker to Dr, Ussher, 117 27, From Mr, Thomas Lydyat to Dr. Ussher, 120 28. From Mr, William Eyres to Dr, Ussher, 124 29. From Mr, Edward Warren to Dr, Ussher, 126 vi CONTENTS. PAG. LETTEKS. , no 30, From Dr. Ussher to Mr, Lydyat, i^° 31, From Sir Henry Bourgchier to Dr, Ussher, 129 32, From Mr, William Eyres to Dr, Ussher 132 33, From Dr. Ussher to Mr, William Camden, 134 34. From Dr. Ryves to Mr, William Camden 137 35. From Mr, William Camden to Dr, Ussher 139 36, From Mr, Thomas Warren to Dr, Ussher 141 37, From the Bishop of Chester to Dr, Ussher, 143 38, From Mr. Samuel Ward to Dr, Ussher 144 39. From Dr, Ussher to Mr. Lydyat 146 40, From Dr, Ussher to , 151 41, From Mr, Ed-ward Browncker to Dr, Ussher 153 42, From Dr, Ussher to the Archbishop of Armagh, . , ,155 43, From the Archbishop of Armagh to the Bishop of Meath, 159 44, From the Bishop of Meath to , 161 45, From Mr, Thomas Gataker to the Bishop of Meath, , , 164 46. From Sir William Boswel to the Bishop of Meath, , , ,166 47. From Sir Henry Spelman to the Bishop of Meath, , , .168 48. From Mr, John Selden to the Bishop of Meath, , , , , 170 - 49, From Sir Robert Cotton to the Bishop of Meath, . , ,171 50, From Sir Henry Bourgchier to the Bishop of Meath, . , 173 51, From the Bishop of Meath to Mr, Selden 175 52. From Dr. Ward to tbe Bi,shop of Meath 177 53, From the Bishop of Meath to Lord Grandison, , , . . 180 54, From the Archbishop of Armagh to the Bishop of Meath, 183 55. From the Bishop of Meath to Dr, Ward, 185 56, From Sir Henry Bourgchier to the Bishop of Meath, , , 187 57. From Mr. Henry Holcroft to the Bishop of Meath, . , 189 58, From Dr, Goad and Dr, Featly to the Bishop of Meath, , 191 59, From Sir Henry Bourgchier to the Bishop of Meath, , . 193 60. From the Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield to the Bishop of Meath, I95 61. From the Bishop of Meath to the Archbishop of Armagh, 196 62, From the Archbishop of Armagh to the Bishop of Meath, 199 63. From Dr, Ryves to the Bishop of Meath 200 64. From Sir Henry Bourgchier to the Bishop of Meath, . . 203 65, From Dr. James to the Bishop of Meath 205 66. From Mr. William Eyre to the Bishop of Meath, . . .208 67. From Dr. James to Mr. Calandrine, 211 68, From Mr, John Bainbridge to the Bishop of Meath, . .213 69. From Dr, James to Mr, Calandrine 214 70. From Dr, James to the Bishop of Meath 218 71. From Mr, Thomas Davies tothe Bishop of Meath, . . 220 72, From Mr, Thomas Pickering to the Bishop of Meath, , , 223 73, Frora Mr. Thomas Davies to the Bishop of Meath 225 74. From Sir Henry Bourgchier to the Bishop of Meath . 227 /5. From Dr. Ward to t-he Bishop of Meath, . ' 229 CONTENTS. VII LETTERS. PAG. 76. From the Bishop of Meath to Dr. Ward, ; 230 77. From Sir Henry Bourgchier to the Bishop of Meath, , , 232 78, From Mr, Ralph Skynner to the Bishop of Meath, , , ,235 79. From the same to the same, 257 80, From Dr, James to the Bishop of Meath 262 81, From the same to the same, 264 82, From Dr, Ward to the Bishop of Meath 268 83j From Sir Henry Bourgchier to the Bishop of Meath, , , 270 84, From the Bishop of Kilmore to the Archbishop of Armagh, 272 85, From Sir Henry Bourgchier to the Archbishop of Armagh, 274 86, From the Archbishop of Armagh to Sir Robert Cotton, , 276 87. From the Archbishop of Armagh to the Bishop of Lincoln, 278 88. From Mr. Abraham Wheelock to the Archbishop of Ar magh, 281 89. From the Archbishop of Armagh to Sir Robert Cotton, , 283 90, From Mr. Thomas Davies to the Archbishop of Armagh, . 285 91. From Dr. Ward to the Archbishop of Armagh, . . . . 288 92. From Mr. John Selden to the Archbishop of Armagh, , . 290 93. From the Archbishop of Armagh to Dr, Ward, . , , ,291 94. From Dr. Ward to the Archbishop of Armag-h, . , , , 293 95, From the Archbishop of Armagh to Dr, Ward, . , , , 294 96, From Dr, Ward to the Archbishop of Armagh, , . , , 295 97.2F>"om',the Archbishop of Armagh to the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal and to the Lord Treasurer of England, . 296 98. From Mr. John Selden to the Archbishop of Armagh, . 302 99, From Mr, Ralph Skynner to the Archbishop of Armagh, . 304 100. From Mr. Ralph Skynner to ¦, 315 101. Froro'^Mr. Ralph Skynner to the Archbishop of Armagh, . 319 102. From Mr. Thomas Davis to the Archbishop of Armagh, . 323 103. From Dr. James to the Archbishop of Armagh 327 104. From Mr. John Cotton to the Archbishop of Armagh, , . 330 105. From the Archbishop of Armagh to Dr. Ward, . . . ,332 106, From Mr, James White to the Archbishop of Armagh, , 334 107. From Dr. Ward to the Archbishop of Armagh, , , . . 336 108. From the same to the same, 338 109. From the Archbishop of Armagh to Dr. Ward 339 110, From the same to the same, 342 1 11. From Dr, Ward to the Archbishop of Armagh, . . , , 344 112. From the Archbishop of Armagh to Dr. Ward, . . . .346 113. From Dr. Ward to the Archbishop of Armagh, , . . .347 114. From the Archbishop of Armagh to Dr. Ward, . . . . 349 115. From Dr. Bainbridge to the Archbishop of Armagh, . 351 116. From Mr. Thomas Davis to the Archbishop of Armagh, . 354 117. From Mr. Alexander Cook to the Archbishop of Armagh, 356 1 18. From the Archbishop of Armagh to Lord Falkland, . . 359 1 19. From the Archbishop of Armagh to the Archbishop of Can- *»,!,.„. 361 .^,jji CONTENTS. 7AC LETTERS. From the Archbishop of Armagh to the Hon, Society of ^^^ Lincoln's Inn, 120. 121, FrJ^Xe Arehbishop of Armagh to the Archbishop of Can. tBrturVs ,«••••¦¦•'**''*' 122, From Dr, Ward to the Archbishop of Armagh, : , . ,368 123, From Lord Falkland to the Archbishop of Armagh, . . 372 124. From the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Archbishop of Armagh, ^"^^ 125. From Mr. Thomas Davis to the Archbishop of Armagh, . 376 1 26. From the Bishop of St. Asaph to the Archbishop of Armagh, 378 127, From the Archbishop of Armagh to Mr, John Selden, , , 380 128. From the Archbishop of Armagh to Mr. Dean , . . 388 129. From Dr, Bedell to the Archbishop of Armagh, , , , , 389 130, From Dr, Bainbridge to the Archbishop of Armagh, , , 394 131, From Dr, Bedell tothe Archbishop of Armagh, , , , , 395 132, From Mr. Joseph Mede to the Archbishop of Armagh, , ,399 133, From Dr. Ward to the Archbishop of Armagh, , , , , 402 134, From Mr, Joseph Mede to the Archbishop of Armagh, , , 406 135, From Sir Henry Spelman to the Archbishop of Armagh, , 409 136, From Sir John King to the Archbishop of Armagh, , , , 412 137, From Sir Henry Spelman to the Archbishop of Armagh, . 415 138, From Dr, Hakewill to the Archbishop of Armagh, , , . 417 139. From Dr. Prideaux to the Archbishop of Armagh, . , . 419 140. From the Archbishop of Armagh to the Right Hon. , 421 141, From the Bishop of London to the Archbishop of Armagh, 423 142, From Dr, Bedell to the Archbishop of Armagh, , . . . 425 143. From the Archbishop of Armagh to Sir Robert Cotton, , 428 144, From Sir Henry Bourgchier to the Archbishop of Armagh, 430 145, From Mr. Archibald Hamilton to the Archbishop of Ar magh, 433 146, From Sir Henry Bourgchier to the Archbishop of Armagh, 436 147. From Lord Falkland to the Archbishop of Armagh, , ,438 148, From Mr. John Philpotto the Archbishop of Armagh,. . 440 149. From the Lord Deputy and Council to the Archbishop of Armagh, 442 150. From the Bishop of London to the Archbishop of Armagh, 443 151. From the same to the same, 445 152. From Dr. Bainbridge to the Archbishop of Armagh, , ,447 153, From the Archbishop of Armagh to the Bishop of London, 449 154, From the Archbishop of Armagh toLudovicus de Dieu, . 451 155. From Sir Henry Bourgchier to the Archbishop of Armagh, 454 156. From the Bishop of London to the Archbishop of Armagh, 456 157. From the Bishop of Kilmore to the Archbishop of Armagh, 458 158, From Mr. L. Robinson to the Archbishop of Armagh, . . 459 159, From Sir Henry Bourgchier to the Archbishop of Armagh, 461 160, From the Bishop of Kilmore to the Archbishop of Armagh 463 161, From the Archbishop of Armaghto the Bishop of Kilmore' 473 CONTENTS, IX LETTERS. PAG. 162. From the Bishop of London to the Archbishop of Armagh, 477 163. From the Archbishop of Armagh to Dr. Ward 480 1 64. From the Bishop of Kilmore to the Archbishop of Armagh, 484 1 65. From the Archbishop of Armagh to the Lords Justices, . 487 166, Instructions to DeanLesly for stopping of Sir John Bathe's Patent, 490 167. From the Bishop of Derry to the Archbishop 'of Armagh, . 493 168. From Mr. Joseph Mede to the Archbishop of Armagh, . 494 169, From the Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield to the Archbi shop of Armagh 498 170, From Dr, Ward to the Archbishop of Armagh 499 171. From the Bishop of Kilmore to Dr. Ward, 508 172, From Dr, Ward to the Bishop of Kilmore, 510 173. From the Bishop of Kilmore to Dr, Ward 512 174. From the King to the King's Council in Ireland, , . . 521 175. From the Earl of Cork and the Lord Chancellor to the Archbishop of Armagh, 523 176. From the Bishop of London to the Archbishop of Armagh, 525 177, From the King's Council in Ireland to the Archbishop of Armagh, 529 178, From the Bishop of Kilmore to the Archbishop of Armagh, 531 179. From the Archbishop of Armagh to Dr. Ward, .... 540 180. From the same to the same 542 181. From Dr, Forbes tothe Archbishop of Armagh, . . . 544 182. From the Ministers of the Palatinate to the Archbishop of Armagh, 545 183. From the Archbishop of Armagh to Dr. Forbes, .... 549 184. From the Archbishop of Armagh to Ludovicus de Dieu, . 550 185. From the Archbishop of Armagh to Gerard Vossius, . , 555 186. From the Archbishop of Armagh to Dr. Ward, .... 559 187. From the Archbishop of Armagh to Mr. Mede, .... 561 188. From the Archbishop of Armagh to Ludovicus de Dieu, . 562 189. From John Buxtorf to the Archbishop of Armagh, . . . 565 190. From the Archbishop of Armagh to the Archbishop of Canterbury 571 191. From the same to the same, 574 192. From Constantinus I'Empereur to the Archbishop of Ar magh, 576 193, From the Archbishop of Armagh to Dr, Ward, , , , , 578 194, From Dr, Ward to the Archbishop of Armagh, , , . . 579 1 95. From the Archbishop of Armagh to Dr. Ward, .... 583 196. From Constantinus I'Empereur to the Archbishop of Ar. magh, 585 197. From Dr. Ward to the Archbishop of Armagh, . . , , 587 198. From Constantinus I'Empereur to the Archbishop of Ar magh 589 LETTERS TO AND FROM ARCHBISHOP USSHER SOME NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED. VOL. XV. LETTERS. LETTER I. a letter from mr. james u,ssher to mr. richard stani hurst, at the english college at lovain. Dear Uncle, Having the opportunity of this messenger so fitly offered unto me, I make bold to desire your further ance in some matters that concern my studies. The prin cipal part of my study at this time is employed in perusing the writings of the fathers, and observing out of them the doctrine of the ancient Church ; wherein I find it very necessary that the reader should be thoroughly informed touching his authors, what time they lived, and what works are truly, and what falsely attributed to them ; either of which being mistaken, must of force bring great confusion in this kind of study. To help students where in, Johannes Molanus, sometime divinity professor in the university of Lovain, wrote a book, which he intituled Bibliotheca Theologica ; giving charge at his death to his heirs, that they should see the work published (as wit nesseth Possevinus in Apparatu Sacro;) but they being negligent in discharging that trust committed unto them, B 2 4, letters. the book is at last fallen into the hands of Aubertus Miraeus, a canon of Antwerp, ashimselfacknowledgethinhis edition of Sic^ebert's Chronicle. If you could procure from him the copy thereof, which I suppose will be no hard matter for you to effect, and with some convenient speed impart it unto me, I should take it for a very great argument of your love, and hold myself exceedingly obliged unto you thereby. Besides my main studies, I have always used, as a kind of recreation, to spend some time in gathering together the scattered antiquities of our nation ; whereof I doubt not but many relics are come into your hands, which I would very willingly hear of. But especially I would intreat you to let me have a copy of Philip Flatsebu- ry's Chronicle, for hitherto I could never get a sight of it ; as neither of Cornelius Hibernicus his History, cited by Hector Boethius ; Sentleger's Collections, alleged by Mr. Cainpian ; Richard Creagh of the Saints of Ireland ; Christopher Pembridg his Abstract of the Irish Chronicles, &c. There is also among the manuscript books of the Jesuit's college at Lovain, the Life of St. Patrick, a ma nuscript, &c. A manuscript whereof I have much de sired, both because the author seemeth to be of some antiquity, and likewise allegeth certain sentences out of St. Patrick's own writings. If any of our countrymen, studious of such matters, will be pleased to communicate either that, or any other antiquities of like nature, I do promise that I will take as much pains for him, and make full recompence of courtesy in the same kind. Your own treatise of St. Patrick's life I have ; as also your Hebdo- mada Mariana. Your Margarita Mariana, and other writings, if there be any, I have much sought for, but could not as yet get : thus presuming upon that natural bond of love which is knit betwixt us, that I shall receive such satisfaction from you as I expect; with my mother, your sister's most kind remembrance, I remain Your most loving nephew, JAMES USSHER. letters. LETTER II. mr. james ussher to william camden, Sir, The 10th of October I received your letter, which brought unto me the welcome news of your pains lately taken in adorning this poor country. I am sorry I under stood no sooner of your purpose ; but seeing the forward ness of your press is such as cannot afford any long time of deliberation, I will endeavour to give some slender satisfaction unto those points which you have pro pounded. And first for Ninius, (whom I find also in the manuscripts to be named Ninnius and Nennius among the books be stowed upon the public library of the university of Cam bridge by Matthew Parker) there is one which in th* beginning hath these treatises following : I. Gildas de excidio Britanniae ; glossis passim inser- tis. In the end whereof these verses are added ; Historian! Gyldae, Cormac, sic perlege scriptam Doctoris digitis, sensu cultuque redactam ; Haec tenues superat multos, carpitque superbos. II. Historia Britonum per Nennium ; wherein there is a preface of Nennius, which is wanting in both the copies of Benett college, beginning thus : " Humihs servorum Christi minister et servus, Nennius Dei gratia S. Elboti discipulus, cunctis veritatis obauditoribus, salutem. Ves- trae sit notum caritati," etc. Item : " Versus Nennii ad Samuelem, fihum magistri sui Benlani presbyteri viri religiosi, ad quem historiam istam scripserat," Here LETTERS. it is said, that Nennius writ his history " 858. anno Do- minicae incarnationis, 24. vero Mercinni regis Britonum. III. Gesta Britonum a Gilda sapiente composita, which is the same work with tbe former : but that the prefaces of Nennius, and the chapter wherein mention is made of Ida, the first king of Northumbria, are not here to be found. In an ancient book of Winchester library, (al leged by Leland, comment, in Cygn. cant. voc. Dunel- mens.) in Will. Malmesbury of the antiquity of Glasten- bury, in Mr. Allen's library ; in the golden history writ ten by Joannes Anglicus ; in the second chapter of Ra- nulphus his Polychronicon, &c. this work is cited by the name of Gildas ; as also in Henry Huntingdon, set out by Sir Henry Savil. But where it is there, in the nar rative of Arthur: " Hsec autem bellaet loca bellorum nar- rat Gildas historiographus :" Leland, in Assert. Arthurii, hath, " narrat quidam historiographus," and thereupon addeth : " Videtur hie Venantodunensis ineidisse in Nen nii historiolam, cujus nomen exemplari, ut videtur, non erat adscriptum." The copies of Ninius have oftentimes some additions which are wanting in the books which bear the name of Gildas ; and these are they which in one of the manuscripts of Benett college are commonly referred unto the margin, "tanquam glossemata." As for example, cap. VIII. after these words ; " Novissime venit Tlam Hoctor, (or as other copies have, " Clam Hoclor," or " Clamoctor") et ibi habitavit cum omni gente sua usque hodie." Then foUoweth in the common copies of Nin nius : " nulU tainen certa historia originis Scottorum continentur ;" whish clause wanting in Gildas, in the Ben ett copy of Nennius is written as a gloss in the margin in another hand. So a little after : " Filii autem Liethan obti- nuerunt regionem Dimetorum (ubi civitas est quse vocatur Minen)" those last words, which are wanting in Gildas, are in that copy of Nennius written over the head, as an interli near gloss. So likewise in the next chapter, this sentence, " Iste gener Pharaonis erat, id est, mas Scottae filiae," which is wanting in Gildas, is here written in the margin with another hand as a gloss. LETTERS. In setting out of Ninius, it were not amiss that what soever is there more than in Gildas should be pointed in a distinct character from the rest : for so both works, if we may count them to be two, should be represented unto us, and the glosses often distinguished from the text, as in the Benett copy. At the end of Ninius in Benett college Hbrary, there is the life of Gildas differing from that which is printed in BibHotheca Floriacensi, but the same, I think, with that which you have ; you may do well to set it out with your Gildas and Nennius; and either there, or rather at the end of your Hibernia, find some place or other for the parcel of the Irish history which is in my Lord Howard's library. At leastwise I would wish, that the Uttle treatise De Moribus Hibernorum which you told me was written by Good, the Jesuit, should be printed entirely without any alteration, and that in his own name, for so it will be far better taken by our countrymen; and the envy wholly derived from you unto him, to whom it more properly belongeth. Concerning the situation of Armagh, I find little in Jo- ceUnus ; but that he saith, " civitatem^' itaque egregiam situ, forma, quantitate, ambitu, Anglicis indiciis desig- natam fundavit Patricius et extruxit ;" and'' that Dairus gave to St. Patrick " Drumsailech, post Ardmachiam vo- catam." The prophecy which St. Patrick is said to have pro nounced of Fergusus, son to the Lord of Dalreda, he propoundeth in these words : " Licef^ hodie videaris humiUs et despectus in conspectu fratrum tuorum, eris in brevi princeps et dominus omnium illorum. De te optinii reges egredientur, qui non solum in propria terra, sed etiam in regione peregrina principabuntur." And then he adjoineth the complement: " Elapso non magni temporis spatio, Fergusus juxta vaticinium sancti viri principatum in tota terra ilia obtinuit, semenque illius per multas gene- rationes in ea regnavit. Et ejus stirpe processit strenuis- simus Edanus filius Gabrani, qui Scotiam, quae dicitur Alba- » Cap. 166. ^ Cap. ]64. ' Jocelin, Cap. 138. letters. nia, subegit, et aUas insulas : cujus in ea regnat adhuc suc- cessiva posteritas," This Edanus is he who in the cata logue of Scottish kings is called " Aidanus films Gorani : and by Bede, " Edan* rex Scottorum," who was discom fited by king Edelfred, A. D. DCIII. as is there noted. In Sir Thomas Bodley his library at Oxford, I found MS. De miracuUs S. Germani quae in ejus vitae omissa sunt lib. II. which I gather to have been written by Henricus An tissiodorensis, botn by the time wherein he lived, (" Adalri- cum enim quendam anno incarnati Domini DCCCLXIX. et Adalsidum anno DCCCLXXIII. beneficio S. Germani sanctitati restitutes, adhuc superstitem agere vitam scri- bit,") and by the preface before his six books, written in verse, of the life of S. German unto Carolus Calvus, where he saith : " Confeci prasterea ex miracuHs praecel- lentissimi Germani opusculum aliud geminis districtum libris ; in quo quia vestri tum nominis tum temporis men- tio frequentius agitur, vestrae nihilominus illud malui cel- situdini dedicandum." In the first of these books there is, " Succincta men- tio Patricii, per beatum Germanum in Hiberniam desti- nati." " Quoniam gloria patris in suorum clarescit ffiodera- mine filiorum : e multis quos in Christo filios in religione creditur habuisse discipulos, unius tantum ejusdemque famosissimi castigata brevitate sufficiet inseri mentionem. Patricius ut gestorum iUius series prodit, Hibernicae pe cuUaris apostolus regionis sanctissimo ejus discipulatui, 18. addictus annis, non mediocrem e tanti vena fontis in Scripturis coelestibus haurire eruditionem. Quemque in religione magnanimem, in virtutibus excellentem, in doctrina strenuum divinissimus considerans pontifex, in- eptumque ducens robustissimum agricolam in Dominicae segetis torpere cultura : ad sanctum Celestinum, urbis P'^'-iJE papam, per Segetium presbyterum suum eum di- rexit; qui viro prasstantissimo probitatis ecclesiasticae tes timonium apud sedem ferret apostoHcam. Cujus judicio ¦i Lib. 1. hist, cap, 34, letters. y approbatus, auctoritate fultus, benedictione denique ro- boratus Hibernias partes expetiit; gentique illius datus proprie apostolus, tum quidem ex doctrina et miraculis, nunc quoque et in perpetuum mirificis apostolatus sui illustrat privilegiis." The last chapter of this first book hath this title : " De Britanniis S. Germane speciali cultu obnoxiis, de que subulci hospitio, et rege abjecto ;" where the author signifieth that this narration was delivered unto him by one Marcus, a British bishop. " Qui natione Britto," saith he, " educatus vero in Hibernia, post longa ponti- ficalis sanctitatis exercitia, ultroneam sibi peregrinati- onem indixit. Sic traductus in Franciam, piissimique regis Karoli munificentia illectus, apud beatorum Medardi et Sebastiani coenobium, anachoriticam exercet vitam; sin- gularis nostro tempore unicae philosophus sanctitatis." It may be enquired, whether this be not Rice-Marchus the Britton, who writ the life of St. David of Wales ; wherein he writeth also thus of our Patrick : " Patricius Romanis Unguis eruditus ac disciplinis, co- mitantibus virtutum turmis pontifex effectus, gentem quam exulaverat petivit. In qua fructuosi operis lucernam oleo genuinae charitatis infatigabili reficiens labore, non sub medio sed super candelabrum imponere volens, ut cunctis glorificato omnium patre roraret, Cereticae gentis regionem adiit. In qua per aliquantulum temporis conversatus, Deme- tica intravit rura. Ibique perlustrans tandem ad locum qui Vallis Rosina nominabatur pervenit ; et gratum agnoscens locum, devovit ibi Deo fideliter deservire," &c. Upon this occasion, I take it, Vallis Rosina is accounted by some St. Patrick's country : as you have noted in Pembrok- shire, pag. 582. whereas it appeareth he was born in Clyd- desdale"*, by the place which is now called Kirk-patrick. John Harding in his description of Scotland, maketh Dunbritton, as I remember, the place of his birth ; that it was not far from Dunbritton, maybe gathered by Jocelinus^ " " Prope Glasguenscin civitatem," saith George Thompson, in his little trea tise of the antiquity of Christian religion in Scotland, I Cap. 1, 10 letters. writing thus : " Extitit vir quidam Calpurnius nomine, filius Potici presbyteri, Brito natione, in pago Taburnia vocabulo, hoc est, tabernaculorum campo (eo quod Ro manus exercitus tabernacula ibidem fixerit) secus oppi- dum Emptorum degens, mari Hibernico colUmitans habi- tatione." And: " Erat^ in quodam promontorio superemi- nenti praefato oppido Emptorum munitio quaedam extruc- ta, cujus adhuc murorum apparent ruinosa vestigia, &c. Est autem locus Celebris in valle Clud situs, lingua gen tis illius Dunbretan, id est, mons Britonum nuncupatus." Probus, an Irishman, in his first book of the life of St. Patrick, which he wrote unto Paulinus, hath these words of this matter : " Hie in Britanniis natus est a patre Cal- purnio diacono qui fuit filius Potiti presbyteri ; et matre Concessa nomine, de vico Bannanae, Tyburniae regionis : quem vicum indubitanter comperimus esse Nentriae pro- vinciae, in qua olim gigantes habitasse dicuntur." I come now to Dublin, (the city of my own birth,) *' Urbem nobilem populo, situ amcenissimam concurren- tibus mari et flumine piscibus opulentam, commerciis fa- mosam, planitie viridante affectuosam, glandiferis nemo- ribus consitam, ferarum lustris circumvallatam." For this Jocelinus commendeth it\ And indeed for the situation, seeing you desire to have a topographical description thereof set down in my words, I may say: Situm habet amoe- num imprimis et salubrem : ad austrum enim surgunt mon- tana, ab occidente patent campestria, ad ortum mare pro- pinquum cernitur LifFeus' fluvius ad boream decurrens navibus stationem praebet securam. Ad flumen positi sunt Kan (quos nostri vocant) hoc est, cancelU (sic enim in vetustis glossis quae Isidori nomine circumferuntur, vo- cabulum hoc expositum legimus) sive crepidines, quarum ' Jocelin. Cap. 10. -De vita Patricii, cap. 98. Guilh. Newbricensis, lib. 2. ver, Anglic, cap. 26, Divelmum uvbs maritima totius Hibemiae metropolis, portuque celeberrima commerciis et commeatibus, nostrarum aemula laudoniarum," In king John's charter it is called " Aqua de Avenelyth :" but tlie name of Avenlyf, which Giraldus and Neccham use, cometh nigher to the name of the Liittye, whereby it is now commonly called. LETTERS. 11 objectu aquarum impetus cohiberi possit. (Caiare enim apud veteres erat cohibere, coercere, compescere : quem admodum a doctissimo Scaligero notatum est™.) Mcenia huic firmissima e lapide structili protenduntur (aggeribus etiam ad austrum munita) qu« sex portis patent, longio- ribus inde procurrentibus suburbiis. Ad ortum porta est Dammensis, prope quam Castrum eminet regium, fossis, turribus, armamentario munitissimum, ab Henrico Loundreo Dubliniensi archiepiscopo (circa an. MCCXX.) extructum. In orientali suburbio, juxta ecclesiam S. Andreae apostoli Henricus II. Anglorum rex (ut refert Hovedenus) palatium" sibi regium curavit erigendum miro artificio, de virgis levigatis ad modum patriae hujus con- structum. In quo ipse cum regibus et principibus Hi- berniae festum solemne tenuit die natalis Domini. Collegium hinc pulcherrimum e regione prospectat, (quo loco olim Omnium Sanctorum" monasterium visebatur) Sanctae etindividuas Trinitatis nomini consecratum? : quod a felicissim£B memoria Elizabeth a regina academicis dona- tum privilegns, insignique nuper instructum bibliotheca, spem ostendit non exiguam, ad Hiberniam (quo veluti ad mercaturam bonarum artium confluxerunt aliquando exteri) et religionem et cultiores omnes discipUnas tanquam ad avitum hospitium postliminio reversuras. Borealis porta ad pontem aperitur, opere arcuato e vivo saxo constructum, qui Oastmantown, id est, Ostman- noram oppidum, cum urbe conjungit. Hie enim Osto- mannos, quos de Norwegia et insularium borealium parti- bus advenisse author est Giraldus, (ego Estones esse putarim, Livoniae incolas, ab Eginharto Aistos vocatos) circa annum salutis ML. sedes posuisse nostri produnt annales. In hoc suburbio Celebris fuit olim ecclesia S. Mariae de Houstmanby (sic enim in charta regis Johannis appella- ¦" Ausonianarum lectionum, lib. 2. cap, 22, " Anno 1172, Ejus nulla hodie cernuntur vestigia, o AUhallows, P Anno 1591. 13, Martii jacta sunt illius fundaraenta, 9, Januarii anno 1593, iterarum studiosos hospitio excepit. 12 LETTERS. tur:) domus etiam fratribus praedicatoribus fundata' (Black- friers ab ilUs dicta) ad quam fora regni judiciaria, quibus ju ris lites componuntur, nuper translata sunt. Ad occidenta- lem urbis plagam sitae sunt duae portae, Ormondsgate% et Newgate seu Nova porta (quod publicum est ergastulum) quae ad longissimum suburbium ducunt, quod S. Thomae dicitur, ejusdemque nominis magnificum coenobium (Tho- mascourt dictum) ampHssimis olim redditibus locupleta- tum. Ad austrum porta patet Paulina ; et quas a S. Ni- colao nomen habet, ad Patricianum suburbium praebens aditum, in quo Sanctum Sepulchrum situm, Dubliniensis archiepiscopi palatium : templumque ampUssimum quod S. Patricii nomen obtinet, opere intestine, pavimentis li- thostrotis, testudine e saxo concamerata, turrique praecel- sa conspicuum. Quo primum tempore condita fuerit haec ecclesia, incertum plane est : Gregorium Scotorum regem, circa annum DCCCXC. ad eam accessisse, Scotica refert historia, Eandem postea a Johanne Anglorum rege plu- rimum amplificatam, ptaebendariam primum instituit Johan nes Comynus Dubliniensis archiepiscopus (anno MCXCI. confirmante illud Celestino HI. Romano pontifice) Hen ricus deinde Loundreus, ejusdem in DubUniensi episcopatu successor, personatuum dignitatibus (liceat enim hie funda- toris verba usurpare) auxit, et ad Sarisburiensis ecclesias immunitates instituta et consuetudines approbatas confor- mavit. Nostris vero temporibus decanum, praecentorem, canceUarium, thesaurarium, archidiaconos duos, et praben- darios duos et viginti sustentat : " unica quodammodo (ut amplissimum testimonium, quod^ publica regni comitia illi perhibent, non dissimulem) piae omnis et ecclesiasticae dis- ciplinae atque ordinis in Hibernia lucerna ac lampas." Est et altera cathedralis ecclesia in urbis medituUio posi- ta, quae Sanctae Trinitati consecrata templum Christi com- muniter dicitur. De ejus constructione in ecclesiae archivis 1 Now commonly called the Inns. ' Or Gurmund's gate, whether from some earl of Ormond, or from Gormo the Dane : hard by the city there is Grange Gorman and other where Gormanstown, named from the same Gormo, as it may seem. • Statut. Parliament, ann. 28. Henrici VIII, cap. 15. LETTERS. 13 ita legimus. " Sivluic rex DubUn, filius Ableb comitis Dub lin, dedit sanctae Trinitati et Donate primo episcopo Dub lin, locum ad aedificandam ecclesiam Sanctae Trinitati : nee non aurum et argentum sufficienter ad aedificandam ecclesi am cum tota curia contulit. Factum hoc circa annum salu tis MXII. quo Sutricum Abloici filium (sic enim appellat) claruisse confirmat Carodocus Lancarvanensis. Opus a Donato inceptum Laurentius Dublinensis archiepiscopus, Richardus Strangbous Striguliensis comes (cujus monu- mentum, ab Henrico Siducio restauratum, hie cernitur) Robertus Stephanides et Reimundus Giraldus perfecerunt. Ad australem ecclesiae partem praetorium e saxo quadrato consurgit, Tolestale dictum : ubi causae a praetore ur bane cognoscuntur, frequentesque civium aguntur con- ventus," &c. Upon the antiquity of the city I cannot now stand : only that note of time is to be corrected, where you say, " eo sane tempore quo Ptolemaeus floruit, ab Avellano condi- tam cives produnt," for it is only found in my uncle Stani hurst his description of Ireland, where by error he referreth the arrivals of the three Easterlings to the year of our Lord, CLV. which upon better advice in his Latin book* he hath cast toward the nine hundredth year, (about which time it appeareth by Giraldus that they came hither,) and that of Harold out of the life of Griffith ap Conan, would be more largely set down ; that it might appear about what time, and upon what occasion he should be said to have builded Dublin. Neither were it unworthy also to be added : that DubUn is now a colony of the Bristolians, upon whom this city by king Henry the second was be stowed. For thus go the words of his charter (the an- cientest of any which the city hath) " Sciatis me dedisse, concessisse, et praesenti charta mea confirmasse hominibus meis de Bristowa civitatem meam de DuneUna ad inhabi- tandam. Quare volo et firmiter praecipio, quod ipsi eam in- habitent, et teneant illam de me et haeredibus meis bene et in pace, Ubere et quiete, integre et plenarie et honorifice, ' P»g. 23. 14 LETTERS. cum omnibus libertatibus et liberis consuetudinibus, quas homines de Bristowa habent apud Bristowam et per to tam terram meam." From Dublin it is now time to proceed to Mell, where the provincial was held by Johannes Paparo. That this is MeUifont, I gather by that which I find in a nameless au thor, the same (if I be not deceived) whom Philip Flats- bury foUoweth in his chronicle. " Anno MCLII. (saith my author) Christianus, episcopus Lismorensis totius Hiber nia legatus, in Mell concilium celeberrimum celebravit; quo concilio interfuerunt episcopi, abbates, reges, duces et majores natu Hiberniae : in quo auctoritate apostolica et consilio cardinalium, consensuque episcoporum, abbatum et aliorum ibidem consistentium, quatuor archiepiscopatus in Hibernia constituit, quatuorque pallia quatuor ecclesiis eorum archiepiscopatuum distribuit, &c. Anno MCLVII. ecclesia Mell dedicatur ; in cujus dedicatione fuerunt isti venerabiles patres ; Christianus episcopus Lismorensis to tius Hiberniee legatus, qui fuit primus abbas ejusdem eccle- sice," Now, that Christianus was abbot of MeUifont, both Bernard witnesseth in Vita Malachi^, and this same author, writing thus: "Anno MCLX. fundatur abbatiaMellifontis, Donato rege Urgalli^ terras et possessiones donante, Ma- lachia episcopo procurante : ad quam regendam Bernar- dus abbas Clarevallensis misit conventum de illis quos Malachias in Clarevall ad addiscendum ordinem reliquerat, et postea miserat, dato eis in patrem fratre Christiano," &c. The abbey of Magio, mentioned by Bede, I took always to be the monastery of Mayo in Connaught" ; but if you find in the records there, that there was any abbey in the Isle of Magie near Knocfergus, I should rather incline unto that part, and think the other Magio to be of a far later foundation ; viz. that whereof my nameless author thus writeth: " Anno MCLL fundatae sunt abbatiffi de Bea- titudine, de BueUio, de Magio, et de VaUe salutis." Beside your Fourness in Lancashire, we have another " In the county of Mayo, LETTERS. 1,5 abbey of Fourness in Meath. JoceUnus, who writ the Hfe of St. Patrick at the request of Thomas archbishop of Armagh, Malachias bishop of Down, and John Kourcy, prince of Ulster (for'' so he calleth him) was a monk of Fourness (and so is he also called by Joh. Forden in Scotichronico^) but to whether of both abbeys he be longed I cannot certainly determine: neither yet what those Filiae Fournesii are which you mention. " Domum fratrum minorum de Carrick" I find in the county of Wa- terford : " Capellam de Caldragh Wallagh" in the county Roscommon. The abbey of Fermoy is in the county of Cork, belonging to the Lord Roche (alias de Rupe) who is also called Lord of Fermoy ; the first we find so called is " David fil. Alexandri de Roch, dominus de Fer moy," in a plea anno 39. Edv. III. In another plea, anno 8. Edv. III. there is mention made of an instru ment of this Alexander Roch, to this effect: " Notum sit omnibus quod ego Alexander filius Hugonis de Rupe, dedi et concessi Deo et monasterio S. Mariae de ponte de Fermoy, et canonicis sub regula beati Augustini ibidem deservientibus pro salute Domini Johannis regis Angliae, &c.locumipsum admonasterium construendumassignatum, et ipsam villam Deponte, et^ castellum, et ipsum pontem cum octo carucatis terras arabilis, &c. Monasterium de Ines et de Corkumrow in the county of Clare ; Monaste rium de Englenaugh in Tipperary. These I guess to be the same that are mentioned in the register of Fourness abbey. But where Salanga, or Mons S. Dominici was, I can by no means learn, unless it should be Knockdo- nogh, in the county of Wexford, which is as I dare not affirm, because especially it is a Uttle too far in the land, whereas Giraldus saith it doth " imminere mari" so I may be bold to say, that it took the name, not a Dominico Ca- laguritano, who lived after Giraldus, but a S. Dominico Ossyriensi, of whom Giraldus speaketh otherwhere''- " " Johannis de Kourcy Ulidise principis qui et illam debellavit," saith he. y Lib. 6, cap. 2. ' See whether this be your " Castrum Dei." * In Topograph. Hibern. distinct. 1. cap. 5. 16 LETTERS, The first in whom I find mention of Congellus, is Jonas, who writ about the year of our Lord DCXXVI. for thus writeth he of Columbanus in his life : "Dedit deinde operam, ut monachorum necteretur societati, ac monaste rium, cujus vocabulum est Bencher, petiit: in quo praesul virtutum ubertate cluebat beatus Congellus (al. Commo- gellus,) egregius inter sues monachorum pater, quique et reUgionis studio, et regularis disciplinae cultu praecipuus habebatur." Jocelinus^ bringeth in St. Patrick prophecy- ing of him in this manner : " Divertit," saith he, " ad quendam monticulum non longe situm a valle in qua postea constructum est Benchorense coenobium. Et, An norum sexaginta, inquit, circulo complete, nascetur qui dam filius vitae, nomine Comgellus, quod interpretatur pulchrum pignus. Erit enim dilectus Deo et hominibus, atque ob morum meritorumque pulchritudinem intendens prospere procedet, et regnabit cum Christo inter ipsius pignora computandus. Ipse in loco luce praeostenso ec clesiam sanctorum aedificabit: in qua innumera filiorum lucis et vitffi agmina Christi servitio mancipanda coadun- abit." Then after a relation of Benchor, taken in a manner verbatim out of Bernard, he concludeth : " An tiqua Benchorensis ecclesiae nobilitas luculenter descripta est in sanctorum actibus Comgelli primi abbatic illius loci, et Malachiae pontificis et apostolicae sedis legati in Hi bernia." My nameless author addeth further touching the monastery of Benghor, the ruins whereof yet remain in the Ardes in Ulster : " Hoc olim destructum a piratis, qui fere omnes ecclesias et libros totius Hibernias destrux- erunt et combusserunt, Malachias reaedificavit. Ferunt namque nongentos monachos simul una die a piratis in eodem occisos. Non est autem putandum, ut quidam aes- timant, propter aUqualem simiUtudinem nominum et rerum gestarum, hoc esse quod Beda dicit in secundo Ubro De gestis Anglorum, et Henricus Lincolniensis archidiaconus De conversione gentis Anglorum. Nam ilU monachi erant de monasterio Bangorensi in Britannia, isti de monasterio " Cap, 97, LETTERS, 17 Benghorensi in Hibernia ; ilU interfecti ab Ethelredo rege Northumbrorum juxta Leucestriam, isti in monasterio suo a piratis inUltonia ; ilU mille ducenti, isti nongenti." Ha;cibi. And thus having said somewhat unto those matters which you propounded, I have little else at hand wor thy the advertisement, unless you would take notice of new county of Wicklow, and the new city of the Derrie (by Loughfoil) lately erected by his Majesty. Other news come not at the present to my mind : and matters of antiquity, the suddeness of this warning, toge ther with the multiplicity of business wherewith at this present I am encumbered, will not permit me to search af ter. Only for the place of Eginhardus (pag. 761. of your book) I thought good to signify, that in the author I find it not. But in another author of the Ufe of Carolus M. set out by Pithasus, we read : " Classis Normannorum Hiberniam Scotorum insulam aggressa, commisso praelio cum Scotis, innumerabilis multitude Normannorum" extincta est, et turpiter fugiendo reversi sunt." So likewise author Anna- Hum Fuldensium anno DCCCXII. " Classis Danorum Hiberniam aggressa, a Scotis praelio superatur." Regino, anno DCCCXII. " Classis Normannorum Hiberniam insu lam aggressa ; commissoque cum Scotis prcelio, multi ex eis interfecti, Cffiteri fuga lapsi sunt." And before these all, Adelmus Benedictinus, the author of the Annals of the kings of France, (falsely counted by Andreas Velleius to be Adhemarus'^) " Classis Nordmannorum Hiberniam Scotorum insulam aggressa, commissoque cum Scotis prae lio, parte non modica Nordmannorum interfecta, turpiter fugiendo domum reversa est." I send you here a breviat of the getting of Ireland by Englishmen, and of the decay of the same, to the end that I may learn of you whether it be the same that Patrick Finglass wrote, or no, I would also desire a note of the constitutions of the Irish synod, whereof you speak unto me : and a supply of the ¦^ Dani and Normanni the same, " Huic transcriptum (ut reliqua authoris hujus omnia) in appendic, Aimoini, lib. 4- cap. 100. VOL, XV. C 18 LETTERS. sixth chapter of the second book of the Conquest of Ireland, written by Giraldus. For in your edition the buU of Adi-ianlll. is wanting: which I have seen in Johannes Rossus, De coronis regno AngUae annexis, (in Mr. Thomas AUen's library, whose kindness in these matters I can never forget,) cited out of Giraldus. Sir Robert Cotton made half a promise of some manuscripts unto our library : if he would be pleased to spare Wickliffe's ho milies and his Lantern of light, with another volume wherein the examination of Thorpe is, it should very gratefully be accepted. But of the copy of two epistles, which concern the consecration of the archbishop of Dub lin, I challenge to myself an absolute promise : whereof I pray you put that worthy knight in mind. When I shall hear further from you both, I purpose to take some order for the conveyance of my Boston unto you. Your letter, if at your leisure you will write any thing hither, may be left with M. Cuttes, at the sign of the Frying-pan in Cheapside. And thus, remembering the commenda tions of your friends here, especially captain Leonel Ghest, sometime your scholar, and my cousin Molyneux, who hath sent you here enclosed the note of a record of the earldom of Ulster, I rest Your's in all kind affection, JAMES USSHER. From the College at Dublin, October 30, 1606, In Dundalk you may note, that Richardus Armachanus, who in the country is commonly called S. Richard of Dundalk, was there both born and buried. His monu ment there was not long ago by the unruly soldiers de faced. LETTERS, 19 LETTER HI. JAC. USSERII AD GUIL. EYRIUM EPISTOLA, Guilielmo Eyrio, in Collegio Emmanuelis Cantabrigis Socio, QuAS ad me dedisti Uteras, Eyri ornatissime, eas red didit mihi, jampridem hue ex Anglia reversus, frater: ad quas quod serins jam respondeam, partim illud in causa fuit quod ¦ fidXa iroXXd fiera^v Ouped Te ffKioevra OdXa^ad re ffxffetraa, partim etiam quod Livelaeanam de authentica Scriptu» rarum editione commentationem prius expectaverim, quo amplior mihi tribueretur occasio et gratias agendi, ¦et amplius de quaestione gravissima inquirendi, (quo una fidelia duos dealbarem parietes,) profecto me negligen- tiam insuper commemorare necesse sit, quam diffiteri non possum. Sane tTriOvfda iTn^vfiticta cum Livelaeo tuo conferre, cum aliis de rebus, tum praecipue de versione Septuaginta interpretibus adscripta; ubi mihi in multis aquam haerere non diffiteor : promisit de his nuper rara quaedam et inaudita doctissimus Scaliger, cujus ego ho minis multiplicem eruditionem admirari soleo, ut et de Masoritarum observationibus, a quibus, post Hieronymi tempora, puncta Hebraeorum et accentus inventos, con- firmatur. Sed ludet ibi profecto operam, si quid ego augurari possum. Ludat Scaligeri critica in VirgiUano Culice ; ludat, inquam ; nam lusisse ostendunt crebrae illae trajec- tiones, quas ille nulU opinor hominum unquam probave- rit. Et ludente autore, ludat etiam interpres. Lusit c2 20 LETTERS. Virgilius Culice, (Lusimus Octavi) lusit etiam in emen- dando CuUce Scaliger. Et hujusmodi nugis ludat iUe quantum volet : non in eo positae sunt fortunae Graeciae. Sed in seriis et maximi momenti rebus pium et modes- tum pectus desideraverim. Tuum erit, doctissime Eyri, et tui simillium, quibus ad arcana literaturae Hebraicae datus est aditus, succrescenti huic malo ire obviam, et cu rare ne quid inde detrimenti respublica Christiana capiat. Haec in nostros fabricata est machina muros ; aut aliquis latet error. Ad nos quod attinet, qui sacris illis vix dum initiati sumus, congessimus et nos ex Hieronymo et scriptis Hebrasorum observationes ; sed Talmudicorum librorum ope destituti, quod voluimus perficere, nondum potuimus. Illud certe mihi persuasissimum ipsum Masoreth longe ante Hieronymi tempora extitisse. Illud velim scire, quomodo in Baba Bothra, in historia de Joabo magistrum suum occidente, distinguunt ^Dt et ^Dt, an per puncta vocalia, an aliter. Et in Massecheth nj'jn Perek K. et quid intelligit Arias Montanus, cum T • - dicit Josephum punctorum meminisse. Lasciviunt critici, quorum petulantia comprimenda; nisi non sit verisimile, non ego credulus illis. , Cur dextrae jungere dextram Non datur, ac veras audire et reddere voces ? jEn, L Nee vidisse semel satis est : juvatusque morari j Et conferre gradum, et veniendi discere causas, jEn, VL ¦ Nequeunt expleri corda tuendo. Spondee digna tuis ingentibus omnia coeptis, Nee partum gratia talem Parva manet Mn, VIIL .ffin, IX, DubUn, XI L Kal. Januar, 1607, Omnia magna de te spem nobis conciliasti. 'OtTOTarog, JAC. USSERIUS. LETTERS. 21 LETTER IV. GUILIEL. EYRII AD USSERIUM EPISTOLA. Spectatissirao viro ac amico suo singulari M, Jacobo Usserio, Theologiae profes sor! apud Dublinienses in Hibernia, S, QuoD Hieronymus in epistola quadam ad Paulinum presbyterum scripsit, nempe Uteras ejus a principio pro batae jam fidei fidem et veteris amicitiae nova praetulisse argumenta, idem de tuis, ornatissime humanissimeque Usseri, quas ad me duodecimo Kalendas Januarii dedisti Uteris, vere dicere possum. Vera est enim haec necessi- tudo nostra et satis antiqua, " quam," ut sanctissimi patris verbis utar, " non utilitas rei familiaris, non praesentia tantum corporum, non subdola et palpans adulatio, sed Dei timer et divinarum Scripturarum studia conciliant." Hanc tu praeclare novis officiis reapse coluisti, Guilielmus tuus votis et affectu tantum. Quod autem tam diu jam conticuere literae meae, in causa non fuit veternus aliquis, nee oblivio singularis erga me tuffi humanitatis, quam nee loci distantia, aut /uaXa TToXXa, fisra^v oiiptd 7e aKiotvra, &c. obscurare, nee tem poris diuturnitas e tabulis memoriae meae obliturare po test; sed quotidiana exspectatio Liveleanas commentati- onis de authentica Scripturarum editione, quam tibi jam antea polUcitus eram. Hanc frustra adhuc expectavimus ; licet jampridem consilio Roffensis episcopi tradita fuerit cuidam viro docto, una cum chronologia Latina, ut pub- lici juris fiant. Ambas quamprimum lucem aspexerint, volente Deo, ad te mittam. Chronologicus ille tractatus, credo, propediem prodibit : alterum quod attinet, si non editus fuerit (quod non multum desiderarem, nisi quaedam 22 LETTERS. eautius, quaedam vero plenius scripta fuissent) non dubito quin post menses aliquot, copiam ejus mihi denuo haeredes Livelaei facient ; atque tum postea in tuam gratiam ex- scribendum curabo, Interea vero loci, agnosco me valde obaeratum esse et tibi et doctissimo Juveni fratri tuo Ambrosio, qui peri- tissima manu sua, quaedam in meum usum ex Alcorano Arabice exscripsit. Tibi vero, clarissime Jacobe, meip- sum debeo, qui non solum suavissimis tuis Uteris animum meum erexisti, sed etiam Arabicae grammaticae mihi co piam fecisti. Nondum potui, Postelli auxilio, Nebiensis Psalterii superare difficultatem, neque sane operte pre- tium est. Video enim Arabicam illam Psalmorum ver- sionem non Hebraicam veritatem sed ubique, ni fallor, vel Graecam vel, quae plerumque eodem redit, vulgatam Latinam translationem expressisse. Amisimus Judaeum, olim praeceptorem meum, cujus gratia in animo mihi fuit hoc studium suscepisse; quia specula aliqua affulserat, qualemcunque hujiis linguae scientiam in academia nostra, liac ratione, locum aliquem habere potuisse. Non sum apa^iKO/iavffg, lit Clenardus olim : sed Arabicari parum- per, et primoribus tantum labris Arabicismum degustare volui, ut in aliis quibusdam rectius judicare possem. Nam in animo mihi fuit jampridem, quorundam hortatu et consilio, quaedam de authentica Scripturarum editione deque punctorum, vocalium, et accentuiim Hebraicorum antiquitate et ratione penitius, quam hactenus, rimari ; et fontium puritatem integritatemque a librariorum incuria et criticorum quorundam conjecturis vindicare : ob eamque causam limatissimum tuum judicium in nonnulUs liben- tissime cognoseerem, quorum te, doctissime Usseri, cal- lentissimum esse, omnes qui te norunt testari possunt. Verum ne longiore hujusce rei explieatione, aliud quid- dam quod mihi jam in animo occurrit, excidat plane e memoria, illud prius expediam. Degit hie apud nos, uti nosti, Antonius Martinus^ ; quem et tute satis nosti, ego " Qui mihi ad sedem Armachanam translate, anno 1625. in Midensi episco patu successit, et anno 1650, mortem obiit. LETTERS. 23 vero in cute novi. Vestras est natione et affectu suo : et noster foret non tantum affectu et votis nostris, aeque ac merito suo, sed etiam loco, nempe in albo sociorum, si natione nostras esset. Quorsum haec ? Dicam paucissi- mis. Quoniam Martinus hie mens (nam sic revera est, cura et, pro more nostro, tutela quadam) noster esse ne- quit ; gratularer sane plurimum ipsimet et vobis si vester esse posset, locumque socii in collegio patrio capesseret. Certe quorundam sermone nuper accepi, quosdam prope diem asciscendos et cooptandos esse in album sociorum coUegii Dubliniensis : scio etiam vos in votis habere, probos et literatos in seminario vestro coUocare, qui stre- nuam operam vel in artibus docendis, inque juventute eru- dienda, vel in messe Domini in agris Hybernicis colli- genda, tandem ponant, et vel sint vel fiant idonei ut hoc faciant. Illud consultissimum est. Nam si habeatis in schola vestra qui cum laude et fructu juventutem vestram in philosophia et politiori literatura instituant, quales et habuisse ac etiamnum vos habere sat scio, tandem fiet, annuente Deo, ut intra fines Hiberniae generosa juventus contineatur, neque extra Athenas vestras Romae aut alibi instituantur. Talis futurus est, spero, Martinus noster : quippe qui is est, qualis alii plerique videri tantum volunt, et in humaniori literatura, et vitae integritate : germanis- simus certe Nathaneel, sine fraude. Haec divinae provi- dentiae et vestrae prudentiae reUnquenda censeo, et ad rem propositam accede, Atque ut intelUgat reverentia tua, me operam daturum, ut tibi gratus sim, spero me brevi confecturum indicem sive catalogum variarum lectionum in utroque Instru- mento, una cum earundem censura, quem ad te trans- mittam ; ut tibi saltem occasionem aliquam haec eadem penitius rimandi, et lucem veritatis aliis prasbendi dare possim. Scio enim te multa in adversariis tuis ad hanc rem pertinentia habere, quae, occasione oblata, in usum Ecclesiae proferas : mihi satis fuerit ansam doctoribus prae- bere. Quid enim amplius tenuitas mea in hoc genere praestare potest, cui non conceditur per statuta collegu nostri in gremio indulgentissimae matris Academiae, ultra gf't LETTERS. biennium aut triennium manere, atque interea loci oporte* in aliis potissimum temporis partem consumere ? Tuum erit potius, doctissime Jacobe, qui commodius antiqui- tates indagare, Spartam hanc omare. Verum ut intel ligas, quid a me expectes, et qua ratione tute postea rem ipsam expedias, en tibi methodum eorum qua parare occoepi ! et quidem opus ipsum in privatum usum brevi, juvante Domino, absolvam. Appellari potest "ITI inn yo, sepes legis," sive Massoreth, vel, ut alii legunt, Masorah, ad puritatem fontium sive adtaipdopiav SS. contextus Scrip turarum conservandam, et consequenter ad ejusdem av- Qivr'iav deelarandam adhibita, et duobus libris compre- hensa, quorum 1 . Prior, prolegomena generalia continebit. 2. Alter, indicem variarum lectionum, in tota Scrip tura. Primi Hbri praecipuam raateriem, post statum contro- versiae de authentica Scripturarum editione et fontium puritate, sex propositionibus, quas firmissimis rationibus confirmare possim, si dextre intelligantur, complexus sum. I. Propositio : IUa tantum Scripturarum editio est au thentica quae divinitus inspirata fuit, et a prophetis atque apostolis conscripta, II. Propositio : Ilia ipsa scriptura prophetica quae pri- mitus conscripta fuerit etiamnum pura et Integra conser- vatur in Ecclesia. III. Propositio : Hebraica veteris Instrumenti scriptura iisdem vocalium et accentuum notis, quibus hodie utimur, antiquitus tradita. IV. Propositio : Graeea novi Testamenti scriptura (quae divinitus inspirata fuerit) adhuc Integra et pura manet in Ecclesia. V. Propositio : Grasca veteris Instrumenti translatio, nee divinitus inspirata, nee pura et Integra. VI. Propositio : Vulgata Latina Bibliorum editio, nee fida nee authentica, nedum divinitus conscripta. LETTERL. 25 APPENDIX LIB. r. In appendice, paralipomena sive praetermissa in pro- legomenis quaedam subjicientur, ad pr^sens negotium facientia, sed in propositionibus commode tractari non possunt. I. De characterum Hebraicorum, qui hodie in usu sunt, origine et antiquitate. Haec disquisitio necessaria videtur, ad defensionem integritatis Scripture, propter novamopinionemiUustrissimi viri Josephi Scaligeri: qui in animadversionibus in Eusebn Chronicon,ad locum Eusebi- ani numeri 1617. " Literae," inquit, "quibus hodie Judaei sacros Hbros et omnia acta sua conscribunt, nuperae ac novitiae sunt, ex Syriacis depravatae, iUae autem ex Sama- ritanis," &c. Vide locum. Hac de re variae sunt aUo- rum opiniones, ut PosteUi UbeUo de Phcenicum Uteris, WaseriUbro de antiquis numis Hebraicis, &c. et aUorum : quas hie ventilandas suscepi, etsi fateor in quibusdam quae caput rei non attingunt aquam mihi haerere. Verum Scaligeri opinionem aperte falsam esse probari potest ex metis. Nam primo probatur, modernas Uteras non esse nu- peras, &c. et Samaritanas in biblicousu semper non fuisse antiquitus, quia non Samaritanae sed Judaicae in usu fue runt Christi humiliati tempore : ut constare mihi videtur ex Matth. cap. V. ver. 18. Luc. cap. XVI. ver. 17. et locis id genus aUis, ubi Christus docet, Ne minimam qui dem particulam legis perituram ; nempe, ut omnes faten tur, saltem quoad sensum et doctrinam, allusione facta ad minimam Hterulam Hebraici contextus, nempe joth, quae facile omnium literarum minima est in Hebraico alphabeto, sed in Samaritano potius maxima (Hebraico '. Samaritano m.) Quod si ante Christi humiliati tempus nostra Uteras fuerint, tum neque nuperae sunt et novitiae, neque ex Syriacis depravatae. Nam Syriacae sive Maroniticee in- troductae fuerint a Christianis nascentis ecclesiae, ne quid cum Nazaraeis et Hebionitis, quorum haeresin execraban- 26 LETTERS. tur, haberent commune ; ut docet doctissimus vir Guide Fabricius Boderianus, in epistola ad Dictionarium Syro- Chaldaicum. Secundo, idem constat ex omnibus iUis Scripturae locis, qui bene multi sunt, in quibus veteres interpretes Septua ginta, et aUi antiquissimi hallucinati sunt et decepti lite rarum simiUtudine, ut 3 et 3, 1 » et t, n et H, t et ], *I et 1, "1 et ^, D et C3. Job, chap. XI. ver. 3. I'll, Graece legitur, "]»"13 £i)XoYriju6voe, et id genus sexcenta quae ex indice nostro observari possunt. Nulla autem talis est earundem literarum vicinitas juxta Samaritanum alpha- betum. Vide Postelli vel Scaligeri ipsius alphabetum Samaritanum locis citatis. Tertio, multa alia id ipsum decent, quae non opus est hie repetere. Nempe figuras Hebraicae literarum quae hodie in usu sunt, simplicissimae : ex quibus etiam, ut Postellus probat, et res ipsa docet, nimirum ex currente earum forma, Syriacae et Arabicae literae ortum habent. Item 'srvfia sive notationes nominum quae Hebraicis potius quam Samaritanis characteribus conveniunt. Qua de re consu- lendi sunt grammatici. Miror quid Scaligero in mentem veniebat. Sed missa haec facio, et reliqua quae communi- ter contra hanc Scaligerianam et aliorum opinionem dici possunt. II. De Masoriticis et Rabbinicis notis in Bibliis He braicis : de 28. Perigmoth, deque librorum et capi- tum variis distinctionibus ; et id genus aliis, et quid il lis tribuendum sit. Neque hie multis opus est, quia in confirmatione secundae propositionis nostrae, in respon- sione ad objectiones contra Hebraici fontis puritatem, fusius diximus, quod satis esse videatur, donee ad par- ticularium locorum censuram in indice nostro deveni- amus. 1. De octodecim locis qui vulgo appellantur, pp'n ansD, et a quibusdam contra puritatem Hebraicae Scripturas et fidem Judjeorum objiciuntur. 2. De quatuor locis qui vulgo appellantur, CDnsiD llDy, objicitur etiam. LETTERS. 27 3. De octingentis quadraginta octo locis, 3>roi >^p, objectis, &c. ubi descripsi ea ex Talmude et Eli» Massoreth hammassoreth : quae tu, doctissime Usseri, a me in tuam gratiam describenda petis. 4. De varietatibus inter orientales et occidentales, item inter filios Aser et NephtaU. 5. De locis quibusdam veteris Instrumenti, in quibus corrupted objiciuntur ex rei grammaticae ratione. 6. De locis, in genere, tam veteris quam novi Testa menti, in quibus, evavrioipavri observantur, atque ex coUatione locorum parallelorum corruptionis argu- untur. in. De Chaldaica paraphrasi, deque Arabica et Syri- aca, necnon de aUis veterum et neotericorum versionibus, quarum in propositionibus non fit mentio, et quid iUis tri buendum sit. IV. De castigatissimis bibliorum Hebraicorum veteris Instrumenti, et Gracorum novi Testamenti exemplaribus. His generalibus propositis ac enucleatis, facile erit ju dicium de singulis variarum lectionum locis : neque opus erit in indice sive catalogo nostro subsequente multa dicere, quae alioquin saepissime et fere ubique repetere oporteret. SECUNDI LIBRI ARGUMENTUM. Index et collatio variarum lectionum per singulos Scrip turae libros et librorum capita, una cum earundem cen sura, juxta ordinem particularium locorum ; praesertim ubi fontium puritas quibusdam suspecta videtur, vel incuria librariorum aut criticorum temeritate periculum sit ne cor- rumpatur. Hujus specimen, ex coUectaneis nostris depromptum, hie subjiciam. 28 LETTERS, COLLATIO VARIARUM LECTIONEM IN PSALMIS. Significationes notularum quibus sspiuscule in hac parte indicis nostri u»i sumus, Qu. leg. Al. rect. Hoc est ; Quibusdam legitur sicuti primo in loco habetur: aliter vero rectius sicuti postea subjicitur. I. II. III. indicant Kpir-ffpia, quorum ope judicandum est, ex positis jam ante propositionum fundamentis, de genuina lectione in singulis locis : nam ad tria capita revocari possunt. I. Codices sive exemplaria primavi contextus, tum ma- nuscripta, tum typis excusa. II. Interpretum versiones et commentationes, tum vete rum tum recentiorum. III. Rationes ex verbis ipsis locique circumstantiis, necnon ex aliorum locorum coUatione, fideique analogia. Quod si lectio aliqua ex his tribus alicujus auctoritate destituatur, tum sic notantur, I o II o. Om. Cod. — i. Omnes codices vel omnia exemplaria nostra, tam manuscripta, quam typographica. Exempl. Mass. — i. Exemplaria juxta Masoreth Judae- orum excusa, praesertim si voculae et verbis, de qui bus controvertitur, nota Masoretica apponatur. MS. T. — Manuscriptum Psalmorum exemplar in bibli otheca collegii Trinitatis Cantabrigiae. MS. C. — Manuscriptum exemplar in bibliotheca collegii Gonevelli et Caii Cantabrigiae. MS. T. et C. notat utrumque. Bom. 1. 2. 3. edit. — Codices bibliothecae Hebraica3 a Daniele Bombergo Venetiis editi, tum seorsim variis formis et temporibus, tum etiam cum rabbinorum commentariis, necnon cum Masora minori et majori in duabus posterioribus editionibus emendatissiniis, quas ubique fere comprobavimus in psalterio. LETTERS. 29 PI. 16". 8°. 4°. fol.— Codices bibliothecae Hebraicae aCh. Plantino, variis formis et temporibus, Antwerpiae ex- cusi, praesertim acuratissima editio iUa ab Aria Montano et aUis doctissimis viris elaborata, quam hac nota [Bibl. Reg.J indicavimus. Comp. — Codices Hebraei juxta Complutensem editio- nem. Steph. — Biblia Hebraea in 4'°. cum com. rabbinorum. In 12™". Pro. minor, et in 16'°. elegantissimis characteri bus, Parisiis, per Robertum Stephanum. Int. V. et N. vulg. edit. — Interpretes veteres et neote- rici, qui vulgatam editionem Graecam vel Latinam in versionibus aut commentationibus suis sequuti sunt. Hue spectat Arabica tralatio Psalmorum in Justi- niani Nebiensis octaplo psalterio, quam saepe consu- luimus. Int. V. et N. Heb. Ver. — Interpretes veteres et recen- tiores, qui Hebraicam veritatem sequuti sunt. Hoc nomine complector etiam rabbinicos Scripturae inter pretes, item lexicographos, et alios qui vel concor- dantiis aut schoUis suis lectionem aliquam in locis controversis comprobarunt. VARIARUM LECTIONUM IN PSALMIS HEBRAICIS OBSERVATIO ET CENSURA. Psal. II. ver. 7. Qu. leg, ph'^N niDDX] ut vocula ^N sit cum Tseri, atque ut clausula hffic referatur ad prasce- dentem versum. I. Legitur bn in margine primae edit. Bom. cum Rab, com. et secundae edit, cum Rab. scholiis. II. Graec. schol. ^ AvayysXXwv Icrx'^^pov aKpt/3acr;u6v. Sexta edit. KaTayyiWcJv tie Oiov SiaOrfKrfv. Theod. ia'^vpov Tvpoarayfia. Vul. Lat. praedicans praeceptum ejus.] " Narrabo proprie, ut narrem Dei statutum et decretum," inquit Genebrardus, " ubi observa hn posse esse nomen Dei, ut a Masoretis notatum sit perverse per Seghol loco Tseri. 30 LETTERS. Vel si sit praepositio Latine vacare, narrabo praeceptum [ejus] hoc est, ut narrem praeceptum ejus, sum constitntus rex ab ipso." Haec ille. Al. rect. pli'^N mSDN] ut Vn sit cum Seghol, atque ut clausula haec non referatur ad praecedentem versum, sed initium sit sequentis. I. Omnia exemplaria nostra, tam MS. quam typogra phica. Quod autem in margine primae editionis Bom. cura >B Rab. et secundae in minori forma absque scholiis leg. bii cum Tseri, nihil valere debet, tum quia verborum ratio, et versuum divisio in omnibus etiam non punctatis exempla ribus repugnant, tum etiam quia, ut Elias Lev. monet in tertia praefat. Mas. Hammas. caute agendum est in illis BibHis Venetianis. " Non respiciat," inquit, " lector ver ba quffi in margine false sunt posita de lectionum varie- tate," &c. " Qui enim concordantias illas adjecit indoc tus fuit, nee fuit Judaeus, nee quippiam novit in Maso reth, nee habuit delectum in oblatis exemplaribus%" &c. II. Int. Om. V. et N. quibus propositum fuit Hebrai cam veritatem exprimere nostram lectionem comproba runt: nempe Chald. Hieron. Rab. Sol. Jar. Ab. Ez. D. Kimqui, Justinianus, Cajetanus, Montanus, et lexi- cographi, etiam omnes Rab. Mord. Nathan in Concor- dantUs. Neque vero Lat. vulg. interpres, qui Grascum sequutus est, nee interpretes quibus propositum fuit Latinam aut Graecam vulgatam explicare, Hebrasum autem contextum vel non omnino aut negligentius consuluerunt, nostrae lec- tioni refragantur. Graec. vulg. SiayyiWwv to irpoarayfia Kvpiov, Kvpiog sItts, &c. Sic non aliorsim legisse videatur quan^ in He- braeis habetur. Nam to irpoaraypa recte expUcat pr\'b^ et Kvpiov propter sensus evidentiam adjicitur. Hinc vulg. Lat. " Praedicans praeceptum ejus." Quod librarii, non inspectis Hebraeorum pausis, praecedenti versui non recte addiderunt; sensu quidem non inconimodo, " Vide Basil, edit. Heb. pag. 54. NXI53 vht) &c- LETTERS, 31 quem Ambrosius, Augustinus, Theodoretus, Haymo, Eu- thymius, et aUi expresserunt, Scholiastes etiam Theod. et sexta editio supra citata sensum potius quam verba reddiderunt. Jansenius utramque lectionem exponit, neu- tram rejicit. III. Sensus est aptior et verbis convenientior juxta Hebraicam versuum divisionem et punctationem rov hi< per Segol, ut significet juxta, vel sit idem quod -riK. Quod si per Tseri legeretur bi< nullo modo, hoc in loco [Dei vel lQti^, 1 Reg. cap. VII. ver. 24. ta'DjpO ; 2 Chron. cap. IV. ver. 3. C3np3. Et alia id genus sexcenta. Denique, etiamsi concederetur Csyin recte verti hoc in loco " pasees eos" inde tamen non sequitur legendum esse Oynn et non 2=^1/1 quia in Poet. nySn duci potest a nyn " pascere," sicut iTiin a mi et simUia, quae videre est I-ETTERS. ^O in Ezraidis et Camii grammatica. Vide Micas cap. VIL ver. 14. ubi verbum nyi in significatione pascendi cum £33ti^3 quemadmodum et defendi potest hoc in loco, po tius quam lectio Masoretica sit rejicienda. Psal. II. ver. 1 2. Qu. leg. 13 )pWi : Al. rect. -fi] Verum aXig TovTwv, exempli ac speciminis ergo reliqua in Psal terio et caeteris Scripturae Ubris, hac ratione (n 3) con- ficiam^ APPENDIX LIB. n. In appendice, quaedam Paralipomena, ad indicem nos trum pertinentia, sunt adjicienda. 1. Tabulae varietatum inter orientales et occidentales Judaeos, atque inter >br\Si 031 "It^S 03, quae in calce primae et secundo editionum Bibliorum Bombergianorum habentur. 2. Tabulae 3>nDl np, et DHI ^O. 3. Consectaria nonnuUa, una cum snmma totius causae quam in manibus babemus, viz. 1. Lectio alicujus locis veteris vel novi Testamenti, quae comprobatur consensu et conspiratione omnium ex emplarium quee inveniri possunt, non est rejicienda prop ter IvavTioipavlc quod difficulter conciliari potest, nedum propter interpretum quorundam auctoritatem qui aliter legisse videantur; donee exemplar aliquod fide dignum aliam lectionem exhibeat : nisi circumstantia loci, aut analogia fidei necessario postulet. Hoc patet ex iis quae dicenda sunt Ubro primo in Prole gomenis, praesertim in confirmatione secundae, quar- tae, quintae, et sextae propositionum. 2. Lectio alicujus loci veteris Instrumenti, quae compro- VOL. xv. D 34 LETTERS. batur fide Masoriticorum et emendatissimorum exempla rium, licet in aliis aliter habeatur, caeteris paribus, est praeferenda. Hujus ratio petenda est ex iis quae in prplegomenis dixi mus de Masorae ratione et fide, necnon ex iis, quae docentur in secunda et quarta appendice libri pri mi. 3. Lectio alicujus loci veteris vel novi Testamenti, quae comprobatur auctoritate interpretum qui de industria fontes sequuti sunt, hoc est, Hebraicam et Graecam ve ritatem, versione aut commentatione sua illustrarunt, cae teris paribus, potius est ilia quae nititur fide, vel potius hallucinatione, interpretum qui rivulos consectati, et Grae cam sive vulgatam Latinam editionem interpretati sunt. Hujus Veritas patet ex quinta et sexta propositione Hbri primi, atque ex tertia ejusdem appendice. 4. Lectio alicujus loci novi Testamenti quae compro- bari potest auctoritate et fide vetustiorum et correctiorum exemplarium, licet forsan pauciora sint, caeteris paribus, est praeferenda. Vide quartam appendicem libri primi. Huic nemo non suffragabitur, qui novit quid tribuen dum sit multis codicibus, praesertim noviter editis, qui in vulgus spargunt errores et multiplicant cr^aX- juara ypa^iKci unius qui primo lapsus est incuria vel inscitia. Verum errantium multitude, ut in re alia dixit Hieronymus, ni fallor, non debet patrocinari errori. Lectiones autem omnes, quas in catalogo nostro defen- dimus, comprobantur vel consensu omnium exemplarium et interpretum qui primaevam Scripturas editionem se quuti sunt, nulla ratione repugnante, vel saltem fide emendatissimorum codicum, ac pr^terea, quorundam doc- tissimorum interpretum calculo, ratione etiam ex verbis ipsis vel ex aliis locis petita, exigente. Hoc patet ex singularium locorum inspectione in indice nostro variarum lectionum. Ergo lectiones quas sequuti sumus, et censura nostra comprobavimus, sunt verae et germanae. LETTERS. 35 Rursus ilia tantum Scripturarum editio, et lectio in singulis locis est authenticaj quas OioirvavuTwg primitus conscriptafuerit, juxta primam propositionem primi li bri. At Hebraica tantum veteris Instrumenti integre etiam num conservata in Ecclesia, juxta secundam propositio nem ; id que punctata, juxta tertiam. Novi vero Testa menti Graeea editio, integre etiam adhuc conservata, juxta quartam propositionem, atque utraque juxta lectiones quae in indice nostro comprobantur, divina inspiratione primi tus conscripta fuerit, ut ex prolegomenis et indice patet : non autem Graeea veteris Instrumenti, nee Latina vulgata novi, quae nee fidae nee purae sunt, juxta quintam et sextam propositiones, nee denique cujuscunque limae versiones nos tras sunt flsoTTvEuoTwe couscriptae, ut patet ex tertia appen dice libri primi. Ergo, sola Hebraica veteris Instrumenti editio, sicut Graeea novi, authentica est et pura. Vides methodum quam mihi proposui. In animo etiam fuit, difficultates quasdam tibi, doctissime vir, proposuisse, in quibus exactissimum tuum judicium cognoseerem. Sed sentio me jam modum epistolae excessisse, et vereor ne in- terpellem te nimis nugis meis a gravioribus negotiis. Ig- noscas quaeso Guilielmo tuo, qui prolixe et cordate potius quam eleganter et suaviter te compellare maluit. Nactus jam tandem tabellarii opportunitatem, remisi ad te, manu fida ejusdem, Postelli Grammaticam, una cum li- bello altero, quem tibi benevolentiae ergo dicavi ; majorem daturus, si Anglia nostra aliquid librorum non vulgarium ad antiquitalem eruendam suppeditaret. Nondum aUquid efficere potui in Arabicis, quod dignum sit opera : forsan si Christmanno muto magistro, aut Bed- wello Londinensi vel potius Ambrosio tuo Dubliniensi viva voce praeceptore uti Uceret, aUquid efficerem. Sed non Ucet. Velit, jubeat clementissimus pater qui in cceUs est, ut Ecclesiae suae pomceria dilatet, nostras ecclesias in vera pace conservet, tibique, frater doctissime, et tuis omnibus in Christo benedicat. Vale : e musaso in collegio Emmanu- D 2 36 LETTERS. elis Cantabrigiae, nono Kalendas Aprilis juxta veteres fastos, et anno Domini 1607. juxta computum Ecclesiae Anglicanae. Tuus in communi fide, ac ministerio EvangeUi, frater amantissimus, GUIL. EYRE. LETTERS. 37 LETTER V. A LETTER FROM MR. JAMES USSHER, TO MR. SAM. WARD. You will not believe, good Sir, what great pleasure I took in perusing those writings which I received from you, especially where I found your learned Parisian so fully to agree with me in collecting the order of the an cient Codex Canonum, out of the council of Chalcedon. For not long before, I had entered myself into the same consideration, and resolved after the same manner, but upon somewhat a more sure ground. I had found in Ba ronius*, that both in the fourth and in the eleventh action of the council of Chalcedon, certain canons of the council of Antioch were cited, but without any name, out of some ancient collections, in which the ninety-fifth and ninety- sixth canon did contain the same that the sixteenth and seventeenth of the Antiochen council. I mused a while what this might mean ; and conceiving Baronius's opinion to be somewhat improbable, that these canons should be produced from some other place than the council of An tioch itself, I bethought myself, at last, of that which Dio nysius Exiguus hath in his preface before his translation of the Greek canons, Ad Stephanum Salonitanum epis- copum. " Regulas Nicenae synodi, et deinceps omnium conciliorum, sive quae antea, seu quae postmodum facta sunt usque ad synodum centum quinquaginta pontificum, qui apud Constantinopolim convenerunt, sub ordine nu- merorum, id est a primo capitulo usque ad centesimum sexagesimum quintum, sicut habentur in Graeea auctoritate, digessimus. Tum sancti Chalcedon«nsis conciUi decreta ' Ad ann, 341. sect, 34. 38 LETTERS. subdentes in his Graecorum canonum finem esse decla- ramus," Then set I numbering of the canons, and find ing some variety in the divers editions, I resolved to try Constantinus Harmenopulus his reckoning in his preface before the abridgment of the Greek canons : where he numbereth twenty canons of the council of Nice, " 25. Ancyranae, 15, Neocaesariensis, 19, Gangrensis, 25. An- tiochenae, 60. Laodicenae synodi ;" although I yield ra ther to give, with your Parisian, fourteen to the coun cil of Neocaesaraea, and twenty to that of Gangra. So, applying his reckoning to the order of the old Codex canonum, the sixteenth and seventeenth canon of the council of Antioch, fell out precisely to be the ninety- fifth and ninety-sixth in the other reckoning ; and the first canon of the council of Constantinople, which im mediately followed the five provincials in Dionysius his order, to the one hundred and sixty-fifth. Hence I concluded that the first collection of the canons con sisted only of the first general, and five other provincial councils, nnto which afterwards were added the general councils that followed. For thus much both Dionysius's distinction of them from the rest seemeth to insinuate, and the order of placing those general councils after the provincials (which otherwise, no doubt, if then they had been extant, when this first collection was compiled, would immediately have been conjoined with the council of Nice) doth further confirm : and the citation of this collection in the council of Chalcedon, afterwards incor porated into the same book of Greek canons, as appeareth by Dionysius, manifestly convinceth. Whether the Ephe- sine were as yet entered into the same body, I make some question : because I find no canon thereof cited, neither by Fulgentius Ferrandus, or Cresconius ; neither is it well known which were to be accounted the canons of that council : the canons which are in the counterfeit Isidorus his collection, being quite divers from those which are in TiUus his Greek edition of the canons. Of this ancient collection of the Greek canons, there was an ancient Latin translation extant before the time of LETTERS. 09 Dionysius, as he in his preface witnesseth. But it being somewhat confused, Dionysius made a new translation, which also he enlarged with addition of new canons : pre fixing in the beginning of his book the fifty canons of the apostles, translated by him out of Greek. " In principio," saith he, " canones, qui dicuntur apostolorum, de Graeco transtulimus : quibus quia plurimi*" consensum non prae- buere facilem, hoc ipsum ignorare vestram noluimus sanc- titatem." Then having ended the Greek canons in the council of Chalcedon he adjoined thereunto the Latin canons of the Sardican and African councils, which before were never brought into Codex canonum, as you have well observed. For so much also doth himself testify in his preface ; " Ne quid praeterea notitiae vestrae vide- amur velle substrahere, statuta quoque Sardicensis con cilii atque Africani, quas Latine sunt edita, suis a nobis numeris cernuntur esse distincta." And here, I take it, about the year DXXX. do we first*^ find mentioned these canons of Sardica of Dionysius, and Ferrandus : being as yet also unknown unto the Greek Church, howsoever af terward we find them added unto their Codex canonum. For about this same time in the days of Justinian, Con stantinus, ano axo\ac7riK.wv^, maketh his collection of ec clesiastical constitutions, only out of the canons of the apostles, and the ten great synods, as he calleth them, viz. Ancyrana, Neocaesariensi, Nicena, Gangrensi, Anti- ocliena, Laodicensi, Constantinopolitana, Ephesina, Chal- cedonensi, Carthaginensi ; without mention of that of Sar dica, whose canons seem to have been coined for the ad vancement of the bishop of Rome's authority, after that the forgery of the canon of the council of Nice had no suc cess, as no small presumptions may induce us to imagine. If we may believe Bellarminef who herein I think follow- i" of these Fulgentius Ferrandus seemeth to be one in Dionysius his days, for he never citeth those canons. "= Unless in the fifth canon of the fifth council of Carthage, of which we may further inquire. "^ Alleged by Turrian, Lib. 1, contra Magdeburg, pro can. apost. cap. 21. et 28. " Lib. 2. De Romano ponlif. cap, 25, 40 LETTERS, eth Lindanus: "Dionysius his translation is extant in monasterio S, Vedasti Atrebati; where the canons of the council of Nice and of Sardica are joined together, as if they were but one eouncil." Bnt they may believe him who list. The words of Dionysius, which I have already alleged, put the matter out of all question, that in his edition the canons of the council of Nice and Sardica were placed far enough asunder. But where this edition of Dionysius is to be had, is not easy to be told. This only I conjecture, that whereas Crab setteth down two old editions of the canons, that which is different from Codex Moguntinus is likely for the most part to be that of Dionysius. So Baronius testifieth', that the first edition of the Ancyrane council in Crab, is of Dionysius his trans lation : buts he sheweth, that the first edition of the Nicene canons is not of Dionysius, nor the second neither, if we may give credit to his relation. But this I leave to your own judgment, who have better means to search out this matter than I can possibly have in this country. After this, cometh Codex Romanus to be considered, which had nothing ofDionysiushis translation, but only the canons of the apostles, the rest being either of the old translation which was before Dionysius, or of some other done after his time. For that there were many, ap peareth by the preface of the counterfeit Isidorus to his collection, and Hincmarus Rhemensis archiepiscopus\ where among other things he writeth thus of Isidorus his collection ; " Et beatus Isidorus in coUectario suo de ca- nonibus quatuor editiones Nicaeni concilii compaginavit." Although in the printed collection of Isidorus, we have but one edition left unto us. This Codex Romanus contained no more councils than that of Dionysius ; but bad in the end adjoined the epis tles of some bishops of Rome : first of six, viz. Siricius, Innocentius, Zosimus, Celestinus, Leo, and Gelasius; as * Ad ann. 314. sect. 81. 87. E Ad ann, 325, sect, 156. '' In libro De variis capitulis Ecclesiasticis, cap, 27, de Translatione e Grsets foncitior, et canonum LETTERS. 41 is manifest by the collection of Cresconius, by some thought to be Corippus Grammaticus, who, using this Codex about seven hundred years after Christ, allegeth the decrees of no other bishops of Rome than these. Then in the Roman book were added the constitutions of bishops from Gelasius to Hormisda : and afterwards, to the time of Vigilius, as I gather by Gregory'. From Ge lasius to Gregorius junior, the decrees of five'' popes you have in Codice Moguntino, the true copy of Codex Ro manus. " Quod volumen postea recognitum est Romae cohaerere cum aliis antiquis fideliter," saith Possevinus : and just so many are mentioned by Leo IV. in Gratian', (but that Silvester is by error added, of whose decrees none were extant in the body of the canons) according to the last Roman edition ; for in the former editions of Gra tian I find the name of Symmachus"" written with great letters : " Iste codex est scriptus de illo authentico, quem dominus Adrianus apostolicus dedit gloriosissimo Carolo regi Francorum et Longobardorum, ac Patricio Romanorum, quando fuit Romae." And in this book, Eckius writeth, were contained the decrees of fifteen bishops of Rome". But in other copies which P. Pithaeus had of the same sort, there appear to be no more than the epistles of eleven popes", as in Codice Moguntino. I have great want of this Codex Moguntinus, which I am . very glad you have lighted upon. I doubt not but it is wholly inserted into Crab his edition ; but I know not how to distinguish it from the other collections there : I would intreat you therefore to send me a transcript of the title of the book, and if any thing be worthy the noting in the preface of him that set out the book, as also of the several councils and epistles, with a direction in what page we ' Lib, 9. epist. 17. ^ There are more, ' Distinct. 20, C. de libellis, " Also of the councils, Antioch, Laodicen. Constantinopolit, Ephes. Chalce don. " Lib. 1. De primatu Petri, cap. 20. " In Codice Moguntino are 14. 42 LETTERS. may read the same in Crah^, or Nicolinus'' his edition; that so I might learn which of the two old editions in Crab, is that which is found in Codice Moguntino : as also whether the subscriptions be the same. And here especially desire I to be satisfied in the Sardican and African councils. The like would I now do unto you for Isidorus his collection, directing you how you might read it entirely in Crab, if I had thought the book were not to be found with you there. And if you could spare for a time your book hither, which I would not willingly desire, considering the great distance betwixt our dwellings, I would send it back with all speed, and send together with it Tilius his edition of the Greek canons, if I might understand you wanted it at Cambridge. But if by your good direction I may find it fully in Crab, it shall suffice. Now a word of that collection, which falsely is attri buted unto Isidorus, being compiled sometime betwixt the years DCLXXXIII. and DCCLXXXIII. as in my Bibliotheca Theologica, God willing, I shall fully declare. The author of this collection, taking pattern by the epis tles fathered upon Clement, coined a number more of the same stamp, giving them the superscription of " The names of the ancient popes:" and not content by this means to advance only the pope's spiritual jurisdiction, for the enlarging of his temporalities, he counterfeiteth, in the name of Constantine, that ridiculous donation, which before this time was never heard of. This forgery being first hammered in Spain, was first of all uttered in France by Riculfus, bishop of Mentz, " viro erga S. se dem Romanam valde devoto," as a certain author bearetli witness of him, produced by P. Pithaeus in his testimo nies prefixed before Ansegisus, where what entertain ment it had, shall in his place be declared. This collec tion was first pubUshed in print by Jacobus Merlinus', and it is to be found in a manner wholly (but enlarged with some additions of popes' epistles at the end) in your P Edit. Colon, ann. 1551. q Edit. Venet. ann, 1585. ' Paris. 1530. octavo. LETTERS. 43 Corpus canonum of Benett college^, and in the two great volumes of the popes' epistles, in the public library of your university', in the beginning whereof are to be seen " Provinciarum et regionum nomina," which are want ing in the printed books, but not in the manuscripts, as appeareth by Pithaeus". I would willingly understand whether it hath more or less than " Provinciarum imperii Romani libellus," set out by Ant. Sconhovius with Eutro- pius, and Andr. Schottus with Antoninus his Itinerary''. In the printed copy of Isidorus, there is 1. "Origo conci liorum generalium," as in Crab, taken in a manner verba tim, out of the true Isidorus'', and by him out of some former council-book, as appeareth by those words : " Sed et siqua sunt concilia quae sancti patres Spiritu Dei pleni sanxerunt, post istorum quatuor auctoritatem omni ma nent stabilita vigore : quorum gesta in hoc opere condita continentur." 2. " Annotatio sex principalium synodo- rum : item, annotatio [novendecim] synodorum, quarum gesta in hoc codice continentur." This is to be found in Gratian^, with some additions at the end : whereof see the Roman corrections in that place. Now seeing in this catalogue many councils are reckoned, which are not to he found in Isidore's collection, and some also in Isidorus, Vchich are not to be found in this catalogue, (which seem eth to be the cause why this catalogue was omitted by Crab, as not agreeing to the collections now extant) it ap peareth that " Annotatio synodorum quarum gesta in hoc CODICE continentur," was translated hither out of some other collection of councils not now extant. For beside the book which had the Greek canons, there is no doubt but there were others which contained also the constitu tions of the western councils. One of which was used by Ferrandus, who, beside Concilium Cellense or Zellense, which is the same with Concilium Tilense sub Siricio P. ' Sect. 361. ' Sect. 235. " Lib. 2. Adversariorum, cap. 1, " Colon. 1600. octavo. y Lib. 6. orig. cap. 16, ' Distinct, 16. cap. 10, 11, 44 LETTERS. in Isidore and Crab, citeth seven other councils, not now to be found, as I suppose : Marazense, or Marizanense, Macrianense, Suffetulense, Incense, Tusduritanum, The- nitanum, and Septimunicense. But to return to the printed Isidorus. There follow there, 3. The epistle of Aurelius to Damasus, and of Damasus to Aurelius, ex tant also in Crab, and the copy of your public library; which epistles Baronius showeth*" to have been counter feited by this counterfeit Isidorus. 4. Isidorus his preface, which is extant in Crab, and the MS. of your pubUc library, where he is called Isidorus Mercator, forPec- cator. Whereof see the Roman corrections of Gratian", and Baronius in Martyrologio Romano'^. 5. The fifty canons of the apostles, as they are in your Benett copy. 6. The Decretal epistles of the popes from Clemens to Melchiades, inclusive, as in order they lie in the former part of the first tome of the Decretal epistles, set out by the authority of Sixtus V. at Rome% as also in your two manuscripts. 7. The discourse De Primitiva Ecclesia: and Edictum D. Constantini imperatoris, (which is the lewd donation fathered upon Constantine) extant in Crab, immediately before the Nicene council. 8. The Nicene council, with a preface prefixed, in your copy of the pub lic library, as I remember. The acts of the Nicene council are more largely set down, than in the printed copy of Isidore. I pray you make a comparison with your Crab, and write unto me what you find. 9. The Canons of councils, from Nicene I, to Hispalense II. as in your Ben ett copy. For in the copy of the public library, all this is wanting. 10. Concilium Romanum sub Silvestro : as in CraV, the counterfeit epistles of Athanasius, and the Egyptian bishops to pope Mark^, &c. with other decretal epistles, from Marcus to Gregory I. in whom Isidorus ended his collection, as himself in his preface signifieth. Yet in the end are further added the epistles of Grego- t Ad ann. 374. sect. 11. ¦: Distinct. 16. cap, 4, << April. 4. e Ann, 1592, fol, ' Pag. 271. E In Cwib, pag. 299. LETTERS. 45 rius Minor, Vitalianus, Martinus, Gregorius III, and Za charias, as they were found in the ancient copies of this col lection. But enough, or rather too much now of Isidorus. Beside these ancient collections there were kept, in later times, greater volumes of the councils, containing both eastern and western councils, old and new, not much unlike the first edition of Crab, set out at Colonna*. Such a one have I seen fairly written, with Sir Robert Cotton, and such a one is that which you inquire of in Sir Thomas Bodley's library*. Such a one also is that of Lorrain, in bibliotheca canonicorum ecclesiae Virdunensis, mentioned by Fronto Ducaeus the Jesuit''. And hither do I refer the great book of the Acts of the councils,'of which Petrus de Aliaco, about the end of his book De reformatione Ecclesias, wisheth care to be had, " Ut magnus codex conciliorum generalium, qui modo rarus est," saith he, " licet sit perutilis et necessarius, a metropolitanis in mag- nis ecclesiis reponeretur." And sure a faithful record of the acts of general councils, would be a matter of great moment. We have long expected them from the Roman press : where the good fathers have been mending them, a longer time than nature requireth for bringing forth an elephant. Anno MDXCI. or about the year MDXCIII. at the farthest, the work was under the press, as appear eth by Baronius'. Jo. Antonius Petramellarius, in his continuation of Onuphrius his book of popes and cardinals, set out anno MDXCIX. signified unto us that the work was printed™. But that it was not yet finished, Baronius after that maketh known unto us". And whether this birth of theirs as yet hath seen the light, I cannot learn. We read in Socrates", that one Sabinus, a Macedonian heretic, gathered together the Acts of the councils. But it seemeth that work is perished ; except that be some >> Ann, 1538, fol. ' ?ag. 34, cap, 1, n, 7. '' Apud Baron, ann, 311, sect, 19, ¦ Ad ann. 360. sect. 17, et ad ann, 431, sect, 112. " Pag, 355. " Ad ann, 787. sect, 9, et ann, 811, sect, 19. " Lib. 1. cap, 5, lib, 2, cap. 11, et 13, lib, 3, cap, 21, 46 LETTERS. abridgment of it, which is extant in the library of the patriarch of Constantinople, and intituled, Sabini monachi epitome omnium synodorum, as it is in the catalogue of Constantinople, set out by Antonius Verderius, "in sup- plemento epitomes Gesnerianae." But what should we talk of worksj which we have no hope to come by ? J. U. LETTERS. 47 LETTER VL A LETTER FROM MR. SAMUEL WARD TO MR. JAMES USSHER. Salutem in Domino plurimam. Good Mr. Ussher, I RECEIVED your large letters, &c. As you were confirmed in your opinion touching the ancient canonical code, by the Parisian, which I sent you ; so I, having long since observed the place of Dionysius Exigu us in his epistle to the bishop of Saling, (which is extant in Casiodorus,) was glad to see you jump with me ; which place I much marvel how it escaped our Parisian, being a far better evidence for the ancient code, than is that of the council of Chalcedon, considering it setteth down ex actly the number of one hundred and sixty-five : that this collection of the council of Nice, and the five provincial, was before the council of Constantinople, (besides your conjecture from the placing of the provincials after that general of Nice, which you make out of Dionysius, and is also in the titles which are in the Greek canons, and in Codex Moguntinus,) methinks that may probably be ga thered out of the sixteenth action of the council of Chal cedon. When after that Constantine the secretary of the consistory had read the sixth canon of the Nicene coun cil out of the canonical code, which was in the custody of .^tius the archdeacon (which'no doubt was the same which is mentioned both in the fourth and eleventh actions) com ing afterwards to allege the canons of the council of Con- 48 LETTERS. stantinople, he beginneth to read thus, " Synodicum primi concilii sub Nectario episcopo ;" and which synodicum, no doubt, was the title of a distinct codex from the other, though it may be both in one volume. It is great pity we have not these acts of the council of Chalcedon in Greek, and more pity we have not those of the first Con- stantinopolitan neither in Greek or Latin. It should seem by Verderius' appendix, that they are to be had in the li braries in Greece. But by this citation, and Maxinianus his subscription in that action, a little after, we may see the Constantinopolitan council's canons were then incorpo rated into the canonical code ; though according to my for mer probable conjecture, non sub eadem numerorum serie. As for the Ephesine canons, howsoever they are neglected, or at least not mentioned by Ferrandus, Dionysius, and Cresconius, (and that in probability, especially the first six, for that they were not touching general orders in church discipline, but in particular for the suppressing of Nesto- rius and the Pelagian heresies, whence Baronius seemeth to acknowledge but six,) yet I doubt not but they were re ceived in the canonical codes, both of the east and west churches. And first I doubt not but they are compre hended in that general ratification of the canons, which is in the first canon of the council of Chalcedon, as may ap pear by Balsamon his scholy upon that canon. Secondly, no doubt but they are contained in Justinian's canonical code, which is confirmed, Novell, pag. 131. where he will have the canons of the four general councils, and such as are by them approved, to be received as imperial laws. Now the six first canons of the Ephesine council are all orderly compiled together, tom. IV. cap. 9. of Peltarus's edition, with a synodal epistle to the emperor Theodosius, prefixed for the confirmation of them. The other two canons are before in the Acts of that council, and also are to be found in Libello Constitu tionum Synodicarum, fathered by Crab upon Cyril chiefly, which he (as it seem eth) faithfully set forth'', which is dismembered in the Ve- ^ Tom. 1. pag. 542, LETTERS, *^ netian and the late Cologne edition ; one member placed one where and another elsewhere, not much unhke their dealing with the ancient canonical code. This book Crab much commendeth as having not seen the acts of the councU of Ephesus, since by Peltarus, and Sylburgius set forth, where most of those things are to be found. Whereas you seem to say, that it is not well known which were the canons of that council, for that the counterfeit Isidore hath diverse from those in TiHus's Greek edition. I doubt not but those and those only which are in TiHus's Greek copies are the right canons of the councils, the other twelve anathematisms being rather to be reputed dogmata than canones, according to Justinian's distinction in the aforesaid 131 Novell, and Kavovag SiaTvirojcFeig nepl rfig KaBoXiKTig Kai opOodo^ov iriarewg, rj opovg irepX rrfg sv- ra^lag, as Gelasius Cyzicoenus, Hb. 2. distinguisheth. And therefore Johannes Windlestin, who set forth codex Moguntinus out of three manuscripts, writeth thus in praefatione Concilii Ephesini : " Hoc concilium in majoribus duobus quibus utimur codicibus non habetur, ex ea forsan ratione, quod solum de fide, nihil de statu et regimine ec- ciesiastico statuisse videtur. Integra quidem acta U- lius non habemus, synodicam vero epistolam, una cum XII. capitulis ex tertio codice huic operi adjungi operae pre- tium fore duximus." But he was deceived, and so were the compilers of his two greater codes, if they thought there were no other canons of that council. But I rather think that the Romanists have no great good-will to that eighth canon, concerning much the liberty of the Church univer sal. As for the mutations which came after the council of Chalcedon, and after Justinian's edict, I doubt not but the times might by diUgence be observed, whether they were by subtraction or addition : the leaving out of the Ephe sine canons ; the altering of the Constantinopolitan ; and the cutting off of the two or three last canons ; also the leaving out of the last canon of the council of Chalcedon, no doubt that was by the Romanists' means, which hence is apparent, in that all these are as yet entire in the Greek VOL, XV. E 50 LETTERS. copies, whereas all these defects are in codice Moguntino. As for the canons of the apostles, they were not only ques tioned in Dionysius his time, but before his time by Ge- lasius*", and after his time, about the year DLXXX. For in a synod at Paris held contra praetextatum Rhothoma- gensum, about that time, king Chilperic sent to the synod, " librum canonum in quo erat quaternio novus annexus, habens canones quasi apostolicos continentes haec: Episco pus in homicidio, adulterio, et perjurio deprehensus, a sa- cerdotio divellatur :" now this is the twenty-fifth canon of the apostles, and yet saith Gregorius Turonensis, " Regi" nihilominus neque Bertichranus Burdegalensis, neque Gre gorius Turonensis, neque alii qui aderant episcopi fidem habere voluerunt, quod false canone uteretur, observantis- simum antiquorum canonum." Whence it is evident that then in the French church, no not the first fifty translated by Dionysius, were received. Some one hundred years after, all the eighty-five canons were confirmed in Trullo, but Cresconius after that doth acknowledge no more than are in codice Moguntino, viz. fifty. Whereas you seem to doubt of the council of Sardica ; surely there may be just cause of the suspicion of forgery. Reasons might be brought on both sides ; I wish I had leisure to scan my doubts. "Concil. Carthag. I. can. 5. et habetur dist. 71. c. primatus," or rather privatus, Mr. B. calleth it " sanctissimum concilium," mentioning one of the canons of that council. Augustine afterward calleth it in question'', acknowledging no other Sardican, but one^ which was heretical. And Patres Aphricani, as you know, writing ad Coelestinum: " Ut aliqui tanquam a tuas sancti tatis latere mittantur, nulla invenimus patrum synodo con- stitutum." I know their distinction of the two Sardicans, but much may be said against it. Sure it is, that it was never holden for general which made the canons. Codex Hadrianaeus, which is inserted into the late Cologne edi tion, out of Henricus Canisius his Liber antiquarum lec- •i Dist, 16, cap. Rom. eccles. = Lib, 5, cap, IS. •¦ Cont. Crescon, lib, 3, cap, 34. et lib. 4, cap. 44, LETTERS. 51 tionum, maketh mention only of sixty bishops which sub scribed to that council. And codex Moguntinus, in the end, numbereth but sixty which subscribed, but after the catalogue of the names, it addeth, " Et subscripserunt omnes episcopi diversarum provinciarum vel civitatum, numero CXXI." Moreover in the preface in codice Ha- drianaeo, before the Sardican canons, there are said to havebeen"XX.regulae, XL. episcoporum :" but in codice Moguntino, in the preface'' there, it is said there " XL. re- gulae XX. episcoporum." And here I am to tell you, that codex Hadrianaeus, and Moguntinus, though in substance they agree, yet in many circumstances they disagree, as, for example, in many particulars in the said prefaces ; also in the distinction of canons, and sometimes in titles : so it should seem also for number of decretal epistles, if that which Eckius saw were the same with that H. Canisius had, for it should seem that Eckius' book had the decrees of fifteen popes, whereas codex Moguntinus hath but thir teen, and not eleven only, as you seem to say out of Pi- thasus. And now since I mention Pithaeus, if his copy of Ferrandus' breviary of the canons were true, there were other canons amongst the Sardican canons than those we have, as may appear in Ferrandus his Breviary" : for the first and thirteenth titles there alleged are not to be found in the canons of Sardica now extant. Another thing also touching Pithaeus : he saith in the preface of Fer randus' Breviary, that that version which is in codice Mo guntino is not that of Dionysius Exiguus ; but I assure you Baronius, Ant. Augustinus, and the recognisers of Gratian in their annotations, and Binius in the late "Co logne edition, take that which is in codice Moguntino to be that of Dionysius Exiguus. You allege Hincmarus Rhemensis in Libro de variis ca- pituUs eccles. I would know whether you have the book, or you have it'' from some others who do allege him. I would ^ Haec praefatio extat in edit, per Crab, pag. 328. ' Num. 92, 93.214, ' From Turrian, vid, epist. Pontif, Arabic, nomo-canonum. e2 52 LETTERS. desire your help for such books as were pertinent to this business. Hincmarus was an exceUent man, and a stout champion against innovations, and all such as prejudged ancient canonical liberties. As for the Decretal epistles, I am of opinion with you, that first they were brewed in Spain, and broached by Riculfus^, and afterward by Otgarius, or Autcarius, as Benedictus Leviticus'' termeth him. And so much doth Hincmarus' insinuate ; alleged " inter testimonia praefixa capitularibus :" and in Fr. Pithaeus his glos sary letter R. and by Baronius''. But in one thing I cannot accord to Fr. Pithaeus in the forenamed place, that Isidorus Mercator was the collector of the decretal epistles from Clement to Gregorius Magnus. It seemeth though, that the decretal epistles began chiefly to be in request about the time that Isidore lived, according to; your account ; for in the fourteenth council of Toledo' there is somewhat which may argue so much. But I do not think that Cresconius followed Isidore his collection, considering it may be doubted whether ever he saw it ; and therefore, though Isidore gathered the decretals to Gregory the Great, as he intimateth in his preface ; yet Cresconius, as it should seem, followed some former. My error in concilio Cellensi was, in that I presupposed, that all the councils mentioned by Ferrandus, (excepting those which are in codice TiUano,) were in Afric : whereas Tela is in Spain, as Antoninus' Itinerarium witnesseth. I have not that edition of Isidore printed by Merlinus, MDXXX. but by those your directions I shall acknow ledge it when I meet with it. I have included here a note, by which you may know how to find the whole codex Moguntinus in Crab's edi tion. I had verily thought you had had it. As for the Acts of the councUs in Greek, which are pro mised to be set out at Rome, and have been a long time, e Another " Collector canon, Caroli M, temporib, in 3 tom, rerum Alaraanni- carum Goldasti." •• Praefat. in 5, lib, capitular. ' Lib, contra Hincman, Laudunens. k Ad ann, 865, .i. 5, ' Can. 11, LETTERS. Oa I do fear me there wiU be juggling in that work. It is much to be lamented that Ant. Augustinus, who had gotten ma nuscript copies out of the chief libraries of Asia, and Eu rope, of the four general councils, and had them almost in a readiness for the press, was prevented in this work by untimely death. I have been at Bennet CoUege, but could not get into the library, the master, who had one of the keys, being from home. I will remember sometime for to look the places out of Burchardus, Distinct. 82. cap. V. as for that other place of your Irish synod alleged ; but of that canon thus writeth Ant. Augustinus : " Post™ concilium Carthaginense III. quaedam fragmenta sunt incerta, quibus praeponitur il lud, quod Gangrensi concilio false Gratianus et posnitentiale Romanum" ascribunt, cujus initium est. Presbyter si forni- catione : concilio Hiberniensi vindicatur in Ubro Ansel- mi Lucensis Romano". Et, ut audio, ita inscribitur a Gregorio presbytero in Polycarpi libro quarto''. Poeni- tentiali Theodori in veteri libro Mich. Thomasu ; et certe illud Hibemiense concilium sub eodem Theodoro Cantua- riensi habitum est." Since the time in which I writ the former part of this letter (which was the beginning of Lent, upon the receipt of yours) I have been occasioned to be going and coming from and to Cambridge, to have some settled place of abode ; being limited in my time for the keeping of my place in our College ; which if I could have enjoyed, I should hardly have removed hither, (where I am now with the bishop of Bath and Wells,) or any where else. But the bishop sending for me, and offering me a competency, in that kind I requested of him, then when I was unprovided, I could not neglect God's providence, and was advised hereunto by my best friends : this unsettled abode of mine was the cause why I finished not this letter so long since begun, and sent it not before this. I have since got Jacob Merlin's edition of Isidore's collection, and before that, at my being in the north, I borrowed out of " Emend. Gratian. lib. 1. dialog. 14. " Tit. 8. cap. 6. De incontinentia clericorum. " Lib, 8, cap. 6, p Lib. 4, titulo. 54 LETTERS. Durham library the manuscript of it, which is all one with Corpus Canonum in Bennet College library ; and in Tri nity College library, newly erected, there is another copy of the same, I got also in the North a fair transcript of the Greek canons, which, as I understand, Erasmus caused to be copied out of an ancient copy which was brought to Basil, at what time the council of Basil was held. This copy Erasmus sent to Cuthbert Tunstall bishop of Dur ham, where it hath been since. Bishop Barnes, who was bishop there since, gave it to his son, and his son to me. It is the same with that which is translated by Gentian Harvett, and which Balsamon commenteth upon. The other day my Lord shewed me a letter which came from one of his chaplains at Windsor, who signified unto him that Sir Henry Savil had an intendment to set out the Greek councils : I fear me, he will hardly get copies. I will inquire further into it, and will further it what lieth in me : Antonius Augustinus had gathered all the acts of the four first general councils, out of all the libraries of Italy, and had purposed to set them forth, as Andreas Schottus reporteth in a funeral oration upon him : nay, he saith further, he had writ a book thus entituled. Concilia Graeea et Latina cum historia, scholiis, et variae lectiones. But surely they will be suppressed for ever. As for the title of Volusianus ad Nicholaum in Collegio corporis Christi, you are to know that Bennet College by his foundation is called Collegium Corporis Christi, not Christ's College ; and the book in that library I have not looked into. But the printed book, which ad verbum is printed out of the manuscript hath Nicholaus I. but falsely I verily think ; for that was Nicholaus II. which is Mr. Fox his opinion, and I think other probable arguments than he hath, might be brought. I have not my books here, and therefore I can say no more of that now. I cannot meet with Turrian de Eucharistia, and there fore cannot relate unto you now, what he thinketh of the au thor of the epistle Ad Caesarium monachum : I remember P. Martyr de Eucharistia, saith that Chrysostom was the author, and that it was written in the time of his second LETTERS. 55 exile, against Appollinarius and others of his sect : and he addeth, that in the Hbrary of Florence there was a manu script copy of it ; and that archbishop Cranmer had ano ther. And now, good Mr. Ussher, to shut up these disorderly and scambling lines, I do acknowledge Mr. Alvey's great kindness and kind offer, and could have wished his offer had come first, but God had otherwise disposed ; for I had disposed of myself before I heard of him ; who other wise would have been glad to have been one of your con- sociates. But howsoever I hope, by intercourse of letters, we shall benefit one another in some sort by God's grace. Mr. Eyres is purposed to come to see your college, and to take some trial ; you will find him a sound Christian, an honest and faithful fi'iend, and, I think, in some sort emi nent in one kind, I mean in the Hebrew tongue. He is of a good constitution and able to take pains, and as he is able so is willing. In a word such an one as I think you shall have much comfort, and so you shaU of Mr. Pearson too, if he also eome among you. Thus in haste I am glad to omit many things : I must send the concordance of co dex Moguntinus with Crab's edition of the councils, from London, for I forgot it at Greenwich. The Lord keep you, prosper your studies, bless your endeavours, and give his grace to conduct us in those ways which lead to hap piness. Your ever loving friend in the Lord, SAMUEL WARD. Eman, Coll. July 6th, 1608. I could not have leisure to revise my letter. Pardon my loose and negligent writing. DiUgentius mihi considerantl quo tempore prima ca nonum coUectio facta esset, duplex occurrit ratio quae me in hanc sententiam traxit, ut existimem primum et an- tiquissimum Homo-canonicum ex Nicaenis, Ancyranis, 56 LETTERS. Neocaesariensibus, Gangrensihus, Antiochenis, Laodice- nis canonibus, compositum, inter annos CCCLXIV. et CCCLXXXI. (1) post Laodicenum, et ante Constantino- poUtanum primum in unum corpus coactum fuisse. Prior fundata est in verbis Dionysii in epistola ad Stephanum Salonitanum, qui, cum secutus sit antiquum Graecum homo-canonicum, perspicue docet supradictos canones numerorum serie continuatos oUm fuisse CLXV. Con- stantinopolitanos vero canones nova serie et seorsim nu merates. Quorsum enim summam coUigeret canonum praecedentium, priusquam recitet ConstantinopoEtanos, eosdemque serie de novo inchoaret, si in vetusto Graeco codice, quo usus est, hi canones una eademque serie con- tinuati fuissent cum prioribus ? Firmatur adhuc haec ratio conjectura petita ex actione decima sexta conciln Chal- cedonentis : ubi Constantinus Secretarius relegit Nicasnos canones ex codice, [qui proculdubio idem erat cum illo, ex quo leguntur canones decimus sextus et septimus sy nodi Antiochenae, actione undecima, qui coincidunt cum canonibus nonagesimo quinto et nonagesimo sexto tituli codicis, plane juxta seriem numerorum in codice Graeco quo usus est Dionysius] postea cum legit canones Con- stantinopolitanos, sicincipit, " synodicum concilii Constan- tinopolitani." Altera ratio petita est e titulo praefixo ca nonibus Ancyranis et Neocaesariensibus in Gr^cis exem plaribus et codice Moguntino, et aliis Latinis editionibus ; ubi cum coUectores primi dicant praspositos fuisse in hoc codice canones Nicaenos propter authoritatem Oecume- nicae synodi, manifestum est nondum secundam Oecume- nicam synodum habitam fuisse. Si enim canones Con- stantinopolitani jam extitissent, cum facta esset haec prima collectio, una cum Nicaenis priorem locum obtinuissent, cum illud concilium pro Oecumenico etiam habitum. Haec subjeci, ut tibi ansam ministrarem amplius in haec inqui rendi; ut hffic, quae tamdiu in tenebris delituerunt, tan dem in apertam lucem proferantur. Vale, amicissime Usher, et D. Alveium, virum multis nominibus reveren- dum, meo nomine saluta. Welliae Calendas Augusti, MDCVIII. LETTERS. 57 VERSIO QU^ HABETUR IN CODICE MOGUNTINO, ET QU^ DICITUR FUISSE DIONYSII EXIGUI, Tp';i;"A INSERTA EST EDI- TIONI COLON lENSI P. CRAB, MDLI., EAMQUE FACILE HOC INDICULO SUBJECTO ITA DIGNOSCAS. IN EDITIONE CRABBENSI, HMC SUNT CODICIS MOGUNTINI, In canonibus apostolorum vetus editio. IN GR.JECIS CONCILIIS. In Nicaena, Ancyrana, Neocaesariensi, Antiochena, Lao- dicena, Chalcedonensi, editio prior in titulis, et canoni bus. In Gangrensi, editio secunda in titulis, prima in cano nibus. In concilio Constantinopolitano primo, editio secunda in titulis et canonibus. Concilii Ephesini nulli canones, sed, eorum vice, epistola synodalis concilii Ephesini ad Nestorium, una cum sym- bolo, et duodecim anathematismis Cyrilli, quae omnia una habentur in editione P. Crab, a pag. 535. ad lin. 12. col. 1. pag. 539. In Latina synodo Sardinensi, editio prior in titulis, et canonibus. ConciUi Carthaginiensis canones sunt triginta tres qui iidem sunt cum triginta tribus primis canonibus, qui sunt in Graeco codice Tiliano. Latine non simul extant in edi tione Crabbensi. Concilium Aphricanum integre extat apud P. Crab, prout est in codice Moguntino, a pag. 500. ad 522. Prooemium Gangrensis, "Dominis honorabilibus," &c. et praefatio synodi Antiochenae, " Sancta et pacata syno dus," &c. extant iisdem verbis in codice Moguntino. 58 LETTERS. Subscriptiones non multum variant in Nicaena, An cyrana, Neocaesariensi, Gangrensi, ConstantinopoUtana prima. Magis in Antiochena. NuUae in codice Moguntino in Ephesina, Laodicena. Subscriptiones concilii Chalcedonensis, qua tres integras paginas occupant in codice Moguntino, non extant in edi tione Crabbensi. Subscriptiones concilii Sardicensis in codice Moguntino et Crabbensi non variant numero, sed lectiones variae et ordo varius. Crab enim alphabeticum sequitur ordinem, non sic codex Moguntinus. Haec de conciliorum canonibus. CATALOGUS ROMANORUM PONTIFICUM, QUORUM DECRETA IN CODICE MOGUNTINO HABENTUR. 1. Siricius, cap. 15. 2. Innocentius I. cap. 57. 3. Zosimus, cap. 4. 4. Bonifacius I. cap. 4. 5. Coelesti- nus I. cap. 22. 6. Leo I. cap. 49. 7. Hilarius, cap. 7. 8. Simplicius, cap. 2. 9. Felix*, cap. 3. 10. Gelasius I. cap. 28. 11. Anastasius II. cap. 8. 12. Symmachus, cap. 5. item 8. 13. Hormisda, cap. 4. 14. Gregorius II. cap. 17. Summa, decreta 229. Concordantia horum decretorum prout extant in codice Moguntino cum editione concilii Petri Crab, tribus tomis Colonnae, anno MDLI. in gratiam eorum penes quos non sit iste codex. " Interseritur in ipso codice, non tamen in catalogo praefixo. LETTERS. 59 1. Decreta Siricii in codice Moguntino 15. — apud Crab, pag. 415. ubi tituli fere respondent codici Mogun tino. 2. Innocentii 57. quae sic Concordes cum editione Crab bensi : Decreta 8. apud Crabbensem, epistola prima ad De- centium Eugubinum episcopum, a pag. 452. ad 455. 1 3. secunda'' epistola ad Victricium Rothomagensem, a pag. 455. ad 457. col. 2. 7. tertia ad Exuperium Tholo- sanum, a pag. 457. ad 459. 5. quarta ad Fcelicem Nu- cerianum episcopum. Horum Summa 32. 33. epistola quinta. 34. sexta. 35. septima. 36. octa- va. 37. nona. 38. decima. 39. decima tertia. 40. un decima. 41. decima quarta. 42. decima quinta. 43. decima sexta. 44. decima septima. 45. 46. 47. deci ma octava. 48. decima nona. 49. vigesima. 50. vi- gesima prima. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56, 57. vigesima se cunda, " ergo si ita est," &c. Plura decreta Innocentii I. non extant in codice Mo guntino. 3. Zosimi decreta 4. ad verbum habentur apud Crab, p. 417. et 488. 4. Bonifacii etiam decreta 4. ubi rescriptum Honorii habetur pro decreto novo, pag. 490. ad 493, 5. Coelestini, a pag. 523. ad 528. Decreta 13. epistola prima. 6. secunda. 3. tertia. Summa 22. 6. Leonis I. decreta 49. quae cum editione Crabbensi sic in concordiam redigas. Apud Crab, decreta 5. epistola prima, pag. 632. 6. epistola secunda, pag. 632. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. epistola quarta, pag. 632. 14. epistola tertia, pag. 634. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. epistola nonagesima ad Rusticum episcopum Nar- >> 12, Vid, summam, et Gratian, cod, 37. quest, 1, cap. 9, 10, 60 LETTERS. bonensem, a pag. 709. ad 712. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41 . epistola octogesima secunda ad Anas- tasium episcopum Thessalonicensem, a pag. 697. ad 700. 42. 43, 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. epistola septuagesima septi ma, ad Nicetam episcopum Aquileiensem, pag. 691. 49. epistola octogesima quinta, ad episcopos Africanos per Mauritaniam, pag. 702. in codice Moguntino non distin- guitur in plures canones, sed unicus est canon. 7. Hilari decreta apud Crab. 1. pag. 951. sect, quo niam. 2. pag. 952. col. 1. sect, praeterea. 3. pag. 952. col. 2. sect, epistola prima Tarraconensium. 4. pag. 953. col. 1. et 2. epistola secunda Tarraconensium. Videtur mihi codex Moguntinus hie parum accuratus. Nam epistolae Tarraconensium proculdubio non pro de- cretis habendae, sed rescripta Hilari. pag. 954. et 955. col. 1. post medium, apud Crab. Non enim plures epis tolae habentur in codice Moguntino. 8. Simplicii decreta tantum duo ; 1. secunda est epistola apud Crab, 2. tertia, pag. 957. 9. Fcelicis papae III. decreta duo ; 1 . apud Crab, pag. 959. col. 1. Un. a fine 8. "communis dolor," et usque ad finem illius col. 2. 2. Apud Crab. Anastasius diaco nus, &c. ad pag. 961. col. usque ad lineam tertiam. 10. Gelasii decreta 28. apud Crab, a pag, 965.ad 969. col. 2. ad lin. 2. n. Anastasii decreta 8. apud Crab, a pag. 997. ad 999. col. 1. lin. 2. 12. Symmachi papae decreta, sub nomine Symmachi papae extant in codice Moguntino, quae in editione Crabensi dicuntur esse decreta Romanarum synodorum 1. 2. 3. 4. hoc est apud Crab, a pag. 1001. col. 2. ad pag. 1009. col. 1, ad ista : " Finiunt decreta Symmachi pap^." 13. Hormisdae papae decreta 4. apud Crab: 1. pag. 1042. col. 2. " Quo finimus semper," &c. 2. pag. 1043. col. 1. "Deoamabili, ac piissimo imperatori" ad finem epistolae. 3. pag. 1034, col. 1. " gloriosissimo atque clementissimo" ad finem epistolae. 4. pag. 1044. col. 1. " Lectis Ute ris," &c. LETTERS. 61 14. Gregorii junioris decreta 17. extant apud Crab, sub nomine Gregorii III. tomo secundo, a pag., 437. col. 1. circa medium, ad pag. 439. et finem col. 1. :ravTor£ So^a 62 LETTERS. LETTER vn. A LETTER FROM MR. H. BRIGGS TO MR, JAMES USSHER, Salutem in Christo. Good Mr. Ussher, Pardon me, I pray you, that I have not written unto you of late, nor gotten the book, you gave me, printed, (for now I cannot think it yours.) I received your letter the other day, and did the same day twice seek Mr. Rimay, and your books mentioned in the end of your letter ; of all which, Abraham could get none save one catalogue of the last mart, which I have sent you within a book of the shires of England, Ireland and Scotland, which at length I send to Mr. D. Chaloner, to whom I pray you commend me very kindly, with many thanks and excuses for my long deferring my promise. Abraham hath taken all the names of your books, and promiseth to get them for you at the next mart. I was likewise with Mr. Crawshaw (he hath not gotten, nor cannot find Con- fessionem Ambrosianam) of whom I have now received your book again, because he saith it is impossible to get it printed here without the author's name, or without their Index expurgatorius, if any thing in it do sound suspi ciously. He hath not read it over himself, and he is had in some jealousy with some of our bishops, by reason of some points that have fallen from his pen, and his tongue in the pulpit. I will keep your book till you please to send me word what I shall do with it. I think Sir J. Ful- lerton, or Sir J. Hamilton may with one word speaking have it pass without name ; but I am now determined not LETTERS. 63 to mention it to them until you give me some better war rant. Concerning eclipses, you see by your own expe rience, that good purposes may in two years be honestly crossed, and therefore till you send me your Tractate you promised the last year, do not look for much from me, for if another business will excuse, it will serve me too : yet am I not idle in that kind, for Kepler hath troubled all, and erected a new frame for the motions of all the seven upon a new foundation, making scarce any use of any for mer hypotheses ; yet dare I not much blame him, save that he is tedious and obscure ; and at length coming to the point, he hath left out the principal verb, I mean his tables of middle motion, and prosthaphaereseotn ; reserv ing all, as it seemeth, to his Tab. Rudolpheas, setting down only a lame pattern in Mars. But I think I shall scarce with patience expect his next books, unless he speed himself quickly. I pray you salute from me your brother Mr. Lydyat, Mr. Kinge, Mr. Martin, Mr. Bour- chier, Mr. Lee. Macte virtute : Do not cease to help the building of Sion, and the ruinating of Babel ; yet look to your health, "ut diu et valide concutias hostium turres." The Lord ever bless you, and your labours, and all that most worthy society. Farewell. Tuus in Christo, H. BRIGGS. Aug. 1610, Concerning Sir R, Cotton's letter, I must crave pardon at this time, for I am but very lately come home, and full of business, going out of the town again, I think, to-morrow ; and now if perhaps I find him I shall hardly get it copied. But I pray you to what question of sound divinity doth this appertain ? Yet do not think me so censorious, but I can like, you should sometimes descend to toys for your recreation. My opinion is, he that doth most good is the honestest man, whosoever have precedence ; but if harm. 64 LETTERS, the less the better. Pray for us : The Lord ever bless his Church, and us all in particular. Mr, Bedwell is not well, and keepeth altogether at his other living at Totenham. Farewell, Yours ever in the Lord, HENRY BRIGGS. LETTERS. LETTER VIIL a letter from thomas lydyat to mr, james ussher. Mr. Ussher, I received your letter this Friday the 13th of March, for which I thank you : it had been broken open by Chester searchers before it came to me ; but I thank God I have not lost any thing of moment for ought I find as yet. The East Indian fleet is gone about six weeks since ; but I remain at London still, a suiter unto you that the school of Armagh be not disposed of other wise than I have hitherto requested you, until I speak with you in Ireland, or rather here in London, where I shall be glad to see you. The night before I received your letter, Mr. Crashaw acquainted me with a letter from Mr. Cook, wherein he seemed to doubt of divers things in Mr. James his English book, whereof you write; signifying withal that he purposeth to be at London this spring, where I hope to see you all three meet, to the better performing of that business. Mr. Provost told me that he had sent you a minister for Warberies (Mr. 1 have forgot his name, Mr. Provost being now out of town) with my Lord Arch bishop his letters commendatory to my Lord Chancellor ; I think he is come to you ere this time. Printing of books, especially Latin, goeth hard here ; mine is not yet printed : nevertheless, I thank God, mine honourable friends, whom I have acquainted with the matter, shew me still a friendly countenance, with which I rest, comforting myself with that, pro captu lectoris habent sua fata Ubelli. I have sent you the king's book in Latin against Vorstius, yet scant dry from the press ; which Mr. Norton, who hath VOL, XV, F G6 LETTERS, the matter wholly in his own h^ds, swore to me, he would not print, unless he might have money to print it : a suf ficient argument to make me content with my Manuscript lying still ujiprinted, unless he equivocated : but see how the world is changed ; time was when the best book- printers and sellers would have been glad to be behold ing to the meanest book-makers. Now Mr, Norton, not long since the meanest of many book-printers and sellers, so talks and deals, as if he would make the noble king James, I may well say the best book-maker of this his own, or any kingdom under the sun, be glad to be beholding to him : any marvel therefore, if he think to make such a one as I am, his vassal : but I had rather betake myself to another occupation ; therefore again I request you that my possibility be not frustrate for the school of Armagh. Thus hoping to see you in London ere long, with my very hearty thanks unto you, and commendations to Mr. D. Chaloner, Mr. Richardson, and all the residue of our good friends with you, I commit you to God's gracious preser vation. Yours as his own, THOMAS LYDYAT. Inner Temple, August 22, 1611, LETTERS. 67 LETTER IX, a letter from mr, james ussher to mr. thomas lydyat. Good Mr. Lydyat, Howsoever I intended not to have written unto you, before I had first heard from you, (which I long since expected) yet having the opportunity of this bearer offered, I could not pretermit that occasion of saluting you, and making known that you are not out of remembrance with your friends here, for in truth that was the special cause of my writing at this time : you will not believe how I long to be informed from you of the state of things there, both of our own private, and of our respublica literaria in general. Now I pray you be not slack in sa tisfying my desire ; and let me hear, among other things, how matters go with Mr. Casaubon, and how he is em ployed. If hereafter you shall have occasion to enter into conference with him, learn whether he can bring any Ught to the clearing of the Albigenses and Waldenses, from those imputations wherewith they are charged by their adversaries. Ludovicus Camerarius reporteth, that many of their writings in the ancient Occitanical language {Langue d" Oc) were to be seen in Joseph Scaliger's li brary. Poplinier in the twenty-eighth book of his His tory, to prove that their religion little differed from ours, allegeth the acts of a disputation between the bishop of Pammiers, and Arnoltot, minister of Lombres, written in a language savouring much of the Catalan tongue : yea, sundry persons, saith he, have assured me that they have seen the articles of their faith engraved in certain old ta bles, which are yet to be seen in Alby, in all things con- F 2 68 letters. formable to those of the Protestants. At my last being in London Mr, Fountayn, the minister of the French church, (dwelling in the Blackfriars,) told me, that in his time there was found a confession of the Albigenses, which being exhi bited to a synod of the reformed churches in France, was by them approved as orthodox. He promised me to write to the ministers of Paris for the copy of the articles of that confession. I pray you put him in mind of it: and get from Mr. Casaubon, and him, what information you can in those particulars ; for you know how greatly they make for my purpose. You remember that Dr. Chaloner wished you to deal for some minister to come hither for St. Warburgh's : I would wilHngly understand what you have done therein ; if Mr. Ayre be about London, you may do well to ac quaint him with it, and try whether he can find in his heart once again to visit poor Ireland. Dr. Chaloner hath writ ten to Mr. Provost to this purpose : You may do us a very great pleasure, if you can help us to a faithful minister to undertake that charge ; and letters commendatory from the Archbishop of Canterbury. I would willingly hear what is done with Mr. Justice Sibthorp's book, the preface whereof I sent over by you. If Mr. Briggs cannot get it printed, I pray you let it be safely sent unto me again, and that with as convenient speed as may be. If it will pass there, entreat Mr. Crashaw for my sake to take some pains in perusing the same, and altering therein what he thinketh fit, for that hath the author wholly referred to his discretion. If you can come any where to the sight of Sanders, De schismate Anglicano write me out what he noteth concerning Ireland, in the year MDXLII. Sir Robert Cotton promised me the copy of certain letters, which concerned the consecrating of the bishops of Dub lin, by the Archbishop of Canterbury, (they are at the end of his great manuscript book of the Pope's epistles.) I pray you call to him for it, and likewise entreat Mr. Camden to send me the copy of those letters which he allegeth to that purpose in his Hibernia', of the last edition. I wiU " Pag, 765, letters. 69 trouble you no more at this time, but expect to hear from you after so long silence ; in the mean time, committing you and your labours to God's good blessing, and Wishing unto you, as unto Mine own self JAMES USSHER. September 9, ICll. letters. LETTER X. A LETTER FROM MR, JAMES USSHER TO MR. THOMAS LYDYAT AT LONDON. I RECEIVED your letter of the 22d of August, together with the books specified therein, for which I give you great thanks. And as you have not been unmindful of my businesses, so have not I been altogether of yours. I have dealt since with my uncle, the primate, both for the annual stipend in the proportion of land lying about the school ; and do find him constant in his promise : where by I resolve you may well make account of your fifty pounds per annum, at the least. His register hath been very forward in furthering the matter, and will take care that the utmost benefit be made of the land to your be hoof. I have caused him to write unto you of the state thereof, for your better information. Make, I pray you, as convenient haste unto us as you can ; and in the mean time, let us hear, once more at least, of your affairs, and send unto me in your next letter, what forwardness Jus tice Sibthorp's book is (as you have signified, delivered unto a stationer in the Church-yard) and whether Mr. Crashaw hath taken any pains in run ning it over. And at your coming, forget not to bring for me a Bible in octavo of the new translation, weU bound, for my ordinary use, together with Mr. James's and Mr. Cook's books you wrote me of I would hear also wil lingly, whether you have proceeded further with Mr. Web, and what hope we may conceive of his coming. Because you met not with himself, and we had no certainty from you to pitch upon, Dr. Chaloner thought good, at Mr. Bernard's departure, to try whether Mr. Storer, a worthy LETTERS. 71 preacher, might be drawn over to the place. We look for answer very speedily, of which we will not fail to cer tify you with the first : for if we speed not this way, the care must lie upon Mr. Provost, or yourself, to see us otherwise provided for; wherein you shall not only do us a great pleasure, but also procure a great blessing to this whole city. I pray you remember me in all kindness to Mr. Provost, and the rest of our friends there : but espe cially remember me to God in your prayers ; to whose good blessing I commend you and your labours. Oaorarog JAC. USSERIUS. October 4th, 1611, LETTERS. LETTER XI, a letter from mr, james ussher to dr. ch.iloner, Dear Sir, I KNOW you greatly wonder at my long silence, and much blame my negligence in that behalf. But the truth is, your letters sent so long since by Mr, Cubbich, came not unto mine hands before she 26th of March; neither could I have full time to solicit my Lord of Can terbury in those businesses, before the 5th of April. What then, after two or three hours serious conference had with me, he resolved upon, you may understand by his letters written to my lord chancellor, and to the visi tors. Divers defects he observed in our statutes, as in that of the election of fellows, though an order be taken therein for others to have a voice in that business, yet it is said " Electio sit penes magistrum," which he said was absurd. He observed that there was no order taken that the scholars should come into the chapel, Clericaliter vestiti; and took great exception against the statute for the ordering of common-placing, which he affirmed to be flat puritanical. The statutes had been sufficiently con firmed, if the visitors there had subscribed unto them, without whose consent they could not afterwards have been altered by the provost and fellows, who (as the arch bishop, our ChanceUor, saith) have by the charter of foundation power to make statutes, but not to alter them after they be made. Your project for the general was weU liked by the archbishop, but he excepted against it in divers particulars. We should not look so much, he said, for a great number, as to give some competency of maintenance unto those whom we did entertain. That letters. 73 bachelors of art should have no more allowance, than those that came newly into the house, he misliked : and for masters of art, if every year there be a new commence ment of twenty of them, according to your project, then, said he, the twenty whom you would have to stay in the house, to be ready to answer the church livings, and schools abroad, must of force be dismissed at every year's end, to give place unto the new supply: therefore would he have a competent number of fellows, who might have a more settled abode in the college, and read lectures by turns, counting it a great inconvenience that there should be but about six fellows constantly resident in the house, and they so taken up with lectures, that they can have no time for themselves to grow up in fur ther learning : and you must look, saith he, to have some eminent men among you which may be deeply grounded in all manner of knowledge, and not content yourself with sending out a number of such as are but su perficial. Likewise for the proportion of accates, set down by you, he said it was in vain to look, that there should be in times to come the same prices of them, which are at this present, or have been heretofore : and there fore if we would build upon any certainty, we should take care that all our payments should not be brought in money, but a certain reservation should be made for pro visions. When my lord chancellor hath imparted unto you, how far my Lord of Canterbury hath proceeded, what you see remaineth fit to be further solicited, signify unto me by the first that cometh from thence, that I may move my Lord of Canterbury therein : and I pray you withal send me a note of the most general and gross de fects or abuses in our church of Ireland, with the means whereby they may be redressed, if easily they may be redressed; for in such matters I have good hope that my Lord of Canterbury may be wrought withal to do us good. But I pray you be not too forward to have statutes sent you from hence. Dictum sapienti. According to your direction I dealt with Mr. Cook to come over unto St. Warburgh's, and now that Mr. HiU is 74 LETTERS, placed there, I know not what to do or say. You write unto me of an aUowance of thirty pounds which he might have in the College ; let me know upon what consideration it shall be, for he would understand what his employment shaU be, before he resolve to leave his own country. The provost hath sent me a biU for twenty pounds to discharge my credit with the stationers, for the books which Mr. Martin brought over: you may do well to have a care that the English popish .books be kept in a place by them selves, and not placed among the rest in the library, for they may prove dangerous. Purchase hath done nothing yet for the reUgions of divers churches ; having hitherto written not a word more in that intended work of his than you see printed. Speed's chronicle is at three pounds ten shiUings price. Sir Henry Savil's Chrysostom, in eight volumes, at nine pounds, which prices are too great to deal withal, unless I might put them upon Sir James Carrol's score, as you would have me put Pradus upon Ezekiel, which is now discharged by Mr. Temple. About the end of May I purpose, God willing, to see you. I am now earnestly attending the press, and as much of my book as is at this present printed, I send unto you, toge ther with two small treatises lately published here, of some importance, which also I would have you deliver unto my lord chancellor, if he hath not already seen them. That against Paulus V. is supposed to be written by Marta : and one thing therein I think special worthy of observation, what the intendment may be of those great sums of money, which the pope is said there daily to lay up. The parsonage of Trim, for as much as I can learn here by the common lawyers, is like to fall to the king's presentation : and otherwise, I suppose. Sir James Carrol hath lost his turn, if he have not presented within the compass of his six months. Mr. Briggs would willingly hear from you, what scholars you entertain of his sending over. Mr. Sherwood has written to the provost for one Increase Nowel, of the age of nineteen years, of good sufficiency in learning, and religious ; he looketh to have your furtherance also in his admitting. MiS Hildersham LETTERS, to remembereth himself unto you. To-morrow the Prince Palatine, and Lady Elizabeth remove to Greenwich, on Tuesday from thence to Rochester, and the next day take shipping homev/ard. But I have no leisure to write unto you any news; and therefore reserving the relation of them unto others, and remembering my heartiest commen dations to Mrs. Chaloner, and all the rest of my good friends, I leave you all unto the blessed protection of our good God, and rest always, Yours in all Christian affection, JAMES USSHER. London, April 9, 1613. V6 LETTERS, LETTER XII. A LETTER FROM MR. SAMUEL WARD TO MR. JAMES USSHER. Salutem. Good Mr. Ussher, I AM given to understand by Mr. Bour- chier, that the edition of the Councils specified in the new catalogue, as set forth by the authority of Paulus Quintus, hath the Greek councils in Greek. I would know whether the acts of the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth coun cils were set forth in Graeco-Latine, as the first tome is, which I have seen at Oxford ; also what other remarkable differences you observe between these and former editions. If there be any other books of note which you meet withal amongst the new, I pray you in the next letter let me have the names. Yesterday I went to Benedict col lege library ; where we found Claudius Seisellius contra Waldenses, not perfect. Thus with my best wishes I commend you and your studies to the protection of the Highest. Your loving friend, SAMUEL WARD. Sydney Coll. May 12, 1613. LETTERS. 77 LETTER XIIL a letter from dr. james ussher, to william camden. Worthy Sir, This gentleman, Mr. John Brereton, a kinsman of mine, having occasion to repair unto the court, hath earnestly entreated me to bring him acquainted with yourself. He is an ancient scholar, descended of a good house, and one that hath carried himself honestly in the whole course of his life. I know your disposition to be such, that men of his quality without any great suit may find easy access unto you; which gentleness and sweet nature is none of the least ornaments wherewith God hath endued you ; yet, I pray, let him understand that he is somewhat the more welcome unto you, because he hath been recommended from one, (who I dare say it) doth as much love and honour you, as any in your own country whatsoever. And, if I might presume to be so troublesome unto you, I would request you to send back with him some animadversions upon my treatise, De Christianarum ecclesiarum successione et statu : together with any thing that may give further illustration to the things there set down, or the history of Wiccliffe's followers ; whereof I am to intreat in the next part. Nothing would more please me, than to be informed by my friends where I have done amiss : for of mine adversaries I am assured I shall hear of it with reproachful outcries. Yet, by God's mercy, I trust even they shall find me so ingenuous, that where I can be justly reproved, there will I be ready to acknowledge and amend mine error. I know it will be accounted a great disgrace unto the work, that forbearing 78 LETTERS. (as much as might be) mine own stile, I have set down the words of mine authors in that barbarous kind of speech, which in their age was esteemed very elegant. But I could not help it : my lord of Canterbury would have it so ; that by that means all occasion of quarrelling might be taken from the adversary. And in very truth, when the matter is merely historical, and the dispute of that nature where I have no right to use mine own in vention, but simply to produce what I find delivered by them that went before me (as in this argument it fell out to be my case) I do not see how the matter would be better carried otherwise ; and herein I am right of Vel- serus his judgment : " Nffi ego tam delicatus nunquam fui, ut ut de caetero ab aliqua orationis munditianon abhorreo, ut scriptores historiae vetustos, incomptos et horridos, adde etiam barbaros, politis aliis nuperis, qui cum a verbis discessum ad res ventum est, priores illos sequi necesse habent, postposuerim ; frequentibus nimirum exemplis doctus, id praesentissimo veritatis periculo fieri." I have been as carefull as possibly I could, in viewing the places of authors by me alleged, and, as much as might be, would trust no man's eyes but mine own. Yet in some Manuscripts, which were to be had only beyond seas, I have been forced to give credit unto others: and by that means, in one place of my book, a great error hath been committed. I cited^ two testimonies out of Hincmarus Rhemensis, upon the credit of Goldastus (as you may see there noted) thinking verily that he had seen the MS. copy. But since I have found, that he foUowed lUyricus in Catologo testium veritatis ; and so in the latter testi mony'' took those to be the word of Hincmarus, which are indeed the words of lUyricus himself, continuing the narration of his author. Wherein, though I have freed mine own credit in declaring whence I had my allegation ; and the mistake was such that the most vigilant writer that is might have been deceived in : yet I doubt not but I shaU have Gretser come upon me with open mouth, and » Works, vol. 2. pag. 41, 42. ^ Ibid. pag. 42. LETTERS. 79 charge me with notorious falsification, if I do not prevent him (as I hope I shall) by amending the fault myself. You told me once, that you had seen somewhere epistles tc the monks of Glastonbury, attributed to St. Patrick : which if by any means you could help me unto, it might be an inducement unto me to publish, Magno Patricio adscripta opuscula ; for I have been somewhat curious in gathering together treatises, whether truly or falsely fa thered upon him. You see how bold I make with you : but I know you will accept any thing in good worth from Your entire and hearty fi:iend, JAMES USSHER. From my house in Dublin, This 28thof April, 1614. 80 LETTERS. LETTER XIV. A LETTER FROM MR. ALEXANDER COOK TO MR. JAMES USSHER. Good Sir, I read in the Mariale, that " Deus* in curia sua ccelesti habet tres cancellarios ; primus est, ad quem spectat dare Uteras simplicis justitiae, et iste est Michael arch-angelus, &c. secundus cancellarius, ad quem spectat dare Uteras mixtas, scilicet justitiae et misericordiae, est B. Petrus apostolus, qui in palatio Dei est janitor consti- tutus, ubi sunt duae portas, viz. porta justitiae et miseri cordiae. Nam per portam justitiae ingrediuntur illi qui salvantur ex operibus justitiae ; per portam vero miseri cordiae ingrediuntur illi qui salvantur ex sola Dei miseri cordia et gratia sine operibus. Et istam differentiam tan- git apostolus ad Rom. cap. IV. dicens : Ei autem qui operatur, merces non imputatur secundum gratiam, sed secundum debitum : ei vero qui non operatur, credenti autem in eum qui justificat impium, reputatur fides ejus ad justitiam, &c. Ideo Petrus pingitur cum duabus cla- vibus, quia cum una aperit portam justitiae, illis viz. qui dicere possunt cum Psalmo CVII. Aperite mihi portas justitiffi, et ingressus in eas confitebor Domino, &c. Cum alia vero aperit portam gratiae et misericordiffi viz. illis quibus dicitur : Gratia*" servati estis per fidem, hoc non » Bernardinus de Busto in Marcul, part, 12, ser, 2, De coronatione Mariae, lit. 5. ¦¦ Ephes. cap. 2. LETTERS. 81 ex vobis, Dei enim donum est, et non ex operibus, ne quis glorietur. Tertius cancellarius est ille, ad quem spectat dare Uteras purae gratiae, et misericordiae, et hoc officium habet B. virgo," &c. I pray, if your leisure serve, and opportunity too, let me know, if you have read of like divinity to that of the two gates, and of St. Peter's two keys, in any other paper. And besides I would gladly know, whether you have not seen these words in the title page of Arius Montanus his interlineal Bible, printed by Plantin, anno MDLXXXIV. viz. Accesserunt et huic editioni libri Graece scripti, quos ecclesia Orthodoxa Hebraeorum canonum sequuta, inter Apocryphos recenset. For if my memory deceive me not, I have seen them there : and yet a friend of mine hath that Bible bearing the same date, wherein they are not ; and I have not opportunity to see more copies. I verily think the papists have reprinted the first page, whereby it comes to pass that in some they are, and in some they are not. I would be glad to see the other part of the Succession of the Church, which you promise in that you have set out already. And if I can hear when good occasion brings you to London, I will make hard shift but I will meet you there. The bearer hereof, Mr. Foxcroft, is an honest gentleman, and one of my brother's neighbours; by him you may send to us at your pleasure. My brother commends himself very kindly to you : and so with remembrance of mine own love unto you, I commend you, and your labours to God's gracious blessing. Your unfeigned Well-wisher, ALEXANDER COOK. Do not you think that Mr. Casaubon, pages 305, 306. VOL. XV. G 82 LETTERS. mistook Baronius his opinion of Damascen ? for my part I do not believe his censure touched Damascen De imagi nibus. Leedes in Yorkshire, July 2nd. 1614. LETTERS. 83 LETTER XV. FROM MR. SAMUEL WARD TO MR, JAMES USSHER. Salutem in Christo. Good Mr. Ussher, I UNDERSTOOD by a paper enclosed in a letter to Mr. Winch, that you were desirous of some in formation hence in sundry particulars therein mentioned. And first for the place alleged out of Joachim Abbas, in Mr. Perkins his problem, there is a little mistake ; for it is cited page 2. whereas it should have been part. 2. pag. 119. facie 2. in the edition which was Ann. Dom. MDXXVII. There is in the allegation a word or two differing ; but in the place mentioned you shall find somewhat more to that purpose. For that which is written touching Rabanus in the preface of Guilielmus Malmesburiensis in abbreviatione Amularii, it is verbatim the same with that which you have in your book alleged out of the MS, in Collegio Om nium Animarum Oxoniae. As for the words which M. Plesseis allegeth out of Claudius Seisellius contra Waldenses, in commendation of the said Waldenses, I have not exactly perused the book : but thus much I find fol. 9. " Nonnihil etiam ad horum Waldensium confirmandam tolerandamque sectam confert, quod praeter haec (quae contra fidem religionemque nostram assumunt) in reliquis ferme puriorem quam caeteri Christi ani vitam agunt. Non enim, nisi coacti, jurant, raroque nomen Dei in vanum proferunt, promissaque sua bona fide g2 84 LETTERS. implent, et in paupertate pars maxima degentes apostoH cam vitam doctrinamque servare se solos protestantur." Touching the history of the earls of Tholouse, I have transcribed some part of that which concerneth the Wal denses, and will finish the rest, and send it you ere long. It chiefly consisteth in a narration of Simon Mountiffort his attempt warranted by the great council of Lateran, for the suppressing of the hereticks, and their abettors, chiefly Raymundus Earl of Tholouse. But I wiU in some sort satisfy your request shortly, by sending you the tran script. I doubt not but they which set forth the council of Chalcedon, for evxerai writ sv^erai. Thus with my best wishes, and kindest salutations, and willingness to help you here in what I can out of our Hbra- ries, I commit you to the protection of the Highest. In haste. Your very loving Friend, SAM. WARD. Sidney College, July 28, 1614. We have lost (and so hath the whole Church) a great loss by Mr. Casaubon's untimely decease. LETTERS. LETTER XVI. FROM MR. SAMUEL WARD TO MR. JAMES USSHER, THEN IN LONDON. Salutem. Good Mr. Ussher, I AM sorry I had not opportunity to see you before my departure out of the city. I pray you in form me what the specialties are, which are omitted in Mr. Mason's book. I would only know the heads. I would know of you, whether you have seen, or heard of the se cond tome of councils, Graeco-Latine set out at Rome. I hear it is alleged by Fronto Ducaeus. Or whether you can remember out of the reading of catalogues or Manu scripts, whether the Acts of the council of Chalcedon be extant in any library in Europe, Graece. I have read of the Acts of the first concilium Arelatense, set forth by P. Pi- thasus, but could never come by them : I would know whe ther they be extant in the late Paris edition of Hilary, or no, MDCV, I had no leisure when I was with you, to in quire how Mr. Mason doth warrant the vocation, and or dination of the ministers of the reformed churches in fo reign parts. Thus with my best wishes, and kindest sa lutations, I commend yourself, and all your labours to God's blessing, and the good of his Church; and so rest, Your assured loving Friend, SAMUEL WARD. I did hear that the king had given six hundred pounds 86 LETTERS. per annum to the College in Ireland, and that now the whole revenue of the same is eleven hundred pounds per annum, which I am glad to hear of. Sidney College, April 14, 1615. LETTERS, LETTER XVII. FROM MR. WILLIAM EYRES TO MR. JAMES USSHER. Clarissuano viro ac amico suo singulari Domino Jacobo Ussher, sacrw theologia; professor! eximio, Guilielmus Eyre salutem in Christo, Cum multis aUis nominibus, clarissime, charissimeque Ussher, me tibi obaeratum esse lubens agnoscam, tum pos- tremum, pro libro quem superiore anno abs te dono acce pi; intelligo historicam tuam explicationem gravissimae questionis, cujus tertiam partem multi (sat scio) avide de- siderant et expectant : certe omnes qui orthodoxam fidem amplexantur, pro utiUssimo hoc opere tuo multum tibi de bent, Beasti me hoc munere, ut non dicam quanti aesti- mo : atque praeterea animum addidisti ad antiquitatis stu dia intermissa, in quibus infantiam meam agnosco, et jam hospes plane fui in iisdem praesertim per quinquennium, quo hie Colestriae assiduis ad populum concionibus disten- tus fuerim, Gratulor tibi purpuram, si verus sit rumor : nobis etiam ipsis vitam et valetudinem tuam gratulari debeo, propter tristem rumorem de morte tua apud nos sparsum : cura, quaeso, valetudinem ; ac si me audies, minus frequens eris post reditum tuum in Angliam, quem expectamus, quam olim fueris Londini concionibus, ne ardor tuus citius quam cupimus languescat, Tu quidem ipsissimos antiquitatis fontes et reconditos thesauros apperuisti, et limatissirno judicio veritatem coUegisti ; quam scioli nonnulli ex Foxii Martyrologio aliisque id genus rivuUs tantum derivatum a te affirmare non dubitarunt. Hoc forsan in proxima operis editione, vel saltem in ejusdem proxima parte, praeoccu- LETTERS, pare juvabit: sed in tanta re minime opus esse consilio existimo. Atque de his rebus, si nobis tam liceat esse for- tunatis, in Anglia reverentiam vestram alloqui speramus. Aliquoties Domino nostro archiepiscopo Cantuariensi Academiffi Vestrae cancellario, officium meum praesentare soleo : quod si aliquid sit vobis negotii apud ilium, quod mea tenuitas expedire possit, nee mihi nee meis parcere decrevi, sed facile intelligo paratissimos vos habere Lon dini, quorum opera uti liceat : hoc tantum, amoris et officii mei erga vos et collegium vestrum gratia, calamo incidebat, Deus optimus maximus, clementissimus in Christo Pater, vos omnes omni benedictionum genere cumulatissimos red- dat, per Dominum nostrum Jesum. Amen. GUIL. EYRE. Colcestrijfi 2&. di« Aprilis, 1615, LETTERS. 89 LETTER XVIII. FROM MR, H, BRIGGS, PROFESSOR OF ASTRONOMY AT GRESHAM COLLEGE, TO MR. JAMES USSHER, Salutem in Christo. Good Sir, Mr. Carew showed me your letter written to Mr. Smith of Lincolns Inn, (whose death, I perceive, even we which did not know him, have much cause to lament) wherein you mention me, and a letter which formerly you writ to me, which never came to my hands. But to the point which here you repeat, I cannot tell how to meet with that part of Theon his commentary upon Ptolomaeus his magna constructio ; I have it in Greek, but there I have no hope to find that thing either explained or re corded. There is in Christman upon Alfraganus which I suppose you have, in his treatise De connexione annorum, page 306. and in other places mention of " aera Philippica" which Kabasilla maketh the same with " a morte Alexan dri ;" but the Arabs ignorantly confound Philip and Alex ander, and Alexander and Nicanor, making " aeram Alex- andrinam Seleucidarum" twelve years and three hundred and twenty-five days later than "aera Philippica." But I am out of mine element, and I do not doubt but you have these things better known than I can : but I shall most gladly do any thing I can according to your direction. Concerning eclipses, which my cousin Midgeley putteth me in mind of from you (for whom I heartily thank you, and for all your other kindnesses) Mulerus in his Fris. Tabulis hath mightily discouraged me, for he hath weakened the Pru- 90 LETTERS. tenics, my foundation, in three places of his book at least, yet hath not helped it, or showed the fault in particular, that others might seek remedy. I have seriously set upon it ; but these difficulties, and other straitness of time, and weight of other easier and more proper business, have, sore against my will, forced me to lay it aside as yet, till I can find better leisure, and then I hope stUl to do some what. Napper, Lord of Markinston, hath set my head and hands a work, with his new and admirable logarithms. I hope to see him this summer if it please God, fori never saw book which pleased me better, or made me more won der. I purpose to discourse with them concerning eclip ses, for what is there which we may not hope for at his hands. Paulus Middleb. is at pawn as I hear, and the other book likewise ; but I have, so much as I can in Mr. Crawshaw's absence, had care to have them kept. I pray you, if you see Mr. Widdows, commend me heartily to him. We have here long expected him. Thus desiring the Almighty ever to bless and prosper you, referring all news, &c. to Mr. Egerton's report, I take my leave from Gresham house this lOth of March, 1615. Yours ever to his power in the Lord, H. BRIGGS. Let me I pray put you in mind depres. numero et officio. I set it here that you may the more seriously remember it. LETTERS. 91 LETTER XIX. FROM THE MOST REV. TOBIAS MATHEWS, ARCHBISHOP OF YORK, TO JAMES USSHER. Salutem in Christo Jesu. Having oftentimes wished occasion to write unto you, since the publication of that your learned work, De con- tinua successione et statu Christianarum ecclesiarum, God now at last, though long first, sending so good op portunity, by this honest religious gentleman, Mr. Pe regrine Towthby, I can do no less than both wish and ad vise you to proceed in the full performance of the same, by addition of the third part, according to the project of your whole design : which last shall, I hope, be no less useful and beneficial to all Christian and truly catholic professors, than the former have been, and are like to be for ever. And as I doubt not but you may contain the rest within the compass of no more, at the most, than the volume already extant doth comprehend ; so do I verily persuade myself you shall therein glorify God, and edify his people exceedingly. EspeciaUy if you will but inter lace, or adjoin, some rather judicious, than large or co pious discourse of this punctual question, or objection, " Quid de salute patrum, et majorum nostrum, &c. sit statuendum ;" whereof albeit some other good authors have well and worthily delivered their opinions, yet you shall be sure not to lose your farther labour, endeavour, and determination therein. For assure yourself that in the controversy de Ecclesia, our adversaries do not de mur themselves, nor entangle others (though needlessly, yet sophistically) in any one quiddity, or cavil, more than in 92 LETTERS. that particular before expressed. Were I not throughly persuaded both of your sufficiency, and integrity, I would not intimate thus much unto you : all which, notwithstand ing, I refer to your own pious and discreet consideration ; yet hoping withal to hear from you ere long, by whom you now receive those from me ; which I trust you will reserve to yourself alone, howsoever you entertain, or dislike, yea or deliberate of the motion. The while and ever I right heartily commend you, and your godly studies to the spe cial good blessings of the Almighty. Yours very loving in the Lord, TOBIAS EBORACENSIS. Bishopthorpe, May 12, 1616. LETTERS, 93 LETTER XX. FROM MR. THOMAS GATTAKER TO MR. JAMES USSHER, Health in Christ, Good Sir, Presuming on your kindness showed me at your being in these parts, together with your ingenuous disposition otherwise, I am bold to request a further courtesy from you. I have in mine hands a manuscript, containing, among others, certain treatises, which I cannot yet learn to have been printed ; to wit, Guilielmi de sancto amore de pericuUs novissimorum temporum ; also divers things of Robert Grosthed, sometime of Lincoln, viz. an oration delivered in writing to the pope at Lions; (whereof I find a piece recorded in Catalogus testium ;) Excerpta quaedam ex ejusdem epistolis; Tractatus de oculo morali, de modo confitendi; et sermones quidam. Some of these, peradventure, if they be not abroad al ready, might not be unworthy to see the Hght: nor should I be unwilling, if they should he so esteemed, to bend my poor and weak endeavours that way ; but of that oration to the pope, certain lines, not many, are pared away in my copy, though so as the sense of them may be guessed and gathered from the context : and in the other treatises there are many faults, that cannot easily or pos sibly, some of them, without help of other copies, be amended. My desire is to understand from you, whether at your being here in England (for I wot weU how careful you were to make inquiry after such monuments) you 94 letters, lighted upon any of these, and where, or in whose bauds they were. There are besides in this manuscript a com mentary on Augustine De civitate Dei; and a postil on Ecclesiastes, with a treatise De modo praedicandi; but these two imperfect, of nameless authors : besides Guili- elm. Paris, De prebendis, et Malachias Minorith de vene- no spirituali : which two last I understand to have been published. I should be glad to hear, as many others de sire, that the second part of your painful and profitable task, so generally applauded, and no less greedily expect ed, were preparing, or fully prepared for the press, and much more to see it abroad. Works of that kind are in these times very seasonable ; nor deserve any better of God's Church than those that deal soundly, and learnedly in them, among whom yourself, as not a few acknowledge, may well claim a prime place : your labours both in that kind, and others, the Lord bless, and continue unto you Hfe and strength, to be long an instrument to his glory, and of his Church's good. Yours assured in the Lord, THOMAS GATTAKER, Roderith, Martii 18, 1616, letters. 95 LETTER XXI. from MR. ROBERT USSHER TO DOCTOR JAMES USSHER. Ornatissimo viro, amantissimoque suo sobrino Jacobo Usserio, dignissimo nostra academia theologise professor!, salutem. Duas fulgentes et insignes stellas, vir ornatissime, fir- mamento nostrae ecclesiae nuper decessisse, cimmeriae, et horrendae, quibus miserrima haec insula, etin occasum ver- gens Academia involvuntur, tenebrae promulgant : ad quas dispellendas te fulgenti scientiarum splendore omnibus praelucentem, admirabili morum candore corruscantem, summoque honore coronatum, Deus elegit, ut studiorum tuorum habenas, ad emolumentum nostrae Ecclesiae Baby- lonica superstitione infestae, ad salutem patris mentis cae- citate laborantis, et ad dignitatem Academiae in praecipitem ruinam irruentis, expedite flectas. Miseris succurrere te didicisse, ter nobilis ilia pugna nunquam satis laudanda nuper cum superba, et septemplici Romanaa gentis hydra, sub Christi vexUlo inita, pro maturata state, ac illibata despectae Ecclesis castitate, palam testatur : quam pene oblivio, vel potius cruenta tyrrannorum rabies etiam spiran- tem absorbuit, et sepelivit, Perpetuas hujus peregrinati- ones, duraque exiUa, terribilem Draconis faciem fugientis, ab ultima antiquitate, qua in cunabulis fuerat, ad nostra fere tempora vivis coloribus depinxisti. Nunc igitur fa- cessant nostris finibus mendaces Romanae synagogae Cre- tenses, quos olim abyssus turmatim evomuit, facessant, (inquam) non sine hac novitate, qua perfidam, et obscoe- nam Babyloniae meretricem salutent: ferreo tui ingenii ariete Antichristiani regni fundamenta concussa, vel potius 96 LETTERS. convulsa nova restauratione indigere ; veram Christi spon sam demum tenebrosis umbris extulisse caput : teque istius gravissimae controversiae et contentionis palmam reportasse. Hinc omnes, quos liber tuus, varia sane lectione et doctri na perpolitus, vel saltem ejus fama a limine salutavit, uno ore te solum in hac materia ApolHnis lyram attigisse, con- stanter perhibent : hoc idem insignis tua fama astipulatur, quae nuUam Europae partem insalutatam reliquit, idem in- dustriae et ingenii tui foetus, quem omnes avide arripiunt, summoque prosequuntur amore. Filium equidem paren tis causa omnes fovent, parentem fiUi gratia omnes admi- rantur, sic cunctos te cum admiratione amare, cunctos- que te cum amore admirari facile percipias. Immorta- les Deo grates, propterea quod te per devios antiquorum campos vagantem in penetralia sus veritatis deduxit, be- nignitatis suae thesauros tibi apperuit, teque patris inco- lumem, patriamque tibi restituit : tibique, amantissime so- brine, justissimas habeo gratias, quas me tibi diu debuisse immensa tua erga me gratia comprobat; cujus tuum cubi- culum mihi creditum minimam non esse tesseram ingenue fateor. Sed ne chartacea Iieec salutatio te gravissimorum negotiorum mole obrutum, molestia afficiat, vela contra- ham; hoc interim abs te flagitarem, et hoc audacis mes symbolum, pariterque amoris, serena humanitatis fronte accipias. Tus salutis, et felicitatis studiosissimus, ROB. USSERIUS, Ad obscoenam meretricem septem insidentem raontibus, de tuo libro, carmen. Frigore cur pavido trepidas Babylonica Thais 1 Cur trepidEB praebes turpia terga fugae! Fluctibus Hesperiis emergit lucida Stella, Qua veniente fugis, quaque oriente cadis. Purpuream lucem vital caligo profunda, Dagon sic arcara concidit ante Dei, LETTERS. 97 Hac radiante patent cunctis genitura nefanda, Gorgoneusque tuus partus, uterque parens, Mordaces anni, violataque foedera lecti, Et stygio soboles carcere spurca fluens. Fulgenti nuper cecidit tua gloria coelo. Nunc eadem terris in loca nigra cadit. VOL, XV. H ^S LETTERS. LETTER XXII. 3IR. THOMAS LYDYAT TO DR, JAMES USSHER, Reverend and dear Dr, Ussher, I RECEIVED your letter dated the sixth of October. I am glad you received my book and I thank you for yours, which I received from Mr. Harris of Han- weU. The former part of your letter, being, in regard of the matter, a tragi-comedy, drove me almost into an extacy ; and afterwards brought to my mind that of the Psalmist, " Many are the troubles of the righteous : but God deli- vereth him out of them all." And therefore it is good to hold fast by him continuaUy, and to desire his direction and furtherance in all our affairs and businesses : so al though the beginning and middle thereof be never so troublesome, we shall not need to doubt, but that the end will be happy and prosperous. The astronomical calculation of years in Ptolemy's ca nons, if it be genuine, is doubtless an excellent monument of antiquity, which I would gladly see : but yet it is not likely to make me to let go mine account of Darius his years, firmly proved out of Thucydides, and Ctesias, com pared with Diodorus. I have endeavoured to satisfy you, touching the objections you make in your letter : as also to satisfy your desire touching the distances of Taurus, mentioned by Albategnius ; and touching the quantity of the solar and lunar year, and disposition of the Grecian ca lendar, in Geminus. LETTERS. 99 Thus with remembrance of my dutifiil commendations to yourself, Mr. Provost Temple, D. Richardson and the rest of our friends with you, I commit you, your studies, and affairs, to the blessing of God, to the behoof of your country, and the whole Church of Christ. Yours to be commanded in All Christian duties, THOMAS LYDYAT. Alkerton, Monday, March 18. 1616. EXCERPTA EX ALBATEGNIO. De epocharum distantiis, I find no such express mention in Albategnius, as that in the end of the fifteenth of Alfraganus, of Christman's edition : neither are his thirty- second nor his four hundred and twenty-first set down in the same method. The three hundred and twenty- fifth (the title whereof, in the indice capitum before the book, is. In scientia Tarec Arabum et Romano rum ac Persarum atque Alkept alternatim,) hath three parts. In the first part are set down their four sorts of months, thus. " Mensium quidem Arabum nomina sunt, Ahiiu- hartan, Saphar, &c. Romanorum autem mensium no mina secundum Grscorum et Egyptiorum principia sunt, Elul, Tisrin primus, Tisrin secundus, &c. Nomina vero mensium Persarum, sunt Efrosometh, Asdiasdmed, &c. Mensium autem Alkept nomina sunt Tut, Bena, Accur," &c. h2 100 LETTERS. Whereunto is subjoined a clause directly concerning your purpose, and that truly set down, amidst the mani fold errors about the dates of times, both in the same chapter, and in the whole book (as appeareth by comparing the same with other places) in these words: "Principium autem a quo Romani incipiunt et Alkept, est a morte Alex andri Macedonis secundum Grscos. iEgyptii vero et Romani ab Chahilcarnain annis numerant, et sunt inter eos duodecim anni Egyptiaci." These are the very words, and without doubt Albategnius his meaning, confirmed by the dates of the most principal of his observations, and the plain truth. In the second part, he showeth how to find the beginnings of all those four sorts of years and months. Where the Arabian and Alhegera radix, is, 5d. the Roman from Alhircarnain% is Od. Id. the Persian from Jesdag, 3d. the Alkept also from Alhircarnain, 5d. Whereby is signified that the first year of Dhilcarnain be gan in the four hundred and thirty-sixth year of Nabona- zar, and twelfth a morte Alexandri, almost ending, to wit, on the 8d}'. of Tisrin posterioris, or November follow ing. In the third, he showeth how to find one sort of year by another, and it hath eight sections. Sect. 1. "Si autem Romanorum Taric per Taric Alhe gera scire volueris, ita ut diem Romani mensis in quo fue ris, et quot adHilcarnaim anni prsterierint, deprehendas, Arabicam radicem servatam accipe, eique 317. dies su- " jEra Dbilkarnain est duplex apud Albategnium, viz. 1. Romanorum, id est, Syro-Graecorum et Constantinopolitana, a die primo Septembris feria septima, anni periodi Juliana; 4402. [ab initio Octobris alii Arabes exteri Antiochiam deducunt ; ut a primo Tisri Hebrcei in sua sera con- tractuum, et Jason Cyrenseus in secundo libro Maccab, vel primo die Oc tobris (ejusdem anni) feria secunda ut apud Alfraganum, et alios Arabas, et Hebrseos in suo .] 2. Alkept, Alexandrinorum, id est a 29. die Augusti feria — anni periodi Julianae 4403. ut sera Chaldseorum apud Ptolemseum, et Laodicenorum apud Scalig. pag. 405, ^ Potius 9. Nam Thoth Nabonass. 436. incurrit in Novem. 9. feria quinta. Thoth vero 437. (quod hie potius int^lligendum, quia a 12. Alexandri desinente sit supputatio) a Nov. fer. sexta. LETTERS, 101 peradde, (viz. as many as are from the first of Elul'' or September, to the fifteenth of Themmur* or Tamuz, that is, July,) quibus 933. superadde annos, coUectumque erunt anni ad Hilcarnaim." This confirms the former account ; for being granted that there are nine hun dred and forty-five years inter Philippum sive mortem Alexandri, et Hegiram, take away twelve, there remain nine hundred and thirty-three between Dhilcarnaim and Hegira. Sect. 2, " Cum autem Taric Alkept per Romanorum Taric nosse desideras, annos ad Hilcarnaim cum anno in quo fueris (etsi Elul per unum tantum diem ingressus sit) accipe ; post hoc, ex eo 387. dies abjice," &c. — " et col- lecto tres semper dies adjunge, et hi sunt dies in quibus Alkepin, Elul Grscos ingressu, qus est Tut, prsce- dunt," &c. — " per hoc autem Taric stellarum ex ca nonibus Theum abstrahuntur postquam his annis 15. anni superadduntur, eo quod sit a morte Alexandri Ma cedonis." Sect. 3. " Romanorum autem Taric per Taric Alkept si nosse qusris, annos Alkept (qui sunt anni ad ^Hilcarnaim Egyptiaci perfecti") sume, ex quibus 387. abjice," &c. • — " Et si perfectis annis Alkept 15. annos, ut ab Alex andri Macedonis morte, sic adhibueris. Dehinc coUecto* 535. annos ^Egyptiacos adjunxeris, inde coUectum an nos libri Ptolemsi, quibus stellarum motus abstrahun tur, efficies, quod est a principio regni Nabuchodo- nosor primi usque ad annum in quo fueris, ex annis Al kept." Here the last number 535. being by a manifest error of the first figure, put for 435, from the beginning of Nabonasar's reign, to the Alkept year, (in which sra Dhilcarnaim, from the Syro-Grsco-Roman month, Elul Gorpisus and September began) doth as manifestly dis cover the error of 15, twice put for 11, and conse- ' Quod caput est serie DhiLk. '¦' Quod caput est Hegirae. ' Id est aequabiles. ' Complete. 102 LETTERS. quently of« 387. days for' 283. years, from anno Nabona- zari 436. to 719. as being the remains of 11. taken away from 294. a morte Alexandri in the four hundred and twenty-fifth year, ad regnum iEgyptiacum Augusti in the same seven hundred and nineteenth. And so Hkewise in the forty-second chapter : " Quod si conjunctionem vel prsventionem per Taric Alkept scire volueris, annos ad Hilcarnaim cum anno in quo fueris, licet una dies tan tum Elul prsterierat, assume; post hoc, ex annis 587. projice, residuique quartam accipe, quodque fuerit, erit dies quartarum. — Et ei quod ex diebus quartarum prove- nerit, tres dies, in quibus mensis Tut ab Alkept prius quam a Grscis habetur, superis junge, eique quod ex die- bus post hoc exierit, ab Elul initio," &c. For annis 587. read annis 283. Now that sra Dhilcarnaim is placed by Albategnius in the beginning of the Syro-Roman Elul or September, falling into the four hundred and thirty-sixth Egyptian year from Nabonazra's reign, and the twelfth from Alex ander's death ending, is further proved, as I said, by the dates of the most and principal of his observations. As, namely, in the twenty-seventh chapter where he writeth, he observed the autumnal squinoctium at Arac, " anno 1 149. ex annisE Adilcanari, qui sunt post mortem Alex andri 1206. annorum, ante solis ortum 19. die mensis Elul ex Romanorum mensibus, quod est 8. die mensis Pachon ex mensibus Alkept"^ per quatuor horas et dimidiam et quartam fere, — post Ptolemsi observationem (before set down, ejusdem squinoctii, anno tertio regni Antonini, quod fuit anno 463. a morte Alexandri, nona die mensis Athyr, ex mensibus ^Egyptiorum, una bora fere post ortum solis in Alexandria) 743. annis ^Egyptiacis et 178. diebus, et medietate et quarta unius diei minus duabus « 287. Crus. pag, 35, f 1205, anni die 297, in anno aequabili, (ineunte vero ann, 1206.) qui hie in- telligitur, ut ex coUatione eclipsis luminaris liquet, s Vagis non fixis, I' For though it did well agree with the observation of the sequinoctial, yet it cannot with the first lunar eclipse, which was in the same year 1194, LETTERS. 103 quintis unius hors fere vice 185. dierum et unius medie- tatis, ac quarts diei partis," &c. And in the thirtieth chapter : " Medietas autem eclypsis prims (Solaris,) secundum quod visu deprehendimus, fuit anno 1202. ad Hilcarnaim, qui est annus 1214, ab Alex andri morte, post dimidium uns octavs diei mensis Ab, in Arracta civitate, per spatium unius hors temporalis, sole existente inter 19. et 14. gradus Leonis." The second eclipse noted " 23d. mens. Huni (sive secundi) anno 1205. Dhilc. 1554. ab Alexandri morte, hath both numbers corrupted, and, as it appears, to be corrected 1204. and 1215. " Eclypsis lunaris prima fuit anno 1194. ad Hilcar naim, quod est anno 1206. a morte Alexandri die 53. mensis Temur (Tamuz). Invenimusque dimidium eclyp sis in Arracta post hujus diei dimidium, 8. horis, et modicum plus ex horis squalibus : sole existente inter 4. et 5. gradus Leonis," &c. " Eclypsis secunda anno 1212. ad Hilcarnaim, quod est anno 1224. a morte Alexandri apparuit, fuitque me dietas eclypsis in Antiochia post medium secunds diei mensis Ab — horis et tertia parte hors fere — sole existen te inter 14. et 36. gradus Leonis." Note that in all these- places and allegations (contrary to myself upon Scaliger's allegations in the eighteenth — my tract, before myself had seen Albategnius) he understand eth as well the year a morte Alexandri, as Dhilcarnaim, Syro-Grsco-Roman, not Alkept\ Only in the fifty-first chapter he connecteth the year 1191. ad Hilcarnaim with the year 1627. regni Nabuchodonosor, without any agreement of day or month : the observation of the site of the fixed stars in the zodiac, as namely. Cor Leonis, not requiring either. And the year 1191. Dhilk. falls into the year 1627. Nabon. ending the fifteenth of Canna posterioris or January, thereof, to the farther confirmation of the premises. For thence it foUows ' Id est Jul. esse diem 365. (sed Alkept non differt a Juliano) quod etiam probatur ex ara Philippica in historia mescella. 104 LETTERS. that the DhUk. likewise fell into the 436. year Nab. ending in Tisrin posteriore or November : there being one whole Alkept'' year swallowed up in twelve hun dred years Dhilk'. within little more than two months. And on the other side, in the fifty-second chapter, con futing the author's Motus coeli ante et retro, he hath these words, " Dixerunt etiam quod perfectio anterioris motus fuit ante regnum Augusti 128. iEgyptiacos, et sunt 666. anni Alexandri Macedonis." Where restoring the true reading 166. anni a morte Alexandri Macedonis, and adding the 128. and 166. together, you have Ptolemy's 294. years a morte Alexandri ad regnum Augusti. And so I hope I have fully satisfied your desire touching the distances of the Taric's in Albategnius, especially annorum Alkept ab Alexandri morte ad regnum Augusti, and of Taric annorum Dhilcarnaim between and from them both. I have set down the translator's very words, together with his own and the printer's faults, not doubting but you will easily discern them. YOUR OBJECTIONS AGAINST MINE ACCOUNT. Dariu« hath thirty-six years, and Xerxes twenty-one, which makes me somewhat to stagger at your beginning of Artaxerxes Longimanus ; not that I doubt of the flight of Themistocles to Artaxerxes/3 after the death of his fa ther Xerxes, (for of that I am weU resolved) but that I would be satisfied betterr for the time of that flight. Which that it feU on the second year of the seventy-seventh Olympiad can be no more proved out of Diodorus Si- culus^, than that he died^ the same year, which we know to be untrue. Diodorus doth as Baronius in his Annals ; where he findeth a note of the time expressed in his au thors, he foUoweth that direction; where? he findeth none, he placeth things at adventures. Cimon's victory at " .ffigyptiac. ' Id est Julian. LETTERS. 105 Eurymedon, is by Eusebius set at the fourth year)? of the seventy-ninth Olympiad. Diodorus placeth not it only, but also Cimon's conquest of Eione^, and the taking of Scyrus by the Athenians (even as he found them related together by Thucydides"" without any note of time,) at the third year of the seventy-seventh Olympiad. But of this I desire to have further satisfaction from yourself. MINE ANSWER. a This is not much material, unless there be recorded some astronomical observation, made in any year of his above thirty-one, by some that lived at the same time. /3 If yon grant that, you must needs grant, that Artax erxes began to reign before the third year of the seven ty-seventh Olympiad, if any credit be to be given either to Thucydides or Diodorus touching the time of Themis- tocles's flight. y What better satisfaction can you desire than that Thucydides places it anon after the execution of Pausa- nias, indefinitely before Cimon's double victory, and Dio dorus definitely in the second year of the seventy-seventh Olympiad, and next before the same famous victory : and no other author that you do name, or I ween can name, places it later. S I prove not that point out of Diodorus but out of Thucydides, convincing Diodorus of error, touching the same, by his own confession. £ Yet Diodorus might with very good historical order and reason, to the story of his flight", (as falling out in Greece being the last memorable matter concerning him) adjoin the story of his death, the time whereof was uncer tain, as falling out in the Persian dominions". "' Lib. I. pag. 65. edit, Grseco-Lat. " Why of the flight, rather than of the Ostracism, which he principally relates in that place. " Thucydides tamen in Attica clam humatum dicit : referente Attico apud Cic, in Brut. 108 LETTERS, Z, This general imputation raised, as may seem, upon occasion of Pontacus his note upon Themistocles's death, in Eusebius's Chronicle, is of no force to the shaking of this particular truth, touching Themistocles's flight, in the second year of the seventy-seventh Olympiad at the latest, otherwise sufficiently confirmed. Yourself allege no au thor that sets it later-: and you may see that in Eusebius's Chronicle it is set two years sooner, to wit, in the fourth year of the seventy-sixth Olympiad, at what time perhaps his trouble began, upon the arraignment and examination of PausaniasP, by a manifest and notorious error of two Olympiads, acknowledged also by Scaliger. 7} It is no more to be doubted that Cimon got that most famous Persian victory in the year that Demotion was ar- chon at Athens, and that the same was the third year of the seventy-seventh Olympiad, than that Pompey took Jerusalem, when Cicero was consul at Rome. Q It is true that he there mentioneth them both, in his entrance to the history of that year ; but so as he plainly signifieth they were obtained before that year, by what he writeth: Cimon, the Athenian admiral, after* he had taken Eione and Scyrus, enterprizing greater matters, returned home ; and encreasing his navy, and making sufficient preparation, he set forwards towards Caria, &c. according to my interpretation of the same year's story, out of Diodorus ; which also you saw. Where also it is worth the noting, that he concludes the same story with these express words : " So these things were done this year." And for your further satisfaction, note, that there being two fountains, as it were, of the history and chrono logy of the Persian monarchy: the one Herodotus, out of the Greek records, as I guessed, out of Hecatsus Milesius his copy, having by some error of the writer 1^ for ifl in Darius Hystaspis years ; the other Ctesias, Artax erxes Mnemon's physician, out of the Persian's own re- r But that was anno 40. olymp. 75. according to Diodorus. 1 But he saith that he was made Admiral Archonte Demotiono, though Plu tarch doth make him admiral before that. LETTERS. 107 cords : howsoever your author Ptolemy being an .Egyp tian-Greek may follow Herodotus's account ; yet Ctesias adding to his account of years, a further advertisement of Darius his dying within a few days, after the Marathonian discomfiture, deserveth more credit. And his meaning is more fully explained by those words of Scaliger's Geor gian collections, in his forty-third page : " Avrog St Aa- ptiog oiiK evtyKoiv to waOog i^aOv/ilag airoWvrai : And Darius himself not enduring the ignominy died for grief." Mark those words well. Note, that the notes are the bishop's, and not Mr. Lydyat's. 108 LETTERS. LETTER XXIII, DR, JAMES USSHER TO MR, THOMAS LYDYAT, Salutem a salutis fonte D. N. 1. C. Dear Sir, I REMEMBER that somc three or four years since, having occasion, in a public lecture in the college, to speak of the beginning of Daniefs Seventies : I laboured to prove that Artaxerxes Longimanus began his reign to ward the end of the third year of the seventy-seventh Olympiad, First, by the number of years attributed to Darius Hystaspis by Ctesias, viz, thirty-one, not thirty-six. Secondly, by the time of the death of the same Darius, noted not only in him, but also in Georgius Syncellus his collections, (pag, 43. Grsc. Euseb. Scaligeri ; which place I then did cite long before you advertised me thereof:) to be not long after the overthrow received at Marathon, anno secundo Olympiadis septuagesims secunds. Thirdly, by the testimony of Petrus Alexandrinus, (whom Mr. Casaubon, in his exercitations against Baro nius, wrongfully maketh the same with Peter the ancient martyr of Alexandria,) or whosoever was the author of those Fasti, which commonly are called Siculi : wherein the beginning of Artaxerxes is expressly placed at the time above assigned, Fourthly, by the testimony of Thucydides, making LETTERS. 109 Artaxerxes then to reign, M'hen Themistocles fled into Persia. But here I made a doubt of the time of Themistocles his flight: wherein I desired your further resolution. For though I willingly yield to that which I find recorded in Thucydides, that it fell after the execution of Pausanias, and before Cimon's double victory : yet whether that vic tory was gotten in the year that Demotion was archon at Athens, and whether Themistocles his flight fell out the year before that, is not, I take it, so clear, but that we may call it into question. The former I would willingly believe, for the authority of Diodorus Siculus ; upon whose credit only, the referring of Cimon's victory unto that year dependeth. Eusebius, who is the only man I know of, that after him setteth down the time of his victory, placeth it at the fourth year of the seventy-ninth Olympiad : " by a manifest and notorious error of two Olympiads," you say, but prove by no other authority but the confes sion of Scaliger; which with me, and I think with you too, is of very little moment. Diodorus is the only man we can find that saith, this victory was gotten in the year that Demotion was archon at Athens, Publieola and Rufus consuls at Rome. But doth not he also say 'Etti tovtwv 'AOrfvaloi (TTpaTriyov iXo/xtvot Kifxwva, &c. and that he be ing thus made admiral took Eione, and Scyrus ? The words methinks sound thus plainly, that this year he was made admiral, and then conquered those places ; which, being untrue, derogates much from the credit of his re port, that saith, Cimon got his famous victory at Eury medon the same year. You say, the former is reported by him by way of recapitulation : but the words IttI tov- Ttx>v seem to me very clear, that Diodorus meant plainly, that Cimon this year was made admiral ; and the words following as plainly import that, having thus undertaken the admiralty, he took Eione and Scyrus. I never read that part of your written chronicle, where in this matter is handled : if there be any thing in it, that may farther clear the point, I pray you communicate it unto me, for I do desire, as much as you do, to strengthen 110 LETTERS. the authority of Diodorus, in placing Cimon's victory at the prstorship of Demotion, or which is all one, at the third year of the seventy-seventh Olympiad. But this being admitted, for Diodorus his sake, how can you prove, either out of him, or any other author, that Themistocles his flight into Persia fell out just the year before that ? for this is the main matter that concerneth the cause : you say, that you " prove not that point out of Diodorus, but out of Thucydides." For Diodorus, I think you do well, seeing he expresseth not any way that this flight feU upon that year, more than his ostracism or his death, but heapeth promiscuously all that apper tained to his fall. Thucydides saith no more than what I have delivered, and do willingly acknowledge : that his flight happened after the execution of Pausanias, and be fore Cimon's victory. Other proof you produce none for the settling thereof at the second year of the seventy- seventh Olympiad, but what is contained in these words of your letter " yourself allegeth no author that sets it later : and you may see that in Eusebius's chronicle it is set two years sooner, viz. in the fourth year of the seventy-sixth Olympiad. At what time perhaps his trouble began, upon the arraignment and examination of Pausanias." Whereunto I thus answer : it was far from my meaning to allege any author that setteth the flight of Themisto cles later than the second year of the seventy-seventh Olympiad. But I would know of you, what reason might be alleged, why it should not be placed forwarder ? The arraignment and execution of Pausanias is referred by Diodorus Siculus to the fourth year of the seventy-fifth Olympiad : the flight of Themistocles by Eusebius to the fourth of the seventy-sixth Olympiad. These two being the sole authors, who express the time of these two acci dents ; why should we without cause reject the testimony of either ? Especially for the strengthening of the asser tion of Eusebius ; which we may thus farther reason. The Peloponnesian war began in that spring, which ended the first year of eighty-seventh Olympiad, as is known. LETTERS. Ill Two years and a half after that, died Pericles^. He began to rule the commonwealth after the death of Aristides ; and continued the government forty years'" ; Aristides de ceased almost four years after Themistocles was expelled from Athens, as .Emilius Probus, or Cornelius Nepos, testified in the life of Aristides. These things being laid together, do show, that the expulsion of Themistocles from Athens fell no later than the beginning of the fourth year of the seventy-sixth Olympiad ; to which time you doubtfully refer the beginning of his troubles : how much sooner soever, my opinion is, that at that time Themisto cles fled unto Persia, as Eusebius noteth, whose testimony I have no reason to discredit, unless I have some better testi mony or reason to oppose against it. The year before that, which is the third of the seventy-sixth Olympiad, I sup pose Artaxerxes Longimanus to have begun his reign : to whom, as yet veuxttI fiatriXivovra, Themistocles fled, as Thucydides sufficiently proveth. Thus the twentieth year of his reign should fall upon the second year of the eighty-first Olympiad: and the four hundred and eighty- seventh year from that, which is the middle of Daniel's last week, should fall toward the end of the fourth year of the two hundred and second Olympiad ; from which I cannot be drawn, as yet, to draw_the passion of our Saviour Christ. If you have any further reason to persuade me to hold my first opinion, which I learned from you, and did once publicly deliver in the schools, upon the reasons laid down in the beginning of this letter, I pray you let me understand thereof, for I am most willing to learn any thing, that may further me in the understanding of Daniel. Concerning JEra, Dbilkarnain, and Taric Alkept, I cannot, in such manner as I would, deliver my mind unto you, until I see the entire work of Albategnius, which I expect from you by this bearer, together with Geminus, according to my request in my former letter : » Witness Thucydides, lib. 2, pag. 121. •^ Witness Pliitarch in Pericle, pag. 155. et 101. 112 LETTERS. which, by reason of the bearer's sudden departure from hence, hath lain by me well nigh a year. In the mean time I commit you, and your godly studies, unto the blessing of the Almighty, resting always Your most assured loving Friend And Brother, JAMES USSHER. Dublin, Jan. 2. 1617. LETTERS. 113 LETTER XXIV. SIR HENRY BOURGCHIER TO DR. JAMES USSHER. Worthy Sir, Were my invention able to find words to express the greatness of my error, I would fill this sheet of paper with phrases apologetical, and reasons of excuse for my long silence ; but when I consider the goodness of your disposition and mine own confidence of the interest I have heretofore had in your love, they diminish despair in me, and persuade strongly to conceive hope of pardon at your hands. I should have been very glad in this time of my absence from thence, to have heard from you, but your greater employments, and the burden of a higher duty that lieth upon you, do speak sufficiently in your behalf. If you can steal any time from your pastoral func tion, to give perfection and life to many of your exquisite labours, there liveth no man who would more rejoice at the news thereof than myself I hear by common fame, that there is somewhat published against you this mart ; but the catalogue is now come over, and proves fame a Har. The archbishop of Spalato his great promised work is in the press here at London, and will come abroad before the end of term. It wiU be as large as BeUarmin's work. Laurentius BeyerUnke, who stiles himself archipresbyter Antuerpiensis, hath begun the fight against the archbi shop. I know not whether you have seen his book or no. There came but a few over. I only saw it, but could not buy it for money. He is much threatened by the Jesuits VOL. XV. ^ 114 letters. in aU countries of Christendom. I doubt not but you have heard of the ambassage of Sir John Bennet to Brux- els to question the archduke in the behalf of the king our master, concerning the late book of Patianus, who neither apprehended the author, nor suppressed the book, until he was solicited by the king's agent, and only interdicted the book, and suffered the author to fly his dominions. On Monday the 13th of AprU, in the king's chamber of presence at the tower in Paris, the marques d'Ancre, a man of no obscure fame, was murdered with a pistol, by the hands of Mons. de Vitri his old professed enemy, whose death will give a great assistance to the much de sired peace in France. A synod of the reformed churches began at Rochel the twenty-eighth of the last month ; wherein will be handled the cause of the princes in the late stirs. Sir John Digby makes preparation for his journey into Spain, to treat of a marriage, which (to give you my opinion) I think is unfeignedly intended on our part, but whether by them or no, the doctors doubt, as the saying is. Sir Walter Raleigh is now at Southampton, and the ships of his fleet follow him daily from hence, and other parts. The action is most distasteful to the Spa niards beyond any that we have undertaken these many years, and hath received strong opposition from the Spa nish ambassador, and some of our own who have sucked in too much Spanish air. We hear that two Scottish earls, Angus and Morton, both of the family of Douglas, have lately withdrawn themselves out of their country, and are gone into France. This place is now grown some what soHtary ; and therefore if my advertisements be somewhat trivial, I hope you will afford them a favourable interpretation. I desire to be esteemed a servant to your love, and will ever be ready (I make profession) to declare myself Your true affectionate Friend, While I am HENRY BOURGCHIER. London, the 31st of May, 1617, LETTERS* 115 LETTER XXV. MR, WILLIAM CRAWSHAW, PREACHER AT THE TEMPLE, TO DR, JAMES USSHER, Salutem in Christo. Sir, These be some of the points I would have conferred with you in. 1. Whereas the oath for the clergy in the council of Trent, it runs thus, " Credo, &c, Sanctam Cath, Ap. Ro manam Ecclesiam," &c. Our men say Luther and others were not perjured : for that Romana was then put in, and not in afore when they took it : I pray show me where any such oath or creed is extant of theirs that hath it not in ? 2. What credit is to be given to the life of St. George extant in Lipomanus, printed at Rome, MDLVIII. trans lated, he saith, out of Metaphrastes ? and what evidence in story you find of Alexandra, an empress, wife to Dio- clesian ? 3. What sound evidence have you of Cyril the monk his Evangelium internum, and whether it is extant more than in Gul. de S. Amore? 4. Who was the author of that hellish libel, De tribus mundi impostoribus, and whether you ever saw it ? 5. What author have you more than Scaliger, that Mysterium in Greek was written within on the forepart of the pope's crown ? And what certainty of proof conceive you to be in that testimony of Scaliger ? 6. What evidence have you, that the fourth book of i2 116 letters. Esdras, refused both by us and the church of Rome, was written before Christ ; if it were, why then is it refused as non-canonical, seeing such plain and pregnant prophecies are in it, and such as no power but divine could foretel, especially that of the twelve Cssars, chap. 11 ? Of these things I pray consider, and when you have leisure, write me what you conceive, that so I may not lose it ; I lent you Josseline de Vitis Archiep. Cant, in Fol. which you said you lent Dr. Mocket and I beUeve it, yet I could never get it ; and now I find my book at Mr- Edwards his shop, near Duke-Lane, and he saith he bought it with Dr. Mocket's library, but I cannot have it. Happily you might by your testimony prevail to get it me, for I charged him not to sell it : I pray think of it as you go that way. Thus longing to see you, and till you send me word what day you will he here, I commend us to God, and am Yours in Uhrist, WILLIAM CRASHAW. letters. 117 LETTER XXVI. MR. THOMAS GATAKER TO DR. JAMES USSHER. Health in Christ. Worthy Sir, I ESTEEM myself much beholden unto you, as for your former love, so for this your late kindness, in vouchsafing me so large a letter, with so full instructions concerning this business, that I was bold to break unto you ; though the same, as by your information appeareth, were wholly superfluous. True it is, that though not fully purposed to do ought therein myself, willing rather to have afforded mine en deavours and furtherance to some others, I supposed that those two treatises, viz. that oration of the bishop's, and that of Wilhelm of St. Amore his might be not un worthy the publishing, had the one been perfect, and the other not yet published, for as for that of Parisiensis de prebendis, I had heard to be already abroad : and Gesner in his Bibliotheca hath Tractatus 2. Argentin. impress. MDVII. de coUatione et pluralitate eccles. beneficiorum, which may seem the same, one of them with this. As it is said to be gemma pretiosior in that manuscript you speak of, so to be auro pret. in mine. But I perceive now by your instructions, that the one is out already, and the other perfect and fit for the press, in the hands of one better furnished and fitter for the per formance of such a work than myself, whom I would 118 LETTERS.; therefore rather incite to send what he hath perfect abroad, than by his perfect copy, having pieced out mine imperfect one, to take his labours out of his hand. I have heard since I wrote to you by Mr. Bill, that Sir Henry Savil is about to publish bishop Grosthead's epistles, out of a manuscript remaining in Merton college library. That treatise De oculo morali I lighted lately on, in another manuscript bound together with Grosthead in Decalog. having this title before it, " Incipit liber De oculo moraU, quem composuit Magister Petrus de Sapiere Lemovi- censis." And I find it cited by Petrus Reginaldeti, a friar, in his Speculum finalis retributionis, under the name of Johannes de Pechano, as the author of it. Nei ther seemeth it, though written honestly, yea wittily and learnedly, as the wit and learning of those times was, to be of the same frame and strain for gravity, that other the works of that bishop are; which also maketh me suspect those sermons, that in my manuscript go under his name, should not be his, having lately at idle times run over some of them. If I meet with your countryman Malachy at any time, I will not be unmindful of your request. And if any good office may be performed by me for you here, either about the impression of your learned and religious labours, (so esteemed and much de sired, not of myself alone, but of many others of greater judgment than myself,) or in any other employment, that my weak abiUty may extend itself unto, I shall be ready and glad upon any occasion to do my best therein. I lighted of late upon an obscure fellow, one Hieronjrmus Dungersheim de Ochsenfart, who in anno MDXIV. pub lished a confutation dedicated to George, then Duke of Saxony, of a confession of the Picards, which whether it be the same with that which Gretser saith Luther set out with his preface, I wot not : the title of it is, Totius quasi Scripturs apologia, and the beginning of it, " In summi Dei maximo nomine et terribiU, Amen. Nos homines in terrs orbe quanquam ad ima subacti," &c. And though it be not entirely inserted by him in his answer, yet so much is picked out of it, and set down in their words, as LETTERS, 119 may show in divers main points their dissent from them, and consent with us. But it is not likely, that this author, though obscure and not worthy the light, hath escaped your curious eye. Gesner seemeth mistaken in him when he saith, " Hieronymus Dungersheim scripsit Apo- logiam sacrs Scripturs Boemorum," for he wrote not it, but against it. But I trouble you, it may be unseason ably, with needless trifles, amidst your more serious affairs, which forbearing therefore to do further at this present, with hearty salutations, and my best prayers unto God, I commend you and your godly labours to his gracious blessing, and rest Your assured Friend and unworthy Fellow-labourer in the Lord, THOMAS GATACRE. Rederith, June 24. 1617, 120 LETTERS, LETTER XXVII. MR. THOMAS LYDYAT TO DB. JAMES USSHEK, Salutations in Christ, Rev. Mr. Ussher, I RECEIVED both your letters ; and as touching your discourse in the latter, about the beginning of Artaxerxes's reign, and Daniel's weeks, and the time of our Lord's passion, &c. depending thereupon, I framed mine answer to your former discourse thereabout, in your letter bearing date, October 6. MDCXV. upon the ground of your opinion, which I gathered out of the words there of: " Darius hath there (in Ptolemy's canons) thirty-six years, and Xerxes twenty-one, which maketh me some what to stagger at your beginning of Artaxerxes." Which words I could not otherwise understand, than that they had drawn Artaxerxes's beginning back again, in your conceit, unto the vulgar station, lower than I had ad vanced it, upon the grounds mentioned in the beginning of your last letter, and that place of Fast. Sicul. which either I had not marked, or else had neglected and for gotten. And to the same purpose seems unto me to tend that you infer in the same letter, upon Cimon's taking Eione and Scyrus, in the beginning of his admiralty, first mentioned by Diodorus Siculus in Demotion's year. Whence it would follow, that the siege of Naxos, and Themistocles's flight at the same time, was later, and the victory at Eurymedon yet later than that. My manu- LETTERS. 121 script chronicle being the third part of my treatise De emendatione temporum after my first project, wherein I have wholly translated those places of Thucydides and Diodorus concerning Themistocles's flight, I did commu nicate unto you ; if I have not much forgotten myself, and if I be not much deceived, you shall find that part of my translation agreeable both to Diodorus his words, and to the truth. Wherefore it made me marvel, that in the latter part of the same letter, you now go about contrari wise, to set Themistocles's flight, according to Eusebius's chronicle, and consequently the beginning of Artaxerxes, according to Thucydides, two or three years higher, at what time I supposed his troubles began, about the ar raignment and examination of Pausanias, and so much the more, that for your purpose you allege Aurelius Probus or Cornelius Nepos, affirming Themistocles to have been expelled Athens, four years before Aristides's death, and the beginning of Pericles's government; which falling out just upon the very same year of my supposal, strongly confirmeth the same ; and so much the more strongly, for that his words seem to have direct reference to those of Thucydides : " Erat enim Themistocles patria pulsus per ostracismum, Argis vitam agens, et per csteram Pelopon- nesum commeans." Whereas therefore Cornelius Nepos his account casts Themistocles's expulsion or exostracism from Athens, right upon that same year, after which time, saith Thucydides, he lived at Argis, and was going up and down about Peloponnesus : needs must his pursuit and flight be supposed a good space after that, upon the execution of Pausanias, whose first plotting of treason and indictment thereupon, whereabout was long and much ado before his execution, seems to have befallen the fourth year of the seventy-fifth Olympiad. Where Diodorus relateth his whole history together, according to his manner. But that, that made me most of all to marvel, was, that by your thus urging Artaxerxfts's begin ning together with Themistocles's flight, two or three years higher than my pitch, you not only utterly discredit 122 LETTERS. your Ptolemy's canons, for giving thirty-six years to Da rius and twenty-one to Xerxes, together with Diodorus and Eusebius, but also all other authors of antiquity that I know, whereof none ascribes less than thirty-one to Darius, and twenty to Xerxes, which hereby, whether upon oversight or otherwise, you enforce yourself to do ; namely subtracting two or three years more from Xerxes, leaving him scarce seventeen, whose authorities and testi monies, together with the other reasons, that I have in place alleged, will, I trust, in the end prevail with you, to move and draw you to assent to the truth which I have delivered, concerning the beginning and ending of Daniel's weeks, and the time of the passion and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Christ, with all thfe dependencies thereupon. For certainly how weak soever I the re storer and publisher thereof am, yet it is strong and will prevail ; and notwithstanding mine obscure estate, in due time, the clouds and mists of errors being dispersed and vanished, it will shine forth as bright as the clear sun at noontide. As touching the books you wrote for, I told this mes senger that I meant to send them, and therefore I ap pointed him to call for them, together with my letter this day. But since I have altered my purpose, not envying you the sight of them, but expecting your coming into England ere long, as of custom, once within three or four years : at which time I shall be glad to show you them, and to confer them together with your Ptolemy's canons. In the mean time if you have any more urgent occasion of desiring to be resolved of any thing in them, do but ac quaint me with your purpose, what you would prove out of them, and I will truly give my best diligence to find what may be found in them for the same : and so save you that labour of seeking, which I suppose you may better bestow otherwise, and so I trust I shall deserve better of you, than if I sent you the books. Thus desir ing your daily prayers, as you have mine, for God's bless ing, to bend our studies to the best ends, and make them LETTERS. 123 ; most profitable to the setting forth of his glory and the good of his Church and of our countries, I take leave of you for this time, resting Yours to be commanded in all Christian duties, THOMAS LYDYAT. Banbury, July 8, 1617. 124 LETTERS. LETTER XXVin. MR. WILLIAM EYRES TO DR, JAMES USSHER. Eximio Doctori Domino Jacobo Usserio Guilielmus Eyre, S. P. D. Pr^stantissime Domine ; Fateor me tibi plus debere quam verbis exprimere possim, etiamsi centies ad te quotannis Uteras darem, idque non solum propter privats benevo- lentis erga me tus fructus uberrimos, sed etiam ob mag- nitudinem tuorum erga nos omnes qui theologis studiosi sumus meritorum. Macte virtute tua, faxitque Christus Optimus Maximus, cujus sub vexillo militamus, ut scripta tua polemica cedant in nominis sui gloriam, et Antichristi interitum, quo de in Sibyllinus memini me legisse, on Xivog avTov oXurai, quod de scriptis doctissimorum vi- rorum quidam interpretantur. Nos hie plerique omnes, ut opinor, preces fundimus, dum vos, sive gubernatores, sive nauts, vel clavum tenetis, vel per foros cursitatis, &c. et navali prslio dimicatis ; preces et lachryms, arma nun quam magis necessaria fuerunt, quam in hac in exulcera- tissima tempestate et omnium pessima morum corruptela. Serenissimus rex noster Jacobus jam denuo collegium illud Chelseiense prope Londinum, theologorum gratia, qui controversiis dent operam, adornare et locupletare ccepit. Matthsus Sutlivius ea in re nullum lapidem im- motum relinquit. Quid fiet nescio. Res agitur per re- gias Uteras ad episcopos apud clerum, et eorum opera apud subditos ditiores, ut opus tandem perficiatur. For san majora adhuc a vobis in Dubliniensi collegio, quam ab letters. 125 illis Chelseiensibus expectare possumus, quamdiu vivit ac viget amicus ille mens, de quo Draxus quidam nostras, in libello nuper edito, " lumen illud Irlandis, et in academia Dubliniensi professor regius, theologus tam TravwTrXtojul- vog ut sive scripta sive disputationem requiras, idoneus est, qui cum tota papistarum natione concertet." Sed quid ego hsc autem nequicquam ingrata revolvo? Me quod attinet, ita nuper, prssertim per integrum annum novissime elapsum et eo plus et secularibus negotiis quo- tidianis, contra genium et voluntatem meam et concionibus ad populum nimis, ut videtur, frequentibus, quasi demer- sus fuerim ut nihil in Hebraicis qusstionibus me posse videar ; atque in quibusdam absque te, quem pure indigi- tare possim Q>D113 n")10, ita hsret aqua, ut ulterius pro- gredi non liceat : fas sit igitur mihi oraculum tuum consu- lere, et limatissimum judicium tuum expiscari. Nolo tamen in hoc tempore diutius te interpellare. Gratulor tibi ex animo et purpuram tuam et costam illam, quam tibi Deus restituit, ^^J3^ Ity cura valetudinem. Gratia Jesu Christi sit cum omnibus vobis. Amen. G. EYRES. Colcestrise 17. die Augusti, 1617. 126 letters. LETTER XXIX. mr. edward w^arren to dr. james ussher. Reverend Sir, That the beast " which was, and is not, and yet is," should be Romanus pontifex, I like your conjecture very well, and the ground seems to me firm, and such as I may tread safely on. And that which you quote out of Dionysius Halicarnasus touching his immunity, brought me to consider better of his office and authority set down by Livy, first book: " Cstera quoque omnia pub lica privataque sacra pontificis scitis subjecit [Numa :] ut esset quo consultum plebs veniret: ne quid divini juris negUgendo patrios ritus peregrinosque asciscendo turba- retur." Which in my conceit is some resemblance of that headship which the latter pontifex now chaUengeth to himself. In the other part I take all to be clear, save only that I stick somewhat at the accommodation of those words, page 10. that " when he cometh, he shall continue but a short space." I heartily thank you, that for my satisfaction you have taken so much pains. The God of Peace be with you. Your poor Friend, EDWARD WARREN. Kilkenny, Novemb, 4. 1617, LETTERS. 1 27 USSERII NOT^. Of Pontifex Maximus see Plutarch, in vita Numse, Ciceronem in orat. pro dome, apud pont. et de aruspic, Resp. Val. Max, lib. cap. Georg. Fabrice observat. lect, Virgil, Mnead. 6, Insolentia et superbia eorum abiit in proverbium. Mere Tinget pavimentum superbo Pontificum potiore ccenis, Herat. Od. 2. 14. Vid. loc. ubi interpres notat prselautas coenas proverbio pontificales appellari solitas. Exemplum hujus coense vide in Macrobio, lib, 2, Saturnal, cap. 9. 128 LETTERS, LETTER XXX. DR. JAMES USSHER, TO MR. THOMAS LYDYAT. Salutem in Christo. As I was now going out of the house, I met with Robert Allen, who told ine he was to go presently for England, and required my letters unto you. I have nothing that upon this sudden I can well write of, but the renewing of my former request for these two books which I wrote for in my two former letters. And therefore according to the form which our canonists use in their court proceedings : " Peto, primo, secundo, et tertio, instanter, instantlus, et instantissime," that you will let me have the use of your Geminus and Albategnius, which shall, God willing, be returned unto you as safely and as speedily as you shall desire, which I hope you will the rather condescend unto, because I have no purpose to see England these many years : the contrary report whereunto, was the chief cause wherefore you deferred the sending of those books by the former messenger. And so nothing doubting, but you will yield at last to my earnest request, I bid you heartily farewell, resting ever Your assured loving Friend And Brother, JAMES USSHER. Scrips! raptim Dominica Adventus Anno Domini 1617. LETTERS. 129 LETTER XXXI. sir henry bourgchier to dr. james ussher. Worthy Sir, Had the opportunity of convenient messen gers concurred with my desires, my letters should have come faster to your hands than they have done ; and what hath been wanting of that respect which absent friends yield one another, I do assure you, hath been supplied by an affectionate desire in me to enjoy your company, together with the remembrance of those many happy hours which I have spent with you. I had once hoped to have seen you this winter, but my necessary occasions in England, with the difficulties of a winter journey, are like to detain me here until the spring ; where, if my service may be useful or advantageous to you, it shall be as abso lutely at your command, as any friend of your's that lives. I doubt not, but you have heard much of the troublesome estate of the Low-country churches, by their diversity of opinions, and what tumults had like to have ensued ; or rather are like to ensue, for the tempest is not yet over blown ; and had not the opposite faction to the Arminian, by them termed vulgarly Gomarians, showed a great deal of temperance and patience, much effusion of Christian blood had followed. I suppose you have seen Sir Dudley Carlton's speech in the last general assembly at the Hague, which is answered by H. Grotius in print : he is a pro fessor in Leyden, very inward with Mouns. Barneveldt, and by name, I think, well known to you : and fourteen of the eighteen cities, which send their deputies to the VOL. XV. K 130 LETTERS. general assembly, have publicly protested against any national or provincial synods, which shall be called. About a fortnight since, the heads and others of the university of Cambridge, were summoned to appear before his Majesty at Newmarket, where, at their coming, they were required to deliver their opinions concerning Mouns. Barneveldt's confession, lately sent over to the king, to which, as I am informed, many of them did subscribe; and principally Dr. Richardson, the king's professor, for which he either hath already, or is in some danger of losing his place. I know not whethei: you have seen the book called Analecta sacra, published the last mart, if you can discover the author I pray you let me know him. I have written to a friend of mine at Paris, to inquire at the printers, where the book was printed of the author. With much difficulty I obtained one of them, which you should have received, bad I not been constrained to bestow it otherwise. Here in England there is little written or published in any kind of learning. In every parish church there are now sums of money collected for Chelsea college, but I see no addition to the work. Our kind friend, Mr. Briggs, hath lately published a supple ment to the most excellent tables of logarithms, which I presume he hath sent you. Suarez's book against the king is now grown common by the late German impres sion; which if you please you may have. The popish writers have sharpened their weapons, being now to strike, with sharp invectives, our archbishop of Spalato, after their wonted manners, and now openly charge him with apostacy and revolt from their religion. He hath not obtained any ecclesiastical promotion, nor, for ought I hear, desireth any ; but rather to end his days in a retired and solitary exile. Since the return of Digby into Spain, there is little known of the progress of our affairs there ; neither of Sir Walter Raleigh, since the return of Captain Bayly from him, if I may give his un worthy running away so honest a name. Sir, both I and my messenger stand upon thorns, as they say, being both presently to begin our journeys ; he for Ireland, I for the LETTERS. 131 west of England, where I mean to spend this festival time ; which I hope shall excuse my rudeness in writing, both for matter and manner. When I come to a place of more leisure, you shall hear from me. In the mean time, let me live in your good opinion, as one who truly loves you, and will ever declare himself Your truly affectionate and Faithful Friend, HENRY BOURGCHIER. London, the 6th of December, 1617- ^^^ LETTERS, LETTER XXXII. MR. WILLIAM EYRES TO DR. JAMES USUHER. Eximio Sacrse Theologise professori, et amico suo singulari. Domino Jacobo Us serio, S. Ramus iste tuus et noster, qui brevi, ut opinor, ad nos in Angliam reversurus est, absque grati animi mei significa tione aliqua, pro singulari tua erga me dementia et benig- nitate, non est dimittendus. Gratnlor vero tibi, charis- sime frater ! felicitatem tuam, qui in regione minus culta, et variis motibus perturbata natus et educatus, nobis hie in florentissimo regno, totique orbi Christiano facem di- vins intelUgentis in rebus maxime necessariis prsbuisti ; ac etiamnum porro, uti speramus, et expectamus, prsbi- turus es. Intelligo doctissimas tuas lucubrationes, tan quam Stellas totidem lucidissimas. Macte virtute ista tua, Christo optimo Maximo duce in omnibus. Nos hie semipagani qui ad stivam religati sumus, rusti- cos in Christians fidei fundamentalibus, et in timore Domini instruimus. Plerique hie fere omnes papismum detestantur. Sit nomen Domini benedictum. Contra papatum quotidie concionamur. Neminem habemus repugnantem : omnes consentientes. Csterum valde multi sunt, qui odio papismi plusquam Vatiniano, ut ita dicam, flagrant, ut solenniorem Dei cul tum nullo modo ferre possint. Hinc omne genus nequitis caput sustoUere taxim occoepit. Multi qui contra papis- ticam superstitionem invehuntur, contra rapinam, sacri- legium, luxuriam, ebrietatem, gulam, arrogantiam, su- LETTERS. 183 perbiam, avaritiam, usuram, et id genus enormia, ne pro testantur quidem. Sed quorsum hsc? Manum de ta bula. Verbum sapienti sat est, satque habet favitorum semper qui recte agit. Quid nos in votis habemus, post modum accipies. Interea vero, in Jesu Christo Domino ac Sospitatore nostro bene vale. Fraterculus tibi multis Nominibus devinctissimus, GUILIELMUS EYRES. Colcestrise 21. die Aprilis, 1618. 134 LETTERS. LETTER XXXIII. DR. JAMES USSHER TO ME. WILLIAM CAMDEN. My dear and worthy Friend, I HAVE been earnestly entreated by Dr. Rives to send this enclosed letter unto you. He hath had his education in New college in the university of Oxford, where he took his degree of doctor in the civil law. He is now one of the masters of the chancery with us, and judge of the faculties and prerogative court. Two things, he told me, he was very desirous to be certified of from you ; the one, in what sort you would have him answer that calumniation of our Irish libeller, where he intimateth, that you dissemble your religion, and write otherwise than you think, " delusus spe hujus seculi, et mundani honoris lenocinio illectus." The other, what you think of our great St. Patrick, and of his miracles. Touching the former, I assured him of my own know- ledgOj that you were wronged most shamefully : what you did you did out of judgment, and not led by any such base respect as you were charged withal ; and that I knew for certain, that with your heart you embraced the reli gion which by authority is maintained in the Church of England. For the latter, I gave him good leave to dis credit as much as he list, that pack of ridiculous miracles which latter writers had fastened upon St. Patrick ; but wished him in no wise to touch the credit of that worthy man himself, nor to question his succession to Palladius, nor to cast him unto lower times, contrary to the consent of all LETTERS. 135 writers that ever make mention of him. And to this end, I showed unto him what I had gathered together to this purpose, in a treatise which I lately wrote at the request of Dr. Hampton, lord archbishop of Armagh, of the first planters of the Christian faith in Ireland, and specially of St. Patrick and his successors in the see of Armagh : but one word from you will satisfy him more than a hundred from me; and therefore let me intreat you, that you would here " erranti comiter monstrare viam." You easily may see what little credit the testimony, or the silence rather, of so late an author as Platina is, may carry to bear down the constant agreement of all our own writers. The objection would be far more specious, if it were drawn from the silence of venerable Bede, who making express mention both in his history and his chro nicle of Palladius, speaketh nothing at all of Patricius. Yet have I seen in Sir Robert Cotton's library an ancient fragment written before the time of Bede, wherein St. Patrick is not only mentioned, but also made to be as ancient in time as hitherto we have stUl believed him to have been. It was found among Mr. Joceline's papers, and is now bound up in blue leather, with other antiqui ties. If you can come by the book, and will be pleased to transcribe that place of it where the tradition of the liturgy from man to man is described, for there this men tion of St. Patrick is to be found, either that or nothing will give full satisfaction to our doctor. The company of stationers in London are now erecting a factory for books and a press among us here : Mr, Felix Kingston, and some others are sent over for that purpose. They begin with the printing of the statutes of the realm, afterwards they purpose to fall in hand with my col lections De Christianarum ecclesiarum successione et statu. I do intreat you of aU love, to look over the first edition ; and what you find I have mistaken, or what you think may be further added out of the antiquities which you have met withal, signify unto me. I wrote unto you to this purpose about four years since, by a kinsman of mine, Mr. John Brereton : at which time also I desired to 136 LETTERS. understand from you, whether it were possible to get the copy of the epistles to the monks of Glastenbury, attri buted to St. Patrick, which I remember you told me you had sometimes seen. But since that time I have heard nothing from you. If you will be pleased at this time to write unto me, or to Dr. Rives, who earnestly expecteth your answer, you may leave your letters at my Lord Knevet's house in Westminster, there to be delivered unto Sir Henry Docwra, our treasurer at wars ; who will take order that they shall be safely conveyed unto me. And thus craving pardon for my boldness in troubling you thus far, I take my leave for this time, resting always Your most loving and firm Friend, JAMES USSHER. Dublin, Jmie 8. 1618- LETTERS. 137 LETTER XXXIV. ENCLOSED IN THE PRECEDING. dr. thomas ryves to mr. william camden. Right worthy Sir, As a man that has better occasion to know you than to be known unto you, I make bold at this time to trouble you with these few lines, the occasion whereof is this : there is a certain book published of late in Ireland, entitled Analecta, wherein the author taketh occasion to allege your learned writings, especially in one place, which is page 113. where he saith, that you, " delusus spe hujus seculi et mundani honoris lenocinio illectus," speak many things ; and give an ample testi mony of their Irish St. Patrick and his miracles out of Henricus Antissiodorensis. Now, it hath pleased the state here to command me to answer it, by reason of many foul imputations which it casteth upon the government of the English, and even toucheth to the title of the crown itself: but forasmuch as he is very copious in setting forth the dignity of that saint, and of his miracles, I have thought good to crave your opinion concerning him and them : for his time falling in or near upon St. Augustine's days, if it be true that he was a scholar unto St. German, and successor unto Palladius, to my understanding those times would not bear them. We know how sparefuUy St. Augustine speaketh of them in his books De civitate Dei, blaming them that looked after them, reckoning them for monsters, which require miracles, " which are not for those which believe, but for those which believe not," Now ^what prodigious and ridiculous miracles are 138 LETTERS. reported of St. Patrick by Jocelinus and others of that age, and lately by one Dr. Terry, an Irishman, no man knoweth better than yourself, who pass all men in cu rious searching out of all antiquities. Moreover I do a little doubt of Antissiodorensis his authority concerning St. Patrick, in that he maketh him successor unto Palla dius : my reason is, for that Platina reporteth, that pope Celestine as he sent St. German into England, so he sent Palladius into Scotland, and made him bishop there : neither doth he either in the life of Celestine, or of any other pope, make mention of S. Patricius ; whereas you know his manner is to reckon up the names of all the learned men which flourished in their several times : and some particular reasons I have to think, that either St. Patrick lived not at all in those days, or that it was some other Patrick, who in latter times gave occasion to those fabulous reports, which are cast abroad in the name of the other, I shall therefore humbly intreat you. Sir, to let me understand your opinion concerning them, and whom you have observed to have been the first au thor and reporter of them. And now. Sir, craving par don for this my boldness, and assuring you, that if you should have occasion to use the pains of so mean a man as myself in these parts, where I now reside, you shall find me no less ready to be serviceable, than I am now trou blesome unto you ; I commit you to God, and rest Your very loving Friend, and by you Always to be commanded, T, RYVES. LETTERS, 139 LETTER XXXV, MR. WILLIAM CAMDEN TO DR. JAMES USSHER. My most ESTEEMED GOOD Mr, Dr, Your loving letter of the eighth of June I received the fourth of July, being retired into the country for the recovery of my tender health, where " portum anhelans beatitudinis," I purposed to sequester myself from worldly business and cogitations. Yet being somewhat recovered, I could not but answer your love, and Mr, Doctor Rieves' letter for your sake, with the few lines herein enclosed, which I submit to your cen sure. I thank God my life hath been such among men, as I am neither ashamed to live, nor fear to die, being se cure in Christ my Saviour, in whose true religion I was born and bred in the time of king Edward VI,, and have continued firm therein. And to make you my confessor sub sigillo confessionis, I took my oath thereunto at my matriculation in the uni versity of Oxon. (when popery was predominant) and for defending the religion established, I lost a fellowship in All Souls, as Sir Daniel Dun could testify, and often would relate how I was there opposed by the popish fac tion. At my coming to Westminster I took the like oath, where (absit jactantia) God so blessed my labours, that the now bishops of London, Durham, and St. Asaph, to say nothing of persons employed now in eminent place abroad, and many of especial note at home of all degrees, do acknowledge themselves to have been my scholars. 140 LETTERS. Yea, I brought there to church divers gentlemen of Ire land, as Walshes, Nugents, O Rally, Shees, the eldest son of the archbishop of CassUes, Petre Lombard a merchant's son of Waterford, a youth of admirable docility, and others bred popishly, and so affected. I know not who may justly say that I was ambitious, who contented myself in Westminster school when I writ my Britannia, and eleven years afterward : who refused a mastership of requests offered, and then had the place of a king of arms, without any suit cast upon me. I did never set sail after present preferments, or desired to soar higher by others. I never made suit to any man, no not to his Majesty, but for a matter of course incident to my place, neither (God be praised) I needed, having gathered a contented sufficiency by my long labours in the school. Why the Annalectist should so censure me I know not, but that men of all humours repair unto me in respect of my place ; and rest content to be belied by him, who is not ashamed to belie the Lords deputies of Ireland andothers of honourable rank. Sed hsc tibi uni et soli. That I might give you better satisfaction, I sent my servant with directions to my study at Westminster, who found this which I have herein enclosed. Which if they may stead you I shall be right glad. As my health will per mit I will look over your learned treatise De Christianarum ecclesiarum successione. But such hath been your hap py industry therein, that I have little hope to add any thing, and less to observe any mistaking. Thus with my salutations to your good self, and my respectful love re membered to Sir Arthur Savage, I rest Your true and devoted Friend, WILLIAM CAMDEN. Chesilhurst, July 10. 1618, LETTERS. 141 LETTER XXXVI. mr. thomas warren to dr. james ussher. Sir, I HAVE read carefully what Arminius hath written De justitia et efficacia providentis Dei in malo\ Yet in that I read him for especially, he leaves me as doubtful as he found me. For where he saith, " Quum sspenumero futurum sit, ut creatura non omnino in malo obdurata ac tum quia peccato junctus sit patrare nolit, nisi argumentis quibusdam et occasionibus, qus velut incitamenta sint ad ilium patrandum, objectis ; istius quoque objectionis ad- ministratio penes Dei providentiam est, qui irritamenta ista objicit:" in these words (ifl mistake him not) he will have it, that God casts stumbling blocks in the way of them that of themselves would have gone upright, of pur pose to provoke them to do evil; which, taken together with his foreknowledge of the event, in my apprehension seems very harsh, and flat contrary to the Scripture". In deed if God, foreseeing both what arguments and occa sions inciting unto sin, would by ordinary course of nature, or free will, come in the way of him that for the present meant no such evil ; and likewise, that unless his Provi dence hindered, he would be thereby overcome ; I say, if God, foreseeing all this, should withhold his preventing in terposition, it were no more than bare permission, the jus tice whereof cannot be called in question. And if this seem too little, it might haply be farther granted, " istius objectionis administrationem penes Dei providentiam esse," » Pag, 96, '' James, chap, 1. ver, 13. 142 LETTERS. (to use his own words) though I cannot think what bounds are thereunto due : but that he should " irritamenta ista objicere, cum creatura actum peccato junctum ex se pa trare nolit," it seems to me very hard to grant, and he as hardly to maintain the justice of it". But of the extent, and justice of his administration in this point, I would your leisure served to send me your opinion ; you shall both pleasure me, and do God service in it. So, commend ing you to his protection and grace, I rest, and shall be Ever at your service, EDWARD WARREN, Kilkenny, Sept, 1. 1610. I have sent you Arminius by this bearer, James Con- game, ¦: Pag. 102. et 114. LETTERS. 143 LETTER XXXVII. the right rev. thomas morton, bishop of chester, to dr. james ussher. Sir, I DO heartily thank you for your double pains in writing, which is your kindness beyond any single desert on my part ; and I must twice thank you for the young bachelor, who hath approved himself, since his coming hither, to be indeed very commendable. Your manifold employments specified in your letters, will not suffer me to be too large in these of mine, lest I might " morari tua tempora." Truly I cannot but admire your exceeding pains, and bless God for his graces in you. The synod in the low countries is held at Dort, the most of their suffragators are already assembled, the manner of their proceedings is methodically ordered ; the Remonstrants (excepting some few) do exempt themselves. I think to hold universal grace quoad revelationem negative, as importing that no soul can be said particularly to be excluded, may suffi ciently qualify the violence of oppositions. I shall long to see you with me, that I may enjoy the comfort of your presence ; I pray you, if it be possible, satisfy my desire : in the interim, and always, I pray our Lord Jesus to pre serve us to the glory of his saving grace, and rest Your loving Friend, THOMAS CESTRENSIS. Chester, Deccmb. 1.5. 1618. 144 LETTERS. LETTER XXXVIII. mr. samuel ward to dr. james ussher. Good Mr. Dr. Ussher, My kindest salutations premised. These are to signify unto you, that I received at Dort the letter you sent me, though a long time after the date. As touch ing the additions and corrections^ which J. Scaliger left with Gomarus; I understand by him, that they shall shortly be published. He hath delivered them to a prin ter at Leyden, who is to print them. The additions are many, as he telleth me, almost as many as are already set forth. Chamierus was not at the synod, and I cannot learn whether any such ancient writings of the Albigen ses were left with him. As for that which you desired to be transcribed out of Paulus Alexandrinus, concerning the method of the Alexandrian year, I being at Leyden after the synod, was desirous to have spoken with Meursius ; but enquiring for him of Mr. Joannes Latins, one of our sy nod, he told me he would go to Meursius, and transcribe it, and send it me into England ; for he thought it not seasonable to go to him that day, being the day of Berne- velt's execution, whose sons Meursius had been tutor unto. When I receive the transcript from Latins, I will send it you. It may be you will be desirous to know the remarkable passages of the synod, which will be shortly published, both the acts, and the canons concluded upon touching the five articles : we had somewhat to do when we came to frame canons, with the provincials, and some of the exteri, * Upon Eusebius his chronicle. LETTERS. 1 45 touching some points, especially touching the second ar ticle. Some of us were held by some half remonstrants, for extending the oblation made to the Father, to all ; and for holding sundry effects thereof offered serio, and some really communicated to the reprobate. I had somewhat to do with a principal man touching this point ; somewhat passed in writing between us privately. We were careful that nothing should be defined which might gainsay the confession of the Church of England : which was effected, for that they were desirous to have all things in the ca nons defined unanimi consensu. We foreign divines, af ter the subscription of the canons, and a general approba tion of the Belgic confession and catechism (which ^is the Palatine's) as containing no dogmata repugnant to the word of God, and a decree against Vorstius's doctrine, chiefly that in his book De Deo, were dismissed. In our appro bation of the Belgic confession, our consent was only asked for doctrinals, not for matters touching discipline. We had a solemn parting in the synod, and all was con cluded with a solemn feast. This was upon Thursday, AprU 29. The Saturday we went to the Hague to take our leaves of the states general, where we resolved, while our ship was made ready, to see Leyden, Amsterdam and Harlem, which we did the week following. Upon the Monday we, purposing to go for Leyden, early in the mor ning were informed, that Bernevelt was to lose his head that morning, which was executed. Upon the tenth of May we loosed from the Bril, and arrived at Gravesend the thirteenth of May: and visited his Majesty at Green wich as we came by, who graciously did receive us. And thus, I thank God, we are safely returned to our homes. And here with my hearty salutations, I commend you to the gracious protection of the highest Majesty. Your assured, ever loving Friend, SAMUEL WARD. Sidney College, May 26. 1619. VOL. XV. L 146 LETTERS, LETTER XXXIX. DR. JAMES USSHER TO MR. THOMAS LYDYAT. Salutem, a salutis fonte D, N. Jesu Christo. Dear Sir, I DO acknowledge myself much bound unto you for the loan of your Geminus and Albategnius, the reading whereof hath given me a great deal of content ment, but most of all for your kind letter, delivered unto me by Robert Allen, the third of July last, wherein you so gently pass over my great error in detaining your books so long from you. I will not make any long apo logy for myself, and excuse my negligence by want of opportunity of a fit messenger : your love having covered my offence already I may spare my labour in covering any further. Now at length therefore I return your books unto you again, with a thousand thanks ; and heartily do wish that I may have some occasion offered on my part to gratify you in the same kind. In the mean time I send you Ptolemy's Canon regum, so often cited by Dr. Rai- nolds in his lectures : a copy whereof I received from Bishop Overal, lately deceased, transcribed by Mr. Rich. Mountague out of Sir Henry Savil's manuscript of the ¦n-poyttpoi KavovEg. In the same volume is Theon also upon those canons, whence Sir Henry Savil himself hath sent me certain notes De ratione anni Alexandrini ; touch ing which also within these three days I received from letters. 147 Meursius a Greek discourse of the scholiasts against Paulus Alexandrinus, who wrote in the year of the world, (according to the account of the Grecians) 6659. Diocle- siani 867. hoc est srs nostrs MCLL This latter doth contain but ordinary stuff: in Theon the principal thing that I observe is the time of the con currence of the beginning of the Egyptian and the Alex andrian year, " hoc est anni vagi et fixi," noted by him in these words, riyove Se i? Etprijutvi} Sta av? Iroiv oTro- KaTaaraaig airo rivog ap^jjc XP^^°^ '''V "'E/Uirrtji irsi rrfg Avyovarov (BamXiiag, or, as he otherwise expresseth it, fjiiTa TfivTE err} rrtg apxj^g Avyovarov PaaiXdag. For, " ab initio srs Philippics, fiixpi- rrig Avyoxxrrov fiacriXaiag," he reckoneth with Ptolemy annos 294. but 299. eig rrjv airOKaraaTatTiv tov koto ^ AXe^avSpiag {ijTOi "EXXrjvac) XPO- vov irpog rrjv icar' Alyvirriovg. That from this airo- Karaaracng we must deduce caput srs Alkept apud Albategnium, which by him is placed anno 287. (587. 387. your book hath, the first figure being set down inconstantly and falsely, the other two constantly and truly) post sram Dhilcarnain, I make little question howsoever I be not yet fully resolved whether I should refer the same to the beginning or the ending of the fifth year of Augustus, that is, whether I should begin it a Thoth anni 299. or 300. srs Philippics : for in both of them, the first of Thoth fell upon the same day, " tam in anno vago, quam in fixo ;" in the former upon August 30. feria quinta, (which is the character srs Alkept in Albategnius; if the number be not de praved) in the latter upon August 29. feria sexta, unto which I rather incline ; because by this means we shall keep jstraight the beginning of Dbilkarnain, which, by Albategnius his account certainly doth incur " in annum periodi JuUans 4402." twelve years after the death of Alexander, as himself setteth down% and you do acknow ledge to be true ; whereas by the former hypothesis it " Fol. 4,3. lin. 4. L 2 118 LETTERS. must be referred to the year 440). (contrary to the mean ing of Albategnius) eleven years after Alexander's death. That the Egyptians received the use of their annus cequabilis from Nabonasar; or that Ihe Babylonians did ever use that form of year, I think will hardly be proved. If that be true which Eratosthenes writeth ev rio Trcpt rf;c 'OKTaErrjpiSoc vTro/ivrfnari, apud Geminum*, that the Egyp tians sometime celebrated their Isia Kara Oipivag Tponag, using this manner of year, it must needs be that they used this form of year before the time of Nabonasar. For the 17th day of Athyr (to which you rightly refer the beginning of that 1 could never concur with the summer solstice betwixt the time of Nabonasar and Eratosthenes. The authority of Geminus also moveth me to yield, that in Metonis Enneadecae- teride, the years were not alternatim pleni and cavi, as you imagine, although in Calippus his Period the disposition seemeth to have been such ; to which, as to that which was received into civil use in his time, I refer that place of Geminus*^, "OQtv Sia ravrrfv rffv alriav oi Kara ttoXiv firfvsg ivaXXa^ ayovrai nXripeig koi koXXoi. You have rightly observed that in my discourse De Christianarum ecclesiarum successione et statu, there is wanting for the accomplishment of the second part, an hundred years story : which defect in the continuation of the work is by me supplied. I purpose to publish the whole work together much augmented ; but do first ex pect the publication of my uncle Stanihurst's answer to the former, which I hear since his death is sent to Paris to be there printed. I am advertised also, that even now there is come out, at Antwerp, a treatise of my country man Christopher de Sacro-Bosco, De vers Ecclesis investigatione, wherein he hath some dealing with me. Both these I would willingly see, before I set out my book anew: that if they have justly found fault with any thing, I may amend it; if unjustly, I may defend it. I am very glad to hear of your pains taken in the un- '' Pag. 127. ' Pag. 1158. letters. 149 folding of the Revelation : and hope that ere long, it wUl come abroad among us. To help you therein touching the FratriceUi, Beguini, &c. my opinion is this, that as under the name of the Albigenses were comprehended not only the Manichees which swarmed in those parts of France, but also the Waldenses which dwelt among them : so like wise under the name of the FratriceUi and Beguini (unto whom as monstrous opinions and practices are ascribed as unto the other) those also were contained who made pro fession of the truth. F'or to omit the testimony of a cer tain writing, " in quo S. Bernardini errores recensentur," aUeged by lUyricus, affirming, " FratriceUos, qui potissi mum in Italia fuerunt, communiter esse Hussitas :" the witness of Conradus de Monte Puellarum, or of Mayden- burgh, a canon of Ratisbon, who wrote about the year MCCCXL. De erroribus Begehardorum, is plain to this purpose. " Sub iUorum habitu," saith he, " quarum- libet hsresum species, utpote pauperum de Lugduno, et aliarum iniquitatis sectarum partitiones, per ovile Christi sues apostolos satagunt seminare." Add hereunto, that the Waldenses MerindoU and Cabriers, are known to have been a colony deduced from the Alps, the chief receptacle of the FratriceUi. This appeareth by the inquisition returned unto Francis the first, anno MDXL. by William Bellay then governor of those parts : wherein was certified of them, " ducentis abhinc annis ex regione Pedemontana profectos, in provincis partem illam commi- grasse," &c. as may be seen in Crispinus''. Thuanus hath here three hundred years, but two hundred of these times they were persecuted under the name of Beghardi. I allege the testimony of Matthias Parisiensis, who lived in Bohemia about the year MCCCXC. " Qui^ alienant se strenue," saith he, " ab exercitio talium et a contubernio propter Domini Jesu timorem et amorem, mox a vulgo Christiano hujus mundi conviciantur et confunduntur, et nota pes sima singularitatum vel hsresum criminantur ; propter rum. ^ Lib. 3. Actorum et moniment. martyri..... ' Lib. de sacerdotum et monachorum spiritualium abominatione, cap. 30. 150 letters. quod tales homines devoti, qui similia vulgo profane non agunt, Bechardi, vel Turspinii (lego Turebipini) aut aUis nominibus blasphemis communiter jam nominantur : quod figuratum est in illis primis in Babylone, quibus alia no mina imposuerunt quam habuerunt in terra Israel." There cometh also unto my mind another place, which is not common, touching the Beghardi and FratriceUi, out of the book De squaloribus Romans curis, written by Matthew de Cracovia, who was bishop of Worms, ab anno MCCCCV. ad MCCCCX. Thus he there com- plaineth : " Vadunt Beckardi, FratriceUi, Sectuarii sus- pectissimi de hsresi, et clero infestissimi, erectis capitibus absque uUo timore in urbe, et seducunt Ubere quotquot possunt." And mark that this fell upon the time of pope Gregory XII. who usually did send his letters to the princes and bishops of Christendom " per* LoUardos seu Beguardos, ad quos semper videbatur ejus affectio specia- liter inclinari:" as is affirmed by Theod oricus a Niem*. Whereby we see what rest and boldness the same profes sors got by the great schism in the papacy ; agreeable to that which Wicliff writeth^. You see, when I begin, I know not how to make an end,^ and therefore that I prove not too tedious, I will abruptly break off, desiring you to remember in prayers Your most assured, loving Friend And Brother, JAMES USSHER. Dublin, Aug. 10. 1619. ' Lib, 3, de schism, cap. C. s Lib. 3. De sermone Domini in monte. letters. 151 LETTER XL, DR, JAMES USSHER TO Sir, You hear, I doubt not, ere this, of the lament able news out of Bohemia ; how it pleased God, on the 29th of October last, to give victory to the emperor's Brmy against the king of Bohemia. His whole army was routed, three thousand slain on the ground*, others taken prisoners, who have yielded, to save their lives, to serve against him. Himself, and the chief commanders, fled with two thousand horse, came to Prague, took away the poor queen (being with child) and some of his coun sellors, with such things as in that haste could be carried away ; and so left that town (it not being to be held) and withdrew himself into Silesia, where he hath another army, as also in Moravia, though not without an enemy there invading also. How those of the religion in Bo hemia are like to be dealt with, you may imagine; and what other evil effects v/ill follow, God knoweth, if he in mercy stay not the fury of the enemy, who in all likeli hood intendeth to prosecute the victory to the uttermost. Spinola also prevaileth still in the Palatinate, one town or two more, with two or ^' ~"^ little castles, he hath gained; and now we hear that a cessation of arms is on either side agreed upon, for the space of five months. The Spaniard hath made himself master of the passage betwixt Italy and Germany, by getting Voltelina ; where he hath put down five Protestant churches, and erected idolatry * Eighteen hundred of the other side. 152 LETTERS. in their places. He hath so corrupted many among the Switzers, as they cannot resolve on any good course, how to help the mischief, or how to prevent the further increasing of it. The French, that should protect them, are Hispaniolized : the Germans have their hands full at home : and the Venetians, that would, dare not alone enter into the business. And now newly, while I am writing this addition, we are certified here, that the king of Bohe mia hath quit Moravia and Silesia, seeing all things there desperate ; and hath withdrawn himself unto Branden- burgh. God grant we may lay this seriously to heart ; otherwise, I fear, the judgment that hath begun there will end heavily upon us ; and, if all things deceive me not, it is even now marching towards us with a swift pace. And so much touching the affairs of Germany, which you desired me to impart unto you, whether they were good or evil. Concerning Mr. Southwick's departure, although not only you, but divers others also have advertised me ; yet I cannot, as yet, be persuaded that it is intended by him : for both himself in his last letter unto me, and his wife here, no longer than yesterday, hath signified unto me the plain contrary. Your son Downing wisheth the place unto Mr. Ward, your neighbour Mr. Johnson unto Mr. Cook of Gawran, and others unto one Mr. Neyle, who hath lately preached there with good liking, as I hear : the last of these I know not ; with the first I have dealt, and am able to draw him over into Ireland. Your assured loving Friend, JAMES USSHER. 1619. LETTERS. 153 LETTER XLL mr. edward browncker to dr. james ussher. Sir, I marvel much at the deputy's exceptions ; he dis covers a great deal of unworthy suspicion. What answer I have made unto him you may here see. I doubt not but he will rest satisfied with it, unless he hath resolved to do me open) wrong. You may seal it up with any but your own seal. I pray you lend me your best furtherance, it shall not go unacknowledged, howsoever I speed. As for the Manuscripts you desire to hear^of, neither one nor the other is to be found : it is true, according unto Dr. James his catalogue, there was one Gildas in Merton college library, but he was Gildas Sapiens, not Gildas Albanius, whom Pitts says was the author of the book intitled, De victoria Aurelii Ambrosii ; neither ^is that GUdas Sapiens now to be seen in Merton college, he hath been cut out of the book whereunto he was annexed : yet there is one in our public library*, who writes a story De gestis Bri- tannorum, in whom I find mention of king Lucius his baptism : his words be these : " Post 164. annos post adventum Christi, Lucius Britannicus rex cum universis regulis totius Britannis baptismum susceperunt, missa legatione ab imperatore et papa Romano Evaristo." As for the orations of Richard Fleming, there be no such to be heard of in Lincoln college Hbrary : neither can I find. " He styles him Gildas Sapiens also, as Bishop Ussher noted in the mar gin MSS. 154 letters. or learn, that the junior proctor's book relates any pas sage of the conversion of the Britains. If you have any thing else to be searched for, I pray make no scruple of using me further : so wishing you comfort in your labours, I rest Your very loving and Thankful Friend, EDWARD BROWNCKEE. From Wadham College, Septemb. 11, 1620, letters. 155 LETTER XLIL the right rev. james ussher, bishop elect of meath, to the most rev. dr. hampton, archbishop of armagh. My very good Lord, I RECEIVED yesterday your grace's let ter, whereby I understand, how unadvisedly the bishop of Clogher entered into contestation with your lordship for the exercise of his jurisdiction ; and laboured to turn your particular favour toward me, to his own advantage, where at I was not a little grieved. It was far from my meaning ever to oppose either your archiepiscopal right, or the duties of your register for the time present, much less for the time to come. The difference betwixt the registers is by their mutual consent referred to the deterraination of my lord chancellor, before whom let them plead their own cause ; I mean not to intermeddle with it. The exercising of the jurisdiction hitherto, cannot be justified by taking out a commission now from your lordship : but seeing what hath been done herein, cannot now be undone, I will thus far show my respect unto your metropolitical autho rity, that whensoever the matter shall be called in ques tion, I will profess, that what I have done in the exercising of the jurisdiction, I have done it by your special license, without which I would not have meddled with it. And for the time to come, I have given order to my commissary, that he shall proceed no fartherj^Jbut presently surcease from dealing any way in the jurisdiction : that no occasion raay be left, whereby it might be thought that I stood upon any right of mine own, to the derogation of any point of your archiepiscopal authority. 156 LETTERS. And thus much for myself As for my lord of Clogher, howsoever I be none of his council, yet the respect and duty which I owe unto you, as unto my father, forceth me to wish, that your grace would seriously deliberate of this business, before you bring it unto a public trial. For then I fear the matter will be determined, not by theological ar gumentations of the power of the keys, but by the power of the king's prerogative in causes ecclesiastical, and the laws of the land. If my lord of Clogher's council told him, that he might challenge the exercising of his jurisdiction as an incident to that which he had already received from the king : it is certain that in his letters patents the bi- shoprick is granted unto him, " Una cum omnibus juri- bus, jurisdictionibus, prerogativis, preeminentiis, allocatio- nibus, commoditatibus et privilegiis tam spiritualibus quam temporalibus," with a mandamus directed " Universis et singulis archiepiseopis, episcopis, decanis, archidiaconis, officialibus, commissariis, rectoribus, vicariis, presbyteris, et aliis personis ecclesiasticis quibuscunque ; quatenus ip sum episcopum et ejus officiarios tam spirituales quam tem- porales episcopatum prsdictum habere, percipere, guber- nare, gaudere et disponere permittant." And, howsoever, if the matter were to be disputed in the schools, he perad venture might obtain the victory, who did defend, that "jurisdiction ecclesiastical doth issue from the keys, not from the sword :" yet I doubt me, when the case cometh to be argued in the king's court, he will have the advan tage that hath the sword on his side, and standeth to maintain the king's prerogative. Again, by the statute of 2. Elizabeth, whereby Conge d'elires are taken away, he that hath the king's letters patents for a bishoprick is put in the same state, as if he were canonically both elected and confirmed. Now, howsoever by the law a bishop barely elected can do little or nothing, yet the ca nonists do clearly resolve, that he who is both elected* and confirmed, may exercise all things that appertain to juris- " Vid. Abb. c. Qualiter, tit. de electo et electi potestate, et c. Avaritise. in 6. Gregor. Tholosan. in Syntagm. utriusque juris ; et alios passim. LETTERS. 157 diction ; although he may not meddle with matters of or dination, until he receive his consecration. Lastly, I would entreat your lordship to consider, when the see of Armagh becometh void, (as sometimes it hath been for two or three years together :) in whom doth the exercise of the archie piscopal jurisdiction remain ? Doth it not in the dean and chapter of Armagh? If a dean then, who is but simplex presbyter, without receiving commission from any other bishop, is by the custom of the land capable in this case of episcopal jurisdiction; what should make him that is elected and confirmed a bishop to be incapable of the same ? I speak now only of the law, and ancient customs of the realm ; by which (I take it) this matter, if it come to question, must be tried. All which I humbly submit unto your grace's grave consideration; protesting, not withstanding, for mine own particular, that I wUl not only for the time to come cease to exercise the jurisdiction (of the proceeding further wherein, I see no great necessity before my consecration) but also willingly herein submit myself unto any course that your lordship shall be fur ther pleased to prescribe unto me. There is at this time in Dublin neither civiUan nor regis ter with whom I might advise touching the matter of the dUapidation. My lord chancellor offered to grant (if I pleased) a commission out of the Chancery, for the enquiry hereof: but I considered with myself that this business was more proper for the archiepiscopal court ; whereof I remembered that famous precedent of William Wickam bishop of Winchester, who sued the executors of his pre decessor in the court of William Witlesey archbishop of Canterbury, and recovered against him " 127 apros, 1556 boves, 3876mutones, 4717 oves matrices, 3521 agnos, et 1662 libras cum 10 solidis, pro reparatione sdificiorum ad ruinas vergentium :" as in the register of the said Witle sey is yet to be seen. I will cause Mr. Ford to draw up my libel in the best manner he can ; and then expect the issu ing of the commission with all convenient expedition : for it behoveth me that the enquiry of the dilapidations be re turned, before I go in hand with the reparation : and that 158 LETTERS. I must do very shortly, though upon mine own charges, unless I will see the house fall quite down the next winter. I humbly thank your grace for your remembrance of me in the matter of Armagh. For howsoever I conceive very little hope that I shall ever enjoy that deanery; yet am I nothing the less beholding unto you for your care of me : for which, and for all the rest of your honourable favours, I must always remain Your Grace's in all duty To be commanded, JAMES USSHER. Dublin, July 11, 1621. LETTERS. 1 59 LETTER XLIH. THE MOST REV. DR. HAMPTON, ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH, TO THE RIGHT REV. JAMES USSHER, BISHOP OF MEATH. Salutem in Christo, I THANK your lordship for your care and respect of me, as likewise your counsel, that I should be well advised, ere I brought the matter of jurisdiction into public trial. I truly have not cause to complain ; but if the bishop of Clogher, or any other, think themselves wronged, that I give not way to the exercise of his jurisdiction until he be consecrated, and thereupon desire justice, I shall be ready to show reason, and yield account of my opinion as well in the king's courts, as in theological schools. For to pass the general words of his grant " cum omnibus jurisdictionibus," which grant him jus ad rem, but not in re: the statute of 2 Eliz. cap. 1. expressly forbiddeth all that shall be preferred, to take upon them, receive, use, exercise any bishoprick, &c. before he hath taken the corporal oath of the king's supremacy before such person as hath authority to admit him to his bishoprick. As for the statute of conferring and consecrating bishops within this realm, I find not the words you have written, viz. that he which hath the king's letters patents for a bi shoprick, is put in the same state as if he were canonically elected and confirmed. But that his Majesty's collation shall be to the same effect, as if the conge d'elire had been given, the election duly made, and the same election con firmed (for the dean and chapter's election in England is not good, until the king have confirmed by his royal 160 LETTERS. assent) then it foUoweth in the statute, upon that coUation the person may be consecrated, &c. Afterward in the same statute it is further enacted, that " every person hereafter conferred, invested, and consecrated, &c. shall be obeyed, &c. and do, and execute in every thing, and things touching the same, as any bishop of this realm, without offending of the prerogatives royal." Now by an argument a contrario sensu, it appeareth that it is not I which stand against his Majesty's prerogative, but they which exercise jurisdiction without the form prescribed in these statutes : consider again how impertinent the opi nion of canonists is in this case, where the king's collation is equivalent to a canonical election, and confirmation : the confirmation which the canonists speak of is from the pope, not from the prince. " Gregoriana constitutione in Lugdunensi consilio cautum est, electum infra tres menses post consensum suum electioni prsstitum, si nullum jus tum impedimentum obstat, confirmationem a superiore prslato petere debere, alioqui trimestri spatio elapso electionem esse penitus irritandam." When the see of Armagh faUeth void, the dean and chapter have authority by the canons to exercise jurisdic tion, which the bishop elect hath not until he be conse crated, as you may read in Mason's book, and elsewhere, and so it is practised in England. Behold the cause which maketh the dean capable, namely the authority, canons, and custom of the Church : so is not the bishop elect war ranted, and standeth still in the quality of a simple pres byter, until he be further advanced by the Church. When Jo. Forth shall bring his libel, I will do the part which belongeth to me. In the mean time I commend you to God, and rest Your lordship's very loving Friend, ARMAGH. 13th July. 1621. LETTERS. iGl LETTER XLIV. THE BISHOP OF MEATH TO My very good Lord, Yesterday, being the 27th of Sep tember, I received this enclosed letter : in reading where of, it presently came into my mind, that this was the man at whose sermon his Majesty was so much offended, when I was last at court. Whereupon I sent for the party, and upon conference had with him, found indeed that I was not deceived in mine opinion. I put him in mind, that his conceits were contrary to the judgment of the Church of Christ from the beginning of the Gospel unto this day : and that of old they were condemned for heretical in the Nazarites. But finding that for the present he was not to be wrought upon by any reasoning, and that longa dies was the only means to cure him of this sickness ; I remem bered what course I had heretofore held with another in this country, who was so far engaged in this opinion of the calling of the Jews (though not of the revoking of Ju daism) that he was strongly persuaded, he himself should be the man that should effect this great work, and to this purpose wrote an Hebrew epistle, which I have still in my hands, directed to the dispersed Jews. To reason the matter with him I found it bootless ; I advised him therefore, that until the Jews did gather themselves toge ther, and make choice of him for their captain, he should labour to benefit his countrymen at home with that skill :he had attained unto in the Hebrew tongue. I wished vol. XV. M 162 LETTERS. him therefore to give us an exact translation of the Old Testament out of the Hebrew verity, which he accord ingly undertook and performed. The translation I have still by me : but before he had finished that task, his conceit of the calling of the Jews, and his captainship over them, vanished clean away, and was never heard of after. In like manner I dealt with Mr. Whitehall ; that forasmuch as he himself acknowledged that the Mosaical rites were not to be practised until the general calling of the Jews, he might do well, I said, to let that matter rest till then ; and in the mean time keep his opinion to him self, and not bring needless trouble upon himself and others by divulging it out of season. And whereas he had intended to write an historical discourse of the retain ing of Judaism under Christianity : I counselled him ra ther to spend his pains in setting down the history of purgatory, or invocation of Saints, or some of the other points in controversy betwixt the church of Rome and us. So far I prevailed with him herein, that he entreated me to become a suitor unto your lordship in his behalf, that the loss of his living, and those other troubles which he hath already sustained, might be accepted for a suffi cient punishment of his former offence ; and that he might have the favour to be restored only unto his fellowship in Oxford, where he would bind himself to forbear inter meddling any way with his former opinions, either in public or in private, and spend his time in any other em ployment that should be imposed upon him. How far it will be fitting to give way unto this motion, I wholly leave unto your own grave consideration. Thus much only I have presumed to propound unto your lord ship, in discharge of my promise made unto Mr. White hall, with whom I could have no long communication, by reason I was presently to begin my journey for the visita tion of the diocese of Meath. Until my return from thence, I have stayed the printing of the rest of mine Answer unto the Jesuit's Challenge ; the former part whereof I humbly make bold to present unto your lord ship's view, as unto whom, above all others, I most desire , LETTERS. 163 : my simple labours in this kind may be approved. And so I craving pardon for my boldness in troubling you thus far, I rest. Your Lordship's, in all Christian duty. Ready to be commanded, JA. MIDENSIS. Dublin, Sept. 28, 1621, m2 164 LETTERS. LETTER XLV. MR, THOMAS GATAKER TO THE LORD BISHOP OF MEATH, Right Rev. My duty to your lordship remembered. This messenger so fitly offering himself unto me, albeit it were the sabbath even, and I cast behind hand in my studies by absence from home, yet I could not but in a line or two salute your lordship, and thereby signify my conti nued and deserved remembrance of you, and hearty desire of your welfare. By this time I presume your lordship is settled in your weighty charge of oversight, wherein I beseech the Lord in mercy to bless your la bours and endeavours to the glory of his own name, and the good of his Church, never more in our times oppugned and opposed by mighty and malicious adversaries both at home and abroad : never in foreign parts generally more distracted and distressed than at the present. Out of France daily news of murders and massacres, cities and towns taken, and all sorts put to the sword. Nor are those few that stand out yet, likely to hold long against the power of so great a prince, having no succours from without. In the Palatinate likewise aU is reported to go to ruin. Nor do the Hollanders sit, for aught I see, any surer, the rather that for the coals that have here been hereto fore kindled against them, about transportation of coin, and the fine imposed for it, the quarrels of the East In dies, the command of the narrow seas, the interrupting of the trade into Flanders, &c, are daUy more and more LETTERS, 165 blown upon, and fire beginneth to break out, which, I pray God, do not burn up both them and us too. I doubt not, worthy sir, but you see as well, yea much better, I sup pose, than myself, and many others, as being able fur ther to pierce into the state of the times, and the conse quence of these things, what need the forlorn flock of Christ hath of hearts and hands to help to repair her ruins, and to fence that part of the fold that as yet is not so openly broken in upon, against the incursions of such ravenous wolves, as, having prevailed so freely against the other parts, will not in likelihood leave it also unassaulted : as also what need she hath, if ever, of prayers and tears (her ancient principal armour) unto Him, who hath the hearts and hands of all men in his hand, and whose help (our only hope, as things now stand,) is oft-times then most present, when all human helps and hopes do fail. But these lamentable occurrents carry me further than I had purposed when I had put pen to paper, I shall be right glad to hear of your lordship's health and welfare, which the Lord vouchsafe to continue ; gladder to see the remainder of your former learned and laborious work abroad. The Lord bless and protect you: and thus ready to do your lordship any service I may in these parts, I rest Your Lordship's to be commanded In the Lord, THOM i.S GATAKER. Rotherith, Sept, 29, 1621, 166 LETTERS. LETTER XLVI. SIR WILLIAM BOSWEL TO THE LORD BISHOP OF MEATH, My very GOOD Lord, If your lordship hath forgotten my name, I shall account myself very unhappy therein, yet justly rewarded for my long silence ; the cause whereof hath especially been my continual absence, almost for these last eight years, from my native country: where now returning, and disposed to rest, I would not omit the performance of this duty unto your lordship, hoping that the renewing of my ancient respects will be entertained by your lordship, as I have seen an old friend or servant, who, arriving suddenly and unexpected, hath been better welcomed than if he had kept a set and frequent course of visiting and attendance. With this representing of my service, I presume your lordship will not dislike that I recommend my especial kind friend. Dr. Price, one of his Majesty's commissioners for that kingdom, and for his learning, wisdom, and other merits, which your lordship will find in him, truly deserv ing your lordship's good affection. The most current news I can signify to your lordship from this place, are, that the Lord Viscomte Doncastre returneth, within three days, into France, as it is thought, invited thereunto by that king, both at his coming from thence, and since by his ambassador resident here ; which occasioneth some forward natures to presage of peace very speedUy in those parts, between the king and his protestant subjects. Whereof, notwithstanding, except want of monies, the importunity of his old counsellors, at LETTERS. 167 length, having been long slighted, the disunion of his grandees, and desperate resolution of the afflicted pro testants to withstand these enemies, shall beget an altera tion, for my own part I see little reason: for it is not likely, that either the prince of Conde, who hateth the protestants, and loveth to fish in troubled waters, or the Jesuit party, earnest votaries of the house of Austria, being still powerful in France, will ever suffer that king to be at rest, until their patron's affairs shall be settled in Grisons, Germany, &c. From Italy I hear that in Rome there is lately erected a new congregation, De fide pro paganda, consisting of twelve cardinals, whereof cai'dinal Savelli is chief: a principal referendary thereof being Gaspar Schioppius : there are to be , admitted into this congregation of all nations, and their opus is to provide maintenance from their friends, &c. for proselytes of all nations, who shall retire into the bosom of the Romish Church : but I fear I begin to be tedious to your lord ship, and therefore craving pardon, as well for my present boldness as former omissions, with my ancient and most unfeigned respects, I take leave of your lordship, desiring to know if in these parts I may be useful to your lordship, and remaining ever Your Lordship's most affectionate To love and serve you, WM. BOSWEL. From Westminster College, March 17, 1621, 168 LETTERS. LETTER XLVII. SIR HENRY SPELMAN TO THE LORD BISHOP OF MEATH. Right Reverend, and most worthy Lord, Though I be always tied to reiterate my thankfulness to your lordship, for your favours here in England, yet is it not fit to trouble you too often with letters only of compliment. And other occasion I have hitherto not had any, save what in Michaelmas term last I wrote unto you touching the monument of Bury Abbey, which the cutter going then in hand with came to me about, as directed so by your lordship. I was bold to stay him for the time, and signified by those letters that I thought much exception might be taken to the credit of the monument, for that both the ends of the upper label pictured in the glass, over the head of Antichrist, are stretched out so far, as they rest not in the glass, but run on either way upon the stone pillars, which, as your lord ship knows, could not possibly be so in the window itself. How it cometh to pass I do not know, whether by the rashness of the painter, (not heeding so light a matter as he might take it,) or that perhaps those which in the picture seem to be the pillars of the window, were but painted pillars in the glass itself, and so the whole window but one pannel, I cannot determine this doubt, but out of all doubt such a picture there was, and taken out exactly by a painter then, as a right honest old gentleman which saw it standing in the abbey window, and the painter that took it out, did often tell me about forty years since ; affirming LETTERS. 169 r the picture now at the cutter's to be the true pattern thereof But at that time my understanding showed me not to make this doubt ; if I had, he perhaps could have resolved it. For my own part, though I think it fitter in this respect not to be published, as doth also Sir H. Bourg chier, yet I leave it to your direction, which the cutter hitherto expecteth. So remembering my service most humbly to your lordship, and desiring your blessing, I rest Your Lordship's to be commanded, HENRY SPELMAN. Tuttle-street, Westm, Mar. 18. 1621. 170 LETTERS. LETTER XLVIIL mr. john selden to the lord bishop of meath. My Lord, I SHOULD before this have returned your Nubi- ensis Geographia ; but Mr. BedweU had it of me, and until this time, presuming on your favour, he keeps it ; nor can we have of them till the return of the mart. Then I shall be sure to send yours through Mr. Burnet. There is nothing that here is worth memory to you touching the state of learning; only I received letters lately out of France touching this point. Whether we find that any churches in the elder times of Christianity were with the doors or fronts eastward or no, because of that in Si- donius*, " Arce frontis ortum spectat squinoctialem," &c. and other like. I beseech your lordship to let me know from you what you think hereof. I have not yet sent it, but I shall most greedily covet your resolution ; and if any thing be here in England that may do your lordship favour or service, and lie in my power to command it, I beseech you, and believe that no man more admires, truly admires your worth, and professes himself to do so, than Your Lordship's humble Servant, J, SELDEN, May 24. 1621. Styl -Anglic, My Titles of Honour are in the press, and new written, but I hear it shall be staid ; if not, I shaU salute you with one as soon as it is done. » Lib. 2. ep. 10. LETTERS. 171 LETTER XLIX. SIR ROBERT COTTON TO THE LORD BISHOP OF MEATH. Mv HONOURABLE LORD, The opportunity I had by the going over of this honourable gentleman. Sir Henry Bourgchier, I could not pass over without doing my service to your lordship in these few lines. We are all glad here you are so well settled to your own content and merit, yet sorry that you must have so important a cause of stay, that all hopes we had to have seen your lordship in these parts is almost taken away '. yet I doubt not but the worthy work you gave in England the first life to, and have so far happily proceeded in, will be again a just motive to draw you over into England to see it perfected, for without your direc tion in the sequel I am afraid it will be hopeless and im possible. Let me, I pray you, intreat from your honour, the copy of as much as you have finished, to show his Ma jesty, that he may be the more earnest to urge on other labourers to work up, with your lordship's advice, the rest. I have received eight of the manuscripts you had ; the rest are not returned : if I might know what my study would afford to your content, I would always send you ; and that you may the better direct me, I will, as soon as it is per fected, send your honour a catalogue of my books. The occurrents here I forbear to write, because a gentleman so intelligent cometh to you. What after faUeth worthy your honour's knowledge, I will write hereafter upon di rection from your lordship, whither, and by whom I may address my letters. I cannot forget your lordship's pro- 172 LETTERS. mise to get me a book of the Irish saints' lives, and that poem of Richard the second your honour told me of : a love to these things I hope shall make excuse for my bold remembrance. My service to yourself, I remain Your Lordship's constant and assured To be ever commanded, ROBERT COTTON. New Echange, Mar, 26. 1622, LETTERS, 173 LETTER L. SIR HENRY BOURGCHIER TO THE LORD BISHOP OF MEATH. Most Rev. in Christ, I must excuse my long silence, partly by my long stay by the way, and partly by my expecta tion of your lordship here about this time : now being somewhat doubtful of your repair hither, I have adven tured these, as an assured testimony of my respect and observance to your lordship. Many of your good friends here were glad to hear of your health, and hopeful to see you. Sir Robert Cotton hath purchased a house in Westminster, near the parliament house, which he is now repairing, and there means to settle his library by feoff ment to continue for the use of posterity. Mr. Camden is much decayed, et senio plane confectus, in so much that I doubt his friends shall not enjoy him long. Sir Henry Spelman is busy about the impression of his Glos sary, and Mr. Selden of his Eadmerus, which will be finished within three or four days, together with his notes and the laws of the Conqueror ; the comparing whereof with the copy of Crowland, was the cause of this long stay ; for they could not get the book hither, though they had many promises, but were fain to send one to Crow- land to compare things. We have not yet the catalogue of Frankfort, nor any news but what you often hear. The reports of the prince's entertainment in Spain fills the mouths and ears of all men ; and not so only, but also set the printers a work. I should be very glad to know your lordship's resolution of coming into England, that I might 174 LETTERS. accordingly send you either books, or other news which we have here. If your lordship would be pleased to send me your copy of Dionysius Exiguus, I would wiUingly take some pains in the publication of him ; for I doubt your own labours take up so much, that you cannot attend him. I desire to be most kindly remembered to Mr. Dean of Christ church. I hear much murmurings among the papists here, especially those of our county against some new persecutions (you know their phrase) lately raised in Ireland, and particularly against some courses of your lordship's in the diocese of Meath ; as namely in the case of clandestine christenings, &c. beyond all others of your rank. I should be larger, did I not doubt of my letter's finding your lordship there; but wheresoever God will dispose of us, let it be ; I will ever approve myself Your Lordship's true affectionate Friend and Servant, HENRY BOURGCHIER. London, April 16. 1622, Your College statute of seven years' continuance is much disliked here, with some other things in that society ; and some fault laid upon us, that we did not take a more exact survey of their affairs. LETTERS, 175 LETTER LI, the lord bishop of meath to mr, john selden, Worthy Sir, I RECEIVED your loving letter sent unto me by Sir Henry Bourgchier, and do heartily thank you for your kind remembrance of me. Touching that which you move, concerning the situation of churches in the elder times of Christianity, Walafridus Strabo* telleth us, " Non magnopere curabant illius temporis justi, quam in partem orationis loca converterent." Yet his conclu sion is, " Sed tamen usus frequentior, et rationi vicinior habet, in orientem orantes converti, et pluralitatem maxi- mam ecclesiarum eo tenore constitui," Which doth fur ther also appear by the testimony of Paulinus bishop of Nola, in his twelfth epistle to Severus : " Prospectus" vero basilics non, ut usitatior mos, orientem spectat." And particularly with us here in Ireland, Joceline in the life of St. Patrick observeth, that a church was built by him in Sabul, hard by Down, in Ulster, " Ab aquilonali parte versus meridianam plagam," Add hereunto that place of Socrates: 'Ev° 'AvrtoxEi? rrig 'Sivpiag, ri 'EKKXrjtrta avTiarpo(j>ov et^ei rjjv Biaiv ' ov ydp irpog avaroXcig to 9v- diaarifpiov , aXXd rrpog Simv opq, and compare it with that other place of Walafridus Strabo, where he showeth both in the church that Constantine and Helena builded at Jerusalem; and at Rome also in the church of All- Saints, (which before was the Pantheon) and St. Peter's ; ' De rebus ecclesiasticis, cap. 4, ''Tom, 5, Biblioth, Patr, part. 1. pag. 171, edit. Colon. " Lib. 5. Hist, eccles. cap. 22. 176 LETTERS. " Altaria non tantum ad orientem, sed etiam in alias partes esse distributa." I desire to have some news out of France concerning the Samaritan Pentateuch ; and how the numbers of the years of the fathers, noted therein, do agree with those which the SajuaptrtKov hath in Grscis Eusebianis Sca ligeri ; also whether Fronto Ducsus his edition of the Septuagint be yet published. I would intreat you like wise, if it be not too great a trouble, to transcribe for me out of the annals of Mailrose in Sir Robert Cotton's library, the Succession and times of the kings of Scotland, So ceasing to be further troublesome unto you at this time, I rest Your most assured, loving Friend, JA, MID, Dubhn, April 16. 1622. LETTERS. 177 LETTER LIL DR, WARD TO THE LORD BISHOP OF MEATH, My good Lord, The remembrance of our former love doth embolden me to present these lines to your lordship, which otherwise I would not presume to do. I wish your lordship, in your great place and dignity, all happiness and con tentment ; still persuading myself, that your place and dig nity doth not so alter you, but that you still do continue to be ^iX6(3ij3Xog, no less than that bishop of Durham, R. Angerville, was. I hope therefore it will not be alto gether ungrateful to write of things touching that argu ment. I am right sorry to hear of that heavy news which was reported unto me upon Monday last, of the taking of Heydelberg by Tilly, the commander of the duke of Ba varia. It is a great grief that the place, where the purity of the reformed religion hath so long been maintained, should now come into the hands of the enemy. I take it, I have heard, that, out of fear it should be besieged, care was taken that the manuscripts were conveyed into the duke of Wirtemburg's country. I wish it were so, if it be not. It should grieve me, if that famous library too should come into their hands, who are so faithless in set ting them out. Your lordship was partly acquainted with a business which I had undertaken, to answer one chapter of Per ron's latest work, set out after his decease. Since that time Petrus Bertius, the remonstrant, is turned Roman Catholic, and hath undertaken the translation of that whole VOL. XV. N 178 LETTERS. book into Latin, and hath in specimen set forth the trans lation of that chapter which I had undertaken to answer, as a principal motive of his conversion to them, which he hath added to the oration of the motives to his conver sion; I suppose you have seen the book. Now having been lately chosen, upon my lord of Sarum his promotion, to be reader of the Margaret lecture in our university, I am advised by my good friends, and namely the lords bishops of WeUs and Sarum, to read those controversies mentioned in that chapter. And upon more mature ad vice have resolved to set down positively the Fathers' doc trine, not barely by thesis, but with their several proofs, and the vindication of them from the adversary's cavUs. I will be bold to communicate with you the special diffi culties which I shall observe, if it be not troublesome unto your lordship. In the first controversy, touching the real presence, they except against the testimony produced by P. Martyr of Chrysostom ad Cssarium monachum. I have heard your lordship say, it is alleged by Leontius, but by what Leontius, and where, I remember not. I cannot find it in such tractates of Leontius, as I find in Bibliotheca patrum; I desire your lordship in a word to certify me. It seemeth P. Martyr read it in Latin, for otherwise it is probable he would have alleged the Greek text, if originally he had it out of the Greek. I suppose your lordship hath seen the third tome of Spalatensis, containing his seventh and ninth book. I fear me he may do some harm with the treatise which he hath*, touching the matter of predestination, wherein he goeth about to show, that both opinions may be tolerated, both that of St. Austin's, which makes predestination to be gratuita; and that other, which maketh predestina tion to be, ex prsvisis fide et operibus. But chiefly he goeth about to invalidate St. Austin's opinion. It wUl confirm the remonstrants in their error; for he hath said iiiiore than any of them, but all in vain, for doubtless iSt, Austin's opinion is the truth: and no doubt but it is » Lib. 7. cap. 1 1 . LETTERS. 179 special grace which doth distinguish Peter from Judas, and not solum liberum arbitrium. It is great pity the man was so carried away with ambition and avarice; otherwise I think he is not inferior to Bellarmine, for the controver sies. I write this letter upon my way, being at Sarum, where my lord bishop of Sarum doth salute you. I can not now dilate further, but with my best service and wishes, commend your lordship to the highest Majesty, and sorest Your Lordship's in all service, SAMUEL WARD. Sarum, Sept. 25. 1622. I intreat your lordship that I may know where Leontius doth allege that tractate of Chrysostom. N 2 180 LETTERS. LETTER LIIL THE BISHOP OF MEATH TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE OLIVER LORD GRANDISON. My VERY GOOD Lord, I HAD purposed with myself long ere now to have seen your honour in England ; which was one reason, among others, why I did forbear to trouble you hitherto with any letters. But seeing I think now it will fall out, that I shall remain here this winter, I thought it my duty, both to tender my thankfulness unto your lordship for all the honourable favours which I have re ceived at your hands, and withal to acquaint you with a certain particular, which partly doth concern myself, and in some sort also the state of the Church in this poor nation. The day that my lord of Falkland received the sword, I preached at Christ Church : and fitting myself to the present occasion, took for my text those words in the thirteenth to the Romans : " He beareth not the sword in vain." There I showed, 1. What was meant by this sword. 2. The subject wherein that power rested. 3. The matters wherein it was exercised. 4. Thereupon what it was to bear the sword in vain. Whereupon, fall ing upon the duty of the magistrate in seeing those laws executed that were made for the furtherance of God's service, I first declared, that no more was to be expected herein from the subordinate magistrate than he had re ceived in commission from the supreme ; in whose power it lay to limit the other at his pleasure. Secondly, I wished, that if his Majesty (who is, under God, our su- LETTERS. 181 preme governor) were pleased to extend the clemency toward his subjects that were recusants, some order not withstanding might be taken with them, that they should not give us public affronts, and take possession of our churches before our faces. And that it might appear, that it was not without cause that I made this motion, I instanced in two particulars that had lately fallen out in mine own diocese : the one certified unto me by Mr. John Ankers, preacher of Athlone, a man well known unto your lordship, who wrote unto me, " That going to read prayers at Kilkenny, in Westmeath, he found an old priest, and about forty with him, in the church ; who was so bold as to require him (the said Ankers) to depart, until he had done his business." The other concerninsr the friars, who not content to possess the house of Multi- fernan alone, whence your lordship had dislodged them, went about to make collections for the re-edifying of ano ther abbey near MuUingar, for the entertaining of another swarm of locusts. These things I touched only in gene ral, not mentioning any circumstances of persons or places. Thirdly, I did intreat, that whatsoever connivance were used unto others, the laws might be strictly executed against such as revolted from us, that we might at least wise keep our own, and not suffer them without all fear to fall away from us. Lastly, I made a public protestation, that it was far from my mind, to excite the magistrate unto any violent courses against them, as one that natu rally did abhor all cruel dealings, and wished that effu sion of blood might be held rather the badge of the whore of Babylon, than of the Church of God. These points, howsoever they were delivered by me with such limitations, as in moderate men's judgments might seem rather to intimate an allowance of a toleration in respect of the general, than to exasperate the state unto any extraordinary severity: yet did the popish priests persuade their followers, that I had said, " The sword had rusted too long in the sheath," whereas in my whole sermon I never made mention either of rust or sheath : yea, some also do not stick to give out, that I did 182 LETTERS. thereby closely tax yourself for being too remiss in prose cuting of the papists in the time of your government. I have not such diffidence in your lordship's good opinion of me, neither will I wrong myself so much, as to spend time in refelling so lewd a calumniation. Only I thought good to mention these things unto your lordship, that if any occasion should be offered hereafter to speak of them, you might be informed in the truth of matters : wherein, if I have been too troublesome unto you, I humbly crave par don, and rest Your Honour's in all duty. Ever ready to be commanded, JAS. MIDENSIS. Dublin, October 16. 1622. LETT&RS. 183 LETTER LIV. THE MOST REV. DR. HAMPTON, ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH, TO THE LORD BISHOP OF MEATH. Salutem in Christo. My Lord, In the exceptions taken by recusants against your sermon, I cannot be affected as Gallic was at the beating of Sosthenes, to care nothing for them. I am sensible of that which my brethren suffer : and if my ad vice had been required, I should have counselled your lordship to give lenitives of your own accord, for all which was conceived over harsh or sharp ; the inquisition, whe ther an offence were given or taken, may add to the flame already kindled, and provoke further displeasure, it is not like to pacify anger. But let your case be as good as Peter's was, when the brethren charged him injuriously for preaching to the uncircumcised, the great apostle was content to give them a fair public satisfaction, and it wrought good effects; for the text saith, " His* auditis quieverunt et glorificaverunt Deum :" it brought peace to the congregation, and glory to God. My noble lord deputy hath propounded a way of paci fication, that your lordship should here satisfy such of the lords as would be present ; wherein my poor endea vours shall not be wanting : howbeit, to say ingenuously as I think, that is not like to have success ; for the lord of Kilkenny and your other friends, trying their strengths in that kind at Trim, prevailed not; but can tell your * Acts, chap. 11. 184 LETTERS. lordship what is expected. And if my wishes may take place, seeing so many men of quality have something against you, tarry not till they complain, but prevent it by a voluntary retractation, and milder interpretation of the points offensive, and especially of drawing the sword, of which spirit we are not, nor ought to be ; for our weapons are not carnal, but spiritual. Withal it will not be amiss in mine opinion for your lordship to withdraw yourself from those parts, and to spend more time in your own dio cese; that such as will not hear your doctrine, may be drawn to love and reverence your lordship for your hos pitality and conversation. Bear with the plains of an old man's pen, and leave nothing undone to recover the inter course of amity between you and the people of your charge. Were it but one that is alienated, you would put on the bowels of the evangelical shepherd, you would seek him and support his infirmities with your own shoul ders ; how much more is it to be done, when so many are in danger to be lost ? But they are generous and noble and many of them near unto you in blood or alliance, which will plead effectually, and conclude the matter fully whensoever you show yourself ready to give them satis faction. In the mean time, I will not fail to pray God for his blessings unto the business, and so do rest Your Lordship's very loving Brother, ARMAGH. Tredagh, October 17. 1622. LETTERS. 185 LETTER LV. THE BISHOP OF MEATH TO DR. SAMUEL WARD, MASTER OF SIDNEY SUSSEX COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE. Worthy Sir, I VTAS heartUy glad when I heard, that upon my lord of Sarum's promotion you were chosen to succeed him in reading the Lady Margaret's lecture ; and do very well approve the judgment of them, who advised you to handle the controversies mentioned in that chapter of cardinal Perron's book, which Bertius pretendeth to have been the principal motive of verifying in himself the title of his old book, Hymensus Deserter. His oration of the motives to his perversion I saw before I left England, than which I never yet did see a more silly and miserable dis course proceed from the hands of a learned man. The epistle that Chrysostom wrote unto Cssarius against the heresy of Apollinarius and others, that confounded the (deity and the humanity in Christ, is not cited by Leontius, but by the author of the Collections against the Se- verians, who is thought to have lived about the time of Damascen. In the eighth tome Bibliothecs patrum, you shall find these words alleged by him, ex Chrysostomo ad Cssarium monachum : " Hoc* est absurdum dogma Apol- 'linarii amentis; hsc est hsresis impiissima introducen- tium mixtionem et compositionem." Peter Martyr met with this treatise only in Latin; but I showed him the contrary, by the controversy that was betwixt Gardiner and him*", concerning the interpretation of the word evu- •^ Edit, Colon, an, 1618, pag, 336. '' Respon. ad Object. 201. 186 LETTERS. Spvtraarig. Martyr mistaking it, as if it had been derived from vSdip, and so translating it in that sentence : " Sic et hie divina mundante corporis natura," and Gardiner on the other side contending it should be rendered " Fir- mante corporis natura," and the rig.hter of the three, per adventure, being that which I follow : " divina natura in corpore insidente." I am at this present in hand with such a work as you are employed in, being drawn there unto by a challenge made by a Jesuit in this country, concerning the Fathers' doctrine in the point of traditions, real presence, auricular confession, priest's power to for give sins, purgatory, prayer for the dead, limbus patrum, prayer to saints, images, free "will, and merits. I handle therein only the positive doctrine of the fathers, and the original of the contrary error, leaving the vindication of the places of antiquity abused by the adversary, until I be urged thereunto hereafter by my challenger. The better part of the work I have gone through already : as soon as the whole is finished I will not forget to send it unto you, or else deliver it with mine own hands. In the mean time I send you a treatise, -written by one of our judges here, touching these controversies; with a discourse of mine own added thereunto, " concerning the reUgion professed by the ancient Irish :" and so leaving you, and all your painful endeavours unto the blessing of our good God, I rest Your own in all Christian love And affection, JAC. MIDENSIS, Finglass, March 18. 1622. LETTERS. 187 LETTER LVL sir henry bourgchier to the lord BISHOP OF MEATH. Salutem a fonte Salutis, Most Rev. in Christ, I CANNOT hope to send you any por tion of our London news, which common fame will not brmg sooner to you ; I notwithstanding fail in my duty, if I adventure not. The same day of your departure hence, the houses of parliament presented their petition concern ing recusants to the king ; to which they received a large and very satisfactory answer ; and a proclamation to that purpose is expected within a few days. On Saturday, the day following, the Spanish ambassador (I mean the mar quess) desiring audience, acquainted the king with a prac tice of treason ; namely, that the prince and my lord of Buckingham had conspired, that if they could not draw the king to their desires this parliament, by the authority thereof they would confine him to some place of pleasure, and transfer the government to the prince. About this there is now much consultation, in what manner to pro ceed, salvo legatino jure; and Sir Robert Cotton, as you know his manner is, hath been very busy in ransack ing his papers for precedents : of this more hereafter. This day my Lord Treasurer makes his answer; about the beginning of the next week we shall know his doom. Our good friend D. Lyndsel was cut on Monday ; and is yet, God be praised, well after it; there was a stone taken out of his bladder about the bigness of a shilling, 188 LETTERS. and rough on the one side. I am now collating of Bede's Ecclesiastical History with Sir Robert Cotton's copy ; wherein I find many variations ; I compare it with Com- melyn's edition in folio, which is that I have. All that I expect from your lordship, is to understand of the receipt of my letters, which if I know, I shall write the more con fidently. I should also willingly know how you Hke your dwelling. My lord of Bristol is come. I pray you pre sent my love and service to Mrs. Ussher : and so with many thanks for all your kind respects, I wiU ever remain Your very affectionate Friend And Servant, HENRY BOURGCHIER. London, April 28. 1623. Sir Robert Cotton is like to get a very good copy of Malmesbury De Antiquitat. Glaston. It is a book I much desire to see. I pray you remember the Irish annals which you promised me before your going out of town. LETTERS. 189 LETTER LVII. MB. HOLCROFT TO THE LORD BISHOP OF MEATH. My Lord, It hath pleased his Majesty now to direct this letter to the lord deputy to admit you a privy counsellor of that kingdom. I am ashamed it hath staid so long in my hands before it could be dispatched : but if it had come at first to me, during the duke of Buckingham's being here, it had not staid three days, but gone on in the plain high way, which is ever via sana. After the lord deputy was pleased to put it into my hands, at my first access I moved his Majesty and showed his lordship's hand : but the king willed it should stay ; and it became not me to press it further at that time : I know the cause of the stay was not any dislike of your person, or purpose not to grant it. But if the duke had come home at any time, you should have been beholding to him for it. I pray your lordship not to think it strange, that about the same time his Majesty despatched the letter for Sir Edward Trevour to be a counsellor: the grant was gotten by my lord of Buckingham before his going, and by his command ment I drew it. I do strive to give your lordship a particular account of this business, and do pray your lord ship to endeavour to satisfy the lord deputy, of whose commands herein I was not negligent. So soon as I ac quainted his Majesty with his lordship's second letter, I had his royal signature of which I wish you much joy. 190 letters. My Lord Grandison is in reasonable good health. So I remain Your Lordship's most assured Friend, HENRY HOLCROFT. Westminster, June 13, 1623, letters- 191 LETTER LVIII. DR. GOAD, AND DR. FEATLY, CHAPLAINS TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, TO THE LORD BISHOP OF MEATH. Admodum Reverende Domine, Having so convenient a means, we send to your lordship, which perhaps you have not yet seen translated and thus armed with a preface, by a worthy and learned gentleman, Sir Humphrey Lynd, our neigh bour. To whose observations concerning the censures upon this tractate De Corpore et Sanguine Christi, if you wUl add any thing which he hath not espied, we will im part the same from you to him, whereby your lordship shall more encourage this well deserving defender of the cause of religion, to whom in other respects the Church and common cause oweth much. For at this instant upon our motion he hath undertaken the charge of printing the particular passages of many late writers castrated by the Romish knife. The collections are made by Dr. James, and are now to be sent unto us for preparation to the press. We shall begin with Polydore Virgil, Stella, Ma riana, and Ferus. Prsterea in eodem genere alia texitur tela. The story of the Waldenses written in French, and comprising relations and records for four hundred years, is now in translating into English to be published. Before which it is much desired that your lordship will be pleased to prefix a preface for the better pass ; which we think will be very acceptable, and the rather because we hope your lordship will therein intimate, that in the same subject 192 LETTERS. jamdudum aliquid parturis, whereto this may serve for a midwife, unless the mascuUne birth deliver itself before this foreign midwife come. Thus desiring to hear from your lordship, but more to see you here upon a good occasion, we take our leave, and rest. Your Lordship's to be commanded, THOMAS GOAD. DANIEL FEATLY. Lambeth, June 14. 1623. LETTERS. 193 LETTER LIX. SIR HENRY BOURGCHIER TO THE LORD BISHOP OF MEATH. Most Rev. in Christ, Though I have Uttle to say more than the remembrance of my love and best respects, I could not forbear to lay hold on the opportunity of this bearer, our common friend, thereby to present them, as many ways most due from me to your lordship. You have been so long expected here, that your friends' letters have by that means come more rarely to your hands. We have little news either of the great business, or any other, though messengers come weekly out of Spain : and I con ceive that matters are yet very doubtful. The new chapel for the Infanta goes on in building, and our London papists report, that the angels descend every night and build part of it. Here hath been lately a conference be tween one Fisher a Jesuit, and one Sweete on the one side, and Dr. Whyte and Dr. Featly on the other. The question was of the antiquity and succession of the Church : it is said that we shall have it printed. All our friends are in good health, namely Sir Robert Cotton, Sir Henry Spelman, Mr. Camden, Mr. Selden, and the rest, and remember themselves most affectionately to you. Mr. Selden will send you a copy of his Eadmerus with the first opportunity, which should have been done before this time, had not his expectation of you here stayed his hand. Philip Cluverius is lately dead at Leyden of a consumption: before his death he was so happy as to finish his Italia, which they say is done with great dili gence, and the irapression so forward that we shall have it VOL, XV, o 194 LETTERS, this autumnal mart. My lord Chichester is to go within a fortnight to Colen, to the treaty and meeting there, appointed for the restitution of the Palatinate. But some think that the armies now a-foot in Germany will much hinder it. Bethlem Gabor troubles the emperor again in Austria. The duke of Brunswick in Bohemia, Lusatia, and Silesia; and Manfeyld in other places, I believe I shall see your lordship in Ireland before I see you here. If your Answer to the ChaUenge be printed, I hope I shall be beholding to you for a copy. And thus wishing your lordship as much happiness as to myself, I will ever remain Your Lordship's most affectionate Friend and Servant, HENRY BOURGCHIER. London, July 14, 1623, Divers of my fellow-commissioners remeraber their best affections to your lordship; especially Sir Nath. Rich, and Mr. Crew. My lord Marshal speaks of you often with much affec tion ; you will find him a noble friend, if occasion be to use him ; which if it be in your absence, and myself pre sent, I shall be most glad to be your solicitor. LETTERS. 195 LETTER LX. THE RIGHT REV. THOMAS MORTON, BISHOP OP COVENTRY AND LITCHFIELD, TO THE LORD BISHOP OF MEATH. Salutem in Christo Jesu, Right Rev. and dear Brother: ^ojvij kcu fiLg : I DO much joy to hear of your health, wherein consisteth the comfort of many : I have been much beholding unto Mr. Dr. Barlow for his pains, both in comraending your lordship's health unto me, and in inviting me by his presence to write unto you ; yet more especially for the view that he gave me of your trea tise, which is now lately published : at the sight of the inscription, viz. The Religion professed by the ancient Irish, I was compelled to usurp that saying, " Num boni quid ex Galilsa ?" Yet when I came and saw, it is that good which beyond expectation doth rauch affect me : this is, Ex tenebris lucem : Macte industria et sancti- tate, and bless the world with your labours. When I shall have any thing that may seem acceptable, I shall be ready to impart it unto your lordship. My request is, that when you shall have occasion for London, I may be your host, for I lie directly in the road : in the interim let us, I pray you, enjoy the right of Christian absents, to pray one for another. And thus desiring our Lord Jesus to preserve us to the glory of his saving grace, I rest Your Lordship's loving Brother and Friend, Eccleshall, July 19. 1023. THO. COVEN. AND LITCH. 196 LETTERS. LETTER LXL THE BISHOP OF MEATH TO THE MOST REV. DR. HAMPTON, ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. My very GOOD Lord, It is now above a fortnight since I re ceived your Grace's direction for prosecuting the order for settlement of the payment of tithes in the escheated counties ; whereof some question was made at the council table. My lord Docwra, and myself, the next day after we received your letters, addressed ourselves unto the lord deputy, and possessed him fully with the substance of the business : within two hours after your Grace's letter was openly read at the table : together with which I exhi bited the orders set down in your triennial visitation, anno MDCXX. Whereupon my lord deputy very ho nourably moved, that the former act of state raight be renewed, and enlarged with the addition of such particu lars as were in your orders expressed, and there omitted. It was replied, that the matter was of great importance, and much concerned the country, and therefore it was not suddenly to be resolved upon, until the advice of the judges and some other of the bishops were had therein. In the mean time, for the preparing of matters, Mr. vice- treasurer, my lord chief justice. Sir Roger Jones, Sir Adam Loftus, and myself, were appointed to meet in private, and to consider of those particulars in your Grace's order, which were not formerly contained in the Act of state. The things questioned at that meeting were : LETTERS. 197 1. For the tithes of warrens and fish, of which they made doubt, whether they ought to be paid or no. 2. Of tradesmen, merchants, and sellers of small wares, under which title, they said, all sellers of ale, all manual occupation, and day labourers might be comprehended : yea, and the servants of all the trades also, as well as the masters. 3. To the tithe of milk and calves, they would have the words of cheese and butter added, to take away all ques tions about them. 4. That no seed of hemp and flax should be paid, but such as are in the bundle with the stalks of the hemp and flax, as it was no otherwise, I told them, in the order in tended. 5. Of mortuaries was the last and greatest controversy; which being given heretofore, as was alleged, for praying for dead men's souls, it was by some said, that it was against law and conscience to demand them now, when such praying is held to be unlawful. But generally the exception taken against the order was, that the poor only did suffer therein ; and therefore it was wished, that a certainty raight be laid down for all mortuaries. This is the substance of all that passed at that meeting ; since which I have attended divers tiraes, to see unto what issue these things might be brought at the table. And to be sure that nothing should be done therein in my absence, I took with me your Grace's orders, and the coraraissioners' aniraadversions upon them, and still detain them in mine own custody. At last considering that it was your Grace's pleasure that my lord chancellor should be raade acquainted with this business, before it came to the table ; seeing, by reason of his absence, that could not then be done, I thought it not amiss yesterday to move my lord deputy, that things might be deferred until my lord chancellor's coming hither: for now that ray lord Docwra is in England, I think we shall not find any Hke affected unto us in this business, as my lord deputy and lord chancellor have always showed themselves to be. My continual expectation of the ending of this matter 198 LETTERS.. hath occasioned the delay of my writing unto your Grace therein : now, as you shall be pleased to give me further direction, I will either proceed in the same, or forbear until we may have the benefit of my lord chancellor's pre sence. While I was writing of this, I received your Grace's letter brought by this bearer : together with his complaint made against Heglye, and others, in the prosecution of that suit. I will, according to your direction, give order to my official that these violent courses may be stayed, until the truth of things upon further exaraination may appear. I find more trouble with Mr. Heglye and Mr. Shepherd in causes of this nature, than with all the ministers in Meath beside : and in truth, my lord, unless some course be taken for restraining such unquiet spirits as these, our whole clergy will pessime audire for their sakes. Yesterday I was fain myself to prefer a petition to my lord deputy in behalf of my clergy, that no indict ments might be permitted to proceed against them at the assizes for matters of this kind, but they might be referred to the ecclesiastical court, unto which the cognizance of the right of tithes doth properly appertain. And I do discern at this time a kind of a general corabination to be made for the disgrace and keeping down of our ministers. What that particular is which your Grace doth mention in the beginning of your letter, I do not yet understand, John Forth having not as yet sent any letter unto me. But whatsoever it is, I will not fail, God willing, to be present at the assizes in Trim ; and both in that particu lar, and in all other things, wherein your Grace shall be pleased to employ me, to follow your directions, as one who desireth always to be accounted Your Grace's, ready to Do you all service, JA. MIDENSIS. Finglass, August 6, 1623. LETTERS. 199 LETTER LXIL THE MOST REV. THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH TO THE LORD BISHOP OF MEATH. Salutem in Christo, Upon Sunday last, as I was going to bed, a packet was brought unto me from my lord deputy, with the adver tisements of all that passed at White-Hall the 20th of July. But by good hap I received advice frora my lord Grandison, five days before the king's noble profession in a speech used to his judges, that as he had, so he would still maintain the " religion established in the Church of England, and would never give way to the contrary." Only he wished the judges to proceed in the execution of laws with temperance, and fitting moderation. Seeing it hath pleased God (whose councils may be se cret, but not unjust) to exercise us with this mixture, let us remember how dangerous it is to provoke princes with too much animosity, and what hazard Chrysostom brought to religion that way. The Gospel is not supported with wilfulness, but by patience and obedience. And if your lordship light upon petulant and seditious libels, too fre quent now-a-days, as report goeth, I beseech you to re press them, and advise our brethren to the like care. So I commend you to God, resting Your Lordship's very loving Brother, ARMAGH, August 12. 1623. 200 LETTERS,. LETTER LXIII, DR, RYVES TO THE LORD BISHOP OF MEATH. Right Reverend, and- my very good Lord, I have now too long time forborn to write unto your lordship, the cause whereof hath been, for that we have here lived in suspense ourselves, of what would ensue of our noble prince in his journey into Spain ; neither durst I write you any thing for certain, because I was ever in fear of a contrary report before ray letter could come unto you ; and as for uncertainties they were not worth the writing. But now at the last, thanks to our good God, we have our prince again ; he came to London on Monday morning last, being the sixth of this present, at eight of the clock in the morning ; it was my hap to be at Lambeth at that time with my lord of Canterbury ; and whilst I was there, the prince came to Lambeth stairs, where his Grace received him and kissed his hand ; and from thence in his Grace's barge went to York-house, where he brake his fast, and presently went away to Roys- ton, where the king then was and is. News of his lodging that night at Guilford came to his grace of Canterbury that morning at three of the clock, and presently all Lon don rang with the bells, and flamed with bonfires, and re bounded all over with such shouts, as is not well possible to express. The day, without bidding, was kept festival by every man ; whereof, because I took such pleasure in seeing it, I conceive your lordship will take some pleasure in hearing the relation. As for the match, " Rumor in LETTERS, 201 ambiguo est, pars invenit utraque causas;" some say it will be a match, others that it will not ; and each part thinks he hath reason for what he says ; but nothing is yet known that may be reported for a certainty. As for my self, hanging otherwise in equal balance between the two opinions, your divining spirit is always obversant before mine eyes ; and sways me to believe as I hope, that it will please God to dispose of our prince's affections for the greater benefit of his Church, and our state. It hath haply ere this came to your lordship's ears, that I was not long since commanded to attend my lord Chichester into Germany : after a while, that negotiation was hung up upon the nail, in expectance of the prince's return : and now we look to hear of a new suraraons, but nothing is done as yet therein. And even so, my good lord, humbly desiring your good prayers to God for me in all my honest endeavours, I take leave, and rest. Your Lordship's in all service To be commanded, F, RYVES. From my house near the Doctors- Commons, this 8th of October, 1623. POSTSCRIPT, My good lord, no man doubts but that the prince went a good Protestant out of England ; but it's as certain, thanks be given to God for it, that he is returned out of Spain tenfold more confirmed in ours, more obdurate against their religion, than ever he was before. So is the Duke of Buckingham, in so much that upon his letters to his duchess out of Spain, she went also pubUcly to her parish church at St, Martin's the Sunday before Michael- 202 LETTERS, mas, and on Michaelraas-day itself, and so continueth. Moreover, what is befallen to the prince hiraself and to the duke, the same is befallen to the rest of his company, they all return more resolved Protestants than ever ; being thoroughly persuaded ex evidentia facti, that popery is idolatry, if ever any were. F. R. LETTERS, 203 LETTER LXIV, SIR H. BOURGCHIER TO THE LORD BISHOP OF MEATH. Salutem a D. N, Jesu Christo. Most Reverend in Christ, I HOPE you will impute my long silence to your long expected and much wished repair hither, which you seeraed in your last kind letter to intend before this tirae : I trust that your stay proceeds not frora want of health, but some other occasion, which I shall most gladly understand. We are here full of business, but all in treaty, and so little concluded, that I know not what to deUver for truth to my friends. Here hath been a great conventicle of ambassadors which is now dissolved : Die- guo de Mendoza, who accompanied the prince, is gone yesterday: Dieguo de Meshia, who came from Bruxells with a fair train of nobles, gentlemen, and railitary raen, goes away on Tuesday next. Our late prodigious events, as that of the fall of the house in Blackfriars, being related in three several pamphlets, the late dangerous fire in Lon don, with sorae others of that kind, cannot now be new to your lordship. The latest which I raust send you, is very sad and dolorous, being of the death of our late worthy friend Mr. Caraden, whose funeral we solemnized at West minster on Wednesday last in the afternoon with all due solemnity: at which was present a great asserably of all conditions and degrees; the sermon was preached by Dr. Sutton, who made a true, grave, and modest comme moration of his Ufe : as he was not factious in religion, so 204 LETTERS. neither was he wavering or inconstant, of which he gave good testimony at his end ; professing in the exordium of his last will and testament, that he died, as he had lived, in the faith, communion and fellowship of the Church of England. His library, I hope, will fall to ray share, by an agreement between his executors and me, which I much desire, partly to keep it entire, out of ray love to the de funct. The original copy of the second part of his Eliza beth is in my hands, which is intended to be shortly print ed. Within a day or two Sir Robert Cotton and myself intend to go into his study, which is yet shut up, and there to take a view of his papers, especially of such things as are left of his own writing, I desire to be remembered by your lordship in your holy prayers to God, to whose gra cious protection I commend you, and ever remain. Your Lordship's most affectionate Friend and Servant, HENRY BOURGCHIER. London, Novemb. 22, 1623, LETTERS. 205 LETTER LXV. DR, JAMES TO THE LORD BISHOP OF MEATH, My duty in most humble manner remembered unto your lordship. I am informed that your lordship passed this way, not far from us, to London, where you have re mained for some few weeks : I should have been glad to have known of it sooner, or rather to have waited upon your lordship here in Oxford. I have traced the steps afar off about the succession and visibility of the Church, wherein your lordship had gone a far journey: I do but glean where you have reaped a plentiful harvest. Never theless, if ray poor and weak labours raay any ways stead your lordship, I would be glad to contribute my pains. You ascend (as I perceive) as far as our St. Augustine of England, and not unworthily : for if our records be true, not only the Irish, (as you show,) but also our Britons and Scots continued averse and heretical (as they are called) to the whole world, almost to the time of St. Bernard. Many Scots and French were orthodox in the substantial points of religion long before Waldus (I raean P. Waldus, for there was another Waldus orthodox some hundreds of years before P. Waldus in Berengarius's time.) I have collected as much as I can find in all likely authors to this purpose, as in the catalogue of writers and witnesses of the truth of the last age of Goulartius, Wolfius, Rhoanus, Balsus De scriptoribus, out of the history of the Walden ses, both by Lydius and Camerarius out of Lombard, Dr. Powel and others, printed out of sundry Manuscripts, as Gascoigne, Canter, Mapes, P. de Vineis, Becket Saris buriensis, which have been diligently read over by a 206 LETTERS. learned kinsman of mine, who is at this present, by ray di rection,' writing Becket's Hfe : wherein it shaU be plainly showed, both out of his own writings and those of his time, that he was not (as he is esteemed) an arch saint, but an arch rebel ; and that the papists have not been a little de ceived in him. This kinsman of mine, as well as myself, shall be right glad to do any service to your lordship in this kind. He is of strength, and well both able and learned to effectuate somewhat in this kind ; critically seen both in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, knowing well the lan guages both French, Spanish, and ItaUan, immense and beyond all other men, especially in reading of the manu scripts of an extraordinary style in penning, such a one as I could wish your lordship had about you: but " pauper- tas inimica bona est moribus," and both fatherless and mo therless, and almost (but for myself) I may say (the more is the pity) friendless. For myself, I ara not so far gone in years as in sicknesses ; yet my body is not so weak, but my mind is as strong, and my zeal great to see somewhat acted against the Papists in matters of forgery and cor ruption, which are matters of fact, whereto my studies have been always aimed, and shall during life, if God will. I find infinite corruption in the Fathers' works, especially of the Roman print: in the canon law and decretals I can convince thera of shameless forgeries by the parchments. But that which hath amazed or amused the world, and made it turn, or continue popish, hath been the want of censurers of the Fathers' works, which raade our Magde- burgians and some of our best learned, to lance the Fa thers, and not to spare them, whereas they are but pseudo- fathers indeed. But the notedest cozenage, which is rife and most beguiling in these days, is a secret Index expur gatorius, and therefore the more dangerous ; that is, the reprinting of books, not making mention of any casti- gation or purgation of them, andyet both leaving and add ing, and otherwise infinitely depraving them, as is to be seen in hundreds of books of the middle age and later wri ters ; I instance in Sixtus Senensis, and Alphonsus de Cas tro, ,and Antoninus's Summes, There are about five hun- LETTERS. 207 dred bastard treatises, and about a thousand places in the true authors which are corrupted, that I have diligently noted, and will shortly vindicate thera out of the manu scripts, for hitherto they be but the conjectures of the learned. For this purpose I have gotten together the flower of our young divines, who voluntarily will join with me in the search : some fruits of their labours, if your lordship desires, I will send up. And might I be but so happy as to have other twelve thus bestowed ; four in transcribing orthodox writers (whereof we have plenty) that for the substantial points have maintained our religion, (forty or fifty pound would serve) : four to compare old prints with the new : four other to compare the Greek translations by the papists (as Vedelius hath done with Ignatius, wherein he hath been somewhat helped by my pains) I would not doubt but to drive the papists out of all their starting holes : but alas, my Lord, I have not en couragement frora our bishops ! Preferment I seek none at their hands, only forty or sixty pound per annum for others, and their lordships' letters to encourage others, is that I seek ; which being gained, the cause is gained, not withstanding their brags in their late books. And thus, craving pardon, I rest in humble service. Your Lordship's in all duty, THOS. JAMES, Oxford, 28th Jan, 1623. 208 LETTERS. LETTER LXVI. MR. WILLIAM EYRE TO THE LORD BISHOP OF MEATH. Reverende in Christo Pater, Domine mihi multis nominibus colendissime : NuPERRiME de adventu tuo in Angliam, deque mora per aliquot menses, audivi a Ramo nostro, quem tamen nondum mihi contigit videre, ex quo tecum fuit Londini : solummodo per internuntium me de quibusdam certiorem fecit. Gratulor vero tibi et tuis, nobis etiam omnibus vitam et valetudinem tuam, qui tam auspicate et fceliciter, his fu- nestissirais teraporibus, ilia arma sumsisti, qns non car- nalia, sed divinitus valida sunt ad subversionem muni- tionum Antichristi ; et Davidis exemplo in nomine Domini exercituum ad debellandum incircumcisum ilium acces- sisti. Certe hie in Anglia ad arma Ecclesis communia capes- sanda, qus preces sunt et lachryms, heu! nimis segnes sumus omnes : et alibi forsan ad arma carnalia minime necessaria nimis proclives fuerunt valde multi, oraculi apostolici non satis, ut videtur, memores de interitu Anti christi, ov o K-vpiog avaXwati t<^ irvEVjuart rov aroparog avTov' quod non solum de prsdicatione veritatis viva voce, sed etiam, ac prscipue de polemicis theologorum nostrorum scriptis interpretari licet : quo Sibyllinum etiam ilium a quibusdam transfertur, on Xtvog ahov oXei- Toi ; quoniam scilicet ex linteis contritis sit papyrus, qus scriptioni inservit. Sed quorsum hsc apud dominati- onera tuam? Accede ad ilia quorum tu nuper men tionem fecisti. Fateor me ante annos aliquot qusdam LETTERS. 209 ineditatum fuisse qus vere niinn J'D vel etiam antidoti vice esse possent, non solum contra venenata aliqua multorum scripta, qui sacrosanctos fontes corruptels passim insimulant ; sed etiam adversus nonnuUorum et pontificiorum et nostrorum de origine biblics puncta- tionis scriptionisque, admodum periculosas vel certe ni mis temerarias conjecturas ; et quorundam etiam aliorum ex ad versa parte, judaizantium superstitiosas vel minus probabiles opiniones. Nam inter biblicam et masoreticam punctationem diligenter distinguendum esse censeo, ut veritatem tam ab excessu quam a delectu inter utrumque vindicemus et sartam tectam defendamus. Csterum hsc etiam omnia et id genus alia a nobis seraipaganis qui nee otio nee Uteris abundamus, et qui Uteris quam libris sumus abundantiores, ad te releganda sunt ; limatissimum tuum et judicium et stylum desiderant. In his et aliis ejusdem farins spinosis et perplexis nobis eris ^'am nilO, vel in apologia quam in proraptu babes pro sacrorum fontium puritate et authentica utriusque Instrumenti editione, vel in bibliotheca tua theologica, quam post lucubrationes tuas de Christianarum ecclesiarum successione, expec- temus. Fieri quidem potest ut recte quis sentiat, forsan etiam et firmissimis argumentis ostendat et confirmet ; sed illud ipsura nee commode, nee expedite, nedum polite et Latine proferre possit: quod tamen in hoc de punc- tatione Hebraica arguraento mihi videtur necessarium. Quod KareXBovTa dg aSov adtinet : lectum reperies in manuscripto exemplari (inter alia) Symboli apostolici Romanis characteribus expresso, Cantabrigis in archivis bibliothecs Benedictins, KareXOovra dg Karwrara rrig yrig, iisdem fere verbis cum Septuaginta (ut opinor) xp" 63, et cum apostolo Ephes. cap. IV. Mirum in modum debac- chantur hie adversarii nostri quod non satis theologi et ca- techists nostri consentiunt in hoc articulo expUcando. Et certe populus plerisque in locis apud nos articulum hunc tantum non plane negare et rejicere jaradudura occoepit. Quod concionatorum et catechistarum quorundam vel im- perilia, vel (ut levissime dicara) incogitantia, factura esse videtur. Mihi semper maxime consentaneura visum est VOL. XV. P 210 LETTERS. et ad obstruendum os pontificus et ad piorum consola tionem, si una cum confutatione errorum de Limbo pa trum, &c. unura ideraque doceamus et profiteamur, nempe juxta tum articulos doctrins Catholics Ecclesis Angli cans, tum utrumque catechismum nostrum, minorem et majorem, Christum scilicet Dominum nostrum, vere et reapse ad locum damnatorum descendisse, et quoad effi- caciam infemum, &c. debellasse, &c, ut in Noellano cate- chisrao, si dextre intelligatur, exprimitur. Sed manum de tabula, ne epistols modum excedendo gravissimum occupationum tuarum cursum impediam. Temporis toti- usque villicationis nostrs reddenda est ratio in die illo, coram supremo Judice. Quoties mihi in mentem venit, venit autem sspiuscule, tua in me singularis dementia toties me ipsum vel ingratitudinis vel socordis accusare me posse videar, quod non sspius per Uteras officii et grati animi significationem dederim, Ignoscas igitur qusso huic temeritati mes. Christus optimus maximus te in- columera servet, precor, omnique benedictionum genere cumulatissimum reddat. Vale, Dominationi tus devotissimus in Domino, GUILIELMUS EYRE. Colcestrise Martii vii. 162?. LETTERS. 211 LETTER LXVIL DR. JAMES TO MR. CALANDRINE. Good Mr. Calandrine, I AM glad my lord hath a mind this way : I am told that he may perhaps have those fair houses furnished for the speaking : Godstow of Sir Tho. Walters, which is not far from Oxford, by land or by water at pleasure ; Water-Eaton of Sir Richard Lovelace, four miles distant ; Waterstock of Sir Geo. Crook's, six miles. I move not because I hear not from his lordship ; but if I may, both Dr. Bainbridge and myself will do our best for the best in our intentions, both for my lord's health, and the facilitating of his lordship's studies. Sir John Walter and Geo. Crook may be spoken withal in London. Concerning our beginning, and that with the Councils, taking Damasus De pontificibus, and the epistles, decretals together, I wish it here presently, if we had my lord of Canterbury's letters and copies. Nor- mannus certainly is no anabaptist. Alph. de Castro is in the Index expurgatorius as well as Cajetan, contrary to both our expectations. Not only the pieces but the whole tracts are at my lord's command. That of Anselm, Plessis had not frora rae : of that my cousin is transcribing, I know that Asinus Brunelli of Nigellus Wiraker is long ago printed, now out of print ; but he hath compared his manuscript with two more and enlarged it, the print is not to be come by. Stampensis and Serio, I think, are no where extant. In my note D. I am not as yet assured to be that in Lambeth ; the sight will show that it is a MS, so ancient, that it was Theodorus's, written almost p2 212 LETTERS. in Gregory's time : the copy of the concordance I send you, you need not keep a copy of it, for I have the ori ginal by me, Anentine of Ingolstadt I have not seen ; he is much corrupted, as all our historians ; two quire taken out of hira, two out of Cuspinian, more than a quire out of Krantzius : if my cousin come, I will perhaps send, I dare not venture them otherwise. Remember my duty to my lord, et sic te Deo. Your assured Friend, THO. JAMES. April 11, 1624. LETTERS. 213 LETTER LXVIIL mr. john bainbridge to the lord bishop of meath. My Hon. and very good Lord, After my humble service. Having a fit opportunity by Mr. James of Corpus Christi College, I would not defer to return an answer to your lordship's qusre, whether there was a solar eclipse anno periodi Julians 4114. After diligent search I find that none could appear in Europe or the confines of Asia ; but in the former year, 4113. September 20. feria prima, anno Nabonassar. 147. Olymp. 44. anno quarto, according to Ptolemy his tables in the meridian through Alexandria, Rhodes, and the western part of Asia minor, in the climate through Rhodes there appeared a notable ecUpse of the sun, three hours and twenty-five minutes before noon, to the obscuring of nine digits : the time of the eclipse was almost two hours. In Asia minor the eclipse was somewhat greater. I shall be glad if this computa tion may satisfy your honor's question : if not, I am always ready to do your lordship's service, which I shall more abundantly express, if your lordship shall please to make your residence for a time nearer us. In desire and hope whereof, I rest Your Lordship's most affectionate Servant^ JOHN BAINBRIDGE. Oxon. Ap. 18, 1624, I doubt not but your lordship doth remember the busi ness of procuring Hipparchus by my lord ambassador for Venice. 214 LETTERS. LETTER LXIX. DR. THOMAS JAMES TO MR. CALANDRINE, Good Mr. Calandrine, I RECEIVED your last week's letter : the collection out of SteUa I have, but not Stella itself, and that I will not trust an ordinary carrier with, the Lyon's addition, and the Index expurgatorius of Spain, will satisfy your longing therein : some of the first places are amended according to the prescript of that unholy Inquisition, but farther they proceed not : all the rest, and in one place a whole leaf or two, are to be expunged, but untouched in that of Lyons. We have fully finished the collation of the Opus imperfectum, hereafter more of that matter ; meantime I have taken pains, for trial sake, to compare both our Basil and it with the manuscript, for one homily ; I find wonderful need of a second review. I have sent you a proof of sorae few differences from both the printed copies, whereby you may perceive, how this book and sundry others have been tossed and tumbled by ignorant men, what, and how great mistakes, and need of a diligent review, for this is but lapping. I do send you up also, in thankfulness for Dr. Good's project, a fancy of mine, which I pray you to impart to the good bishop ; if he give any liking to it, let it go forward ; if otherwise, let it be remanded ; it is both feasible and pos sible in my judgment. If Cambridge will set up, or set forward the like, I dare undertake more good to be done for the profit of learning and true religion, than by build ing ten colleges. I have of late given myself to the read- LETTERS. 215 ing only of manuscripts, and in them I find so many, and so pregnant testimonies either fully for our religion, or against the papists, that it is to be wondered at ; religion of papists then, and now, do not agree. How many pri vate men out of their devotion would singly be able to found such a college ; much more jointly considered, but I leave all to God's providence : it shall suffice, and be a great comfort to me, if this cannot be effected, that by my lord of Canterbury's letters (which I have longed for) we may have a quasi college, and the whole benefit of that which is expected in Dr. Goad's refined project. I my self, by my intreaty, have set twenty or thirty a-work ; how may the lord archbishop command our heads of houses, and they their company, or, at least, one out of a college or hall. I have or shall receive this week three quire of paper of my workmen, for which as they finish the quire, I lay out the money, twenty shillings for each quire : of Gu. de S. Araore I have received one quire ; and so of Wickleph trspl aXriOdag, which is harder to read, and the other in English of Wickleph's I look for this day. Platina is almost done, Alphonsus a Castro res pited a while, and Cajetan likewise, till I hear from the learned bishop. Touching Wicelius, I thank you for your advertise ment, I now perceive my conjecture fails me not, that Cassander was much holpen by him, and his judgment confirmed by reading his ; but if I read his epistles, I will tell you my mind ; howsoever in the interim, Wicelius is of more authority than Cassander, and his hooks con cealed purposely, or made away quantum in illis by the inquisitors, I have ever been of Dr. Ward's mind, touch ing the publishing those books which they make away so fast, " ut jugulent homines surgunt," &c. Fisher De natura Dei is in one of their indices impudently denied to be his ; though some one in the council of Trent say nay. Upon the fifth of Matthew is but a scantling to those great volumes which I have ready : if any man please to come hither, he may see the whole. My lord of Meath's return and earnestness for the plot. 216 LETTERS. both before and since, as also Dr. Goad's forwardness to print ought hereabout (I pray God the news be not too good to be true) glads me much ; as the sickness of my lord of Ely doth some no less. It were not from the purpose, if Dr. Sutcliff do see this whole project of our college and purpose ; and if he did turn away his mind wholly from Chelsey, I durst presume of more feasibility and possibiUty here of doing good. Lastly, for the catalogue, it is a great and painful work, but hath well requited my pains, in that I find some books that I have long sought after, and could not find, as SteUa of the pope's, and such Hke. If any thing be printed, I would print only those that are not mentioned in our pre sent catalogue. But where is the encouragement for the printing or doing any thing ? If our Genevians had sent us over that of Gregory at this mart, how seasonable had it been to put an edge to our great business : I am sorry it came not, but see no remedy. What of the Enchiridion ! nothing ; my judg ment you have, and it is free to alter that, do nothing at pleasure, but sure I am, some things are past question : lay aside and expunge all doubtful treatises, till our col lege take them in hand, which shall rivet them in after another fashion, if God give life. I have now at length recovered the Spanish book of Mr. Boswell : the book is a commentary upon our English laws and proclamations against priests and Jesuits, spite ful and foolish enough, but especially about the powder- treason, laying it to Puritans, as Cobham, Gray, and Rawley ; or to the whole state, or a policy to entrap them and their estates. I would my lord of Meath did understand the tongue, that from hira the king might understand the mystery of iniquity contained in the book : no place, or time when, or where it was printed. Was he ashamed of that he did ? and it seemeth it, or the Uke hath been divulged in many languages. But I end, and pray God, that the clergy give us not a fair denial, that is, a delay to our businesses at this session. Let my LETTERS. 217 lord prevent as wisely and timely as he can. God have you and all your's in his safe keeping, and remeraber my service in dutiful manner to my lord, and commendations to ray cousin, with whora (if I had had the spirit of pro phecy) Dr. Featly should not have coped withal, but God send the truth to take place ; if the president be faulty, to be punished ; if innocent, to be delivered : and so once again I bid you heartily farewell. Your most assured Friend, THO. JAMES. Oxon, the 23d of May, 1624, If my lord of Meath, or any other there hath Wicelius, it shall be written out, unless my lord please to speak with Sir WUUam Paddy, who was the donor of the book, and may command it to London, where it may be re printed. 218 LETTERS. LETTER LXX. DR. THOMAS JAMES TO THE LORD BISHOP OF MEATH. My duty remembered unto your lordship. I am much beholden to your lordship for your last book, which I received before the Act by my good friend Mr. Calan drine; I have punctually perused it, and do render unto your lordship both common and private thanks for the same, and expect your lordship's Of the Britons' ancient Religion : wherein as I see no difficulty, so I would be glad to assist with my pains if any thing were worthy : yet of my cousin Mr. Rich. James (who remembereth himself most dutifully to your lordship) I send a taste, or essay, of what may be done by him. I will say no more of him or it, but this : that I know no man living more fit to be eraployed by your lordship in this kind than hiraself; his pains incredible, and his zeal as great, and his judgment in manuscripts such, as I doubt not but your lordship may use to the great benefit of the Church, and ease of your lordship ; may there be but some course taken that he may have victum et vestitum independent from any one. This if he may have from your lordship, or by your lord ship's means, I know his deserts and willingness to deserve well of the Church. For ray own business, I know not what to say, whether to go onward, or to stay. Guil. De S. Amore is tran scribed, and wants but the three books from your lord ship, whereof Mr. Calandrine hath given me good hopes. Wicleph De veritate is the better part done ; I have hi therto laid out the money, but my purse will hold out no longer to defray the charges : if it would be so, that I may LETTERS, 219 receive the money to recompence their pains, I would not doubt before the next session, but to have most of Wick leph's works transcribed; but I fail in the burden, and refer all to God's providence and your lordship's direc tion, being not idle in these businesses. And so in haste, with my own and my cousin's duty to you, I end, and rest, Your Lordship's in all duty, THO, JAMES. Oxon, the 27th July, 1624. 220 LETTERS. LETTER LXXI. MR. THOMAS DAVIES TO THE LORD BISHOP OF MEATH. Right Reverend, May it please your lordship to take notice, that your letter of the 24th of January in London, came to my hands the 14th of July, unto which I have given due perusal; and perceiving your lordship's plea sure thereby, omitted no opportunity, neither any time, but the very day that I received it, began to lay out for those books you writ for. The five books of Moses in the Samaritan character, I have found by a mere accident, with the rest of the old Testament joined with them; but the mischief is, there wants two or three leaves of the begin ning of Genesis, and as many in the Psalms, which not withstanding I purpose to send by this ship, lest I meet not with another ; yet I have sent to Damascus, and if not there to be had, to Mount Gerazim, so that in time I hope to procure another, which shall contain the five books of Moses perfectly. I sent a messenger on purpose to Mount Libanus and Tripoly, for the old Testament in the Syriac tongue, but he returned without it, and brought word that there I might have one after two months, but could not have it time enough to send by this ship. The reason why they sent it not, was, that they wanted parchment to copy one of the books, and so not being perfect, did not send it ; which by the next ship, if your lordship please, I will send you. But I pray understand, that by the Syriac tongue they mean here the Chaldean ; and every man teUs me it is all one, the Syrians and Chaldeans being one LETTERS. 221 and the same people, but questionless the same language : therefore if your lordship mean, and desire to have the Old Testament in Chaldean, I beseech you to write me by the first over land, that I may provide it by the next ship. Also I beseech you to take knowledge that I dare not pro mise you to send it according to the Hebrew ; for neither myself, nor any other man here, can determine it ; only I must be forced to take his word that sells it me, who is a minister of the sect of the Marranites, and by birth a Chal dean, but no scholar, neither is there any to be found in these parts ; but if your lordship will have me send it at adventures, though it cost dear (as it will cost ten pounds) I will do my best endeavour to send it by the first convey ance, but shall do nothing herein, until such tirae as I have furthet order from your lordship ; to effect business of this nature in these parts requires time, travel being very tedious in these countries, I have enquired of divers, both Christians and Jews, of the overflowing of Jordan, but can learn no certainty. Some say it never rises but after great rain ; but I met with a learned Jew, (at least so re puted,) who told me that Jordan begins to flow the thir teenth of July, and continues flowing twenty-nine days, and is sorae eighteen or twenty days increasing : but I dare not believe hira, his relation not agreeing with the text ; for harvest is near ended with thera by that time ; and unless you will understand by harvest, the time of ga thering grapes, it cannot agree, I have also sent to Da mascus concerning this, and trust ere long to satisfy your lordship in this particular, and in the calendar of the Sa maritans. A French friar who lived at Jerusalem, told me that it never overflowed except occasioned by rain : whereupon I showed him the words in Joshua, chap. III. ver. 15. that " Jordan overfloweth his banks at the time of harvest :" which words are written with a parenthesis, and therefore, said he, are no part of the text ; which I know is his ignorance ; I could have showed him the thing plainly proved by that which he holds canonical Scripture, Ec clus. chap. XXIV. ver. 26. If I have done your lord ship any service herein, I shall greatly rejoice, and shall LETTERS. ever be ready and willing to do the best service I can to further the manifestation of God's truth; yea I should think myself happy that I were able to bring a little goat's hair, or a few badgers' skins, to the building of God's ta bernacle. I acknowledge your lordship's favour towards me, who have not, neither could deserve at your hands the least kindness conceivable ; yet the graciousness of your sweet disposition emboldens me to entreat the con tinuance of the same, and also the benefit of your faithful prayers ; so shall I pass the better amongst these infidel enemies to God and his Christ. And so I pray God to encrease and multiply his favours and graces both upon your soul and body, making you happy in whatever you possess here, and hereafter to grant you glory with Christ ; into whose hands I recommend your lordship, and humbly take leave, ever resting. Your Lordship's in all bounden duty to command, THOMAS DAVIES. Aleppo, Aug, 29, 1624, LETTERS. 223 LETTER LXXII. MR. THOMAS PICKERING TO THE LORD BISHOP OF MEATH. Right Reverend, and my very good Lord, I WAS not unmindful, according to my pro mise, to send to Dr. Crakenthorp for Polybius and Dio dorus Siculus, immediately after I was with your lordship : but he, attending the visitations at Colchester and Maldon, came not home tiU yesterday. At which time, sending my man for the books, the doctor returned answer, that your lordship shall coraraand any books he hath whenso ever you please : that he hath not Diodorus Siculus ; but he sent me Polybius, and Marianus Scotus, which he says Dr. Barkham told him you desired to borrow. These two books your lordship shall now receive ; and if it fall out that you be already provided of Marianus Scotus, then it may please you to let that come back again, because the doctor tells me, that after a whUe he shall have oc casion to see some things for his use in Sigebert and other writers, which are bound in this volume with Marianus ; but by all means he desires your turn should be served however. I shall be most ready to afford your lordship any service that lieth in ray power, during your abode in these parts, holding myself in common with the church of God, much bound to you for your great and weighty la bours, both formerly and presently undertaken in the cause of our religion. The God of all wisdom direct your meditations and studies, and grant you health, and all con veniences, for the accomplishment of your intended task. And so, with remembrance of Dr. Crakenthorp's and 224 letters. my own love and service, I humbly take leave, and shall ever rest, Your Lordship's in my best devotions and Services to be commanded, THOMAS PICKERING. Finchingfield, Sept. 9. 1624. LETTER.S. 225 LETTER LXXIII. MR. THOMAS DAVIES TO TIIE LORD BISHOP OF MEATH. Right Reverend Sir, My bounden duty remembered, &c. News here is not any worthy your knowledge ; the great rebel Abassa still troubles the state, and hinders the going for ward of the army against the Persian. Some few days time, news came that the vizier had given battle to the rebel, and that the said rebel had cut off twelve thousand janizaries, yet they report the vizier to have the best of the day, which most men judge to be but report : certain it is that Abassa will give thera great trouble, pretending only revenge upon the janizaries for the blood of his master. Sultan Osman. The greatest villanies that ever were practised or intend ed, never wanted their pretences. Yet it is thought by many that this man hath done nothing without leave from the Port, otherways it is strange they had not cut him off long since ; for what can be his forces against the grand signior's powers? The janizaries refuse to go to war be fore the rebel be cut off, or peace made with him : where by you may observe what power the king hath over his soldiers ; the truth is, they coramand and rule all, oppress ing and eating up the poor. When I consider the estate of the Christians in these parts, yea the Mahumetans themselves that are not soldiers, then must I say, happy, yea thrice happy are the subjects of the king of Eng land, who live in peace, and enjoy the fruits of their own labours, and yet have another and a greater blessing, the VOL. XV. Q 226 LETTERS. free passage of the Gospel. I pray God we may see and be thankful for so great favours, expressing it by obe dience to God, and honour to our king. Thus, fearing that I have troubled your lordship with a slender discourse, I humbly take my leave, beseeching the Lord of lords to multiply his graces upon you, recom mending you, with all yours, to God's grace and mercy, and rest. Your Lordship's in all duty To command, THOMAS DAVIES. Aleppo, 29th Sept 1624, LETTERS. 227 LETTER LXXIV. SIR H. BOURGCHIER TO THE LORD BISHOP OF MEATH. My very good Lord, I RECEIVED your lordship's letter, for which I return raany thanks. My journey into Ireland is of such necessity, that I cannot defer it long ; though I have many motives, besides those mentioned by your lordship, to urge ray stay. As for the books which you mention, I find Jordanus in vitas fratrum in the cata logue of the public library at Oxford ; Mr. Selden told me he never heard of the author ; if any library about Lon don have it, or that other work of his, I will endeavour to discover thera. As for the new edition of Scaliger de emendatione teraporura ; as many as I speak withal are of opinion that it is so far from coming out, that it is not yet come into the press. Here are already come two dry-fats of mart books, and they expect but one raore ; you may perceive by the catalogue what they are. Here will be very shortly sorae good libraries to be had ; as Dr. Dee's, which hath been long litigious, and by that raeans unsold. One Oliver, a physician of St. Edmundsbury, of whose writing I have seen sorae raathematical tracts printed, and Dr. Crakanthorp, are lately dead. If there be any extraordinary books which your lordship affects, if you will be pleased to send a note of thera, they shall be bought. Such news as we have, you receive so frequently, as cora ing from me they would be stale, which you know destroys their very essence. We have had bonfires, ringing, shout ing, and also ballads, and base epithalamiums for the con- q2 228 LETTERS. elusion of the French marriage, and yet I am but modicee fidei. Our countryman Florence M'^Carthye was com mitted to the Tower some five days since. And thus re membering my best affection to your lordship and Mrs. Ussher, I will remain. Your Lordship's very affectionate Friend and Servant, HENRY BOURGCHIER. London, (in haste) November 24, 1624. LETTERS. 229 LETTER LXXV. DR. VFARD TO THE LORD BISHOP OF MEATH. My very good Lord, It was my purpose to have come to vi sit your lordship at Haddam to-morrow : but the truth is, upon Thursday last, before I came out of Cambridge, I was made acquainted with a business which will occasion my return to Cambridge to-morrow. I notwithstanding brought with me the manuscripts of Bede's Ecclesiastical history which I have of Sir R. Cotton's, and have sent it unto you by this bearer Walter Mark : I will expect the book from you, when you have done with it, for that I would keep it till Sir Robert restore a book of mine, which he had of Mr. Patrick Young. I had purposed to have borrowed also out of our university library, Simeon Du nelmensis, but I find that I am deceived, in that I thought it had been his History or Chronicle, but it is only the his tory of the church of Durham, and of the endowments of that church, and not his history of England. And thus, sorry that ray occasions will not suffer me to see your lordship this tirae ; and with my kind salutations to Sir Gerard Harvy and his lady, with thanks for my kind en tertainment when I was there ; I commend you to the gra cious protection of the highest Majesty. Your Lordship's in all observance, SAMUEL WARD. Much-Mondon, Jan. 2. 1624, 230 LETTERS. LETTER LXXVL THE BISHOP OF MEATH TO DR, SAMUEL WARD. Good Mr. Doctor ; I RECEIVED by W. Marks your ancient Bede, which I suppose did sometime belong to the church of Durham : as soon as I have compared it with the printed book, I will not fail (God willing) to send it you safe back again. As for Simeon Dunelmensis his History of the church of Durham (which is in the pubUc Hbrary of your university) I would entreat you to borrow it for me ; however it hath not proved to be the chronicle which I at first desired ; for I have a great mind to see and transcribe all that hath been written by Simeon and Turgotus Dunel mensis. Turgotus (I hear) is with Mr. Tho. Allen of Oxford, and (if my memory do not much deceive me) at my being in England the last time before this, you told me that you had begun to transcribe the Annals of Simeon Dunelmensis, which continue the History of Bede. I pray you, if you know where those Annals may be had, do your best to help me unto them. I could wish that Mr. Lisle would take some pains in translating the Saxon annals in to our English tongue; for I do not know how he can more profitably employ that skill which God hath given to him in that language. If I had any opportunity to speak with hira rayself, I would direct him to five or six Annals of this kind, (three of which belonging to Sir Robert Cot ton, I have in ray hands at this present) out of which there might be one perfect Annal made up in the English tongue, which might unfold unto us the full state of the letters. 25I Saxon times. But how that gentleman's mind stands af fected that way, I know not ; the^feeling of his mind therein I leave to you. And so, commending all your good en deavours to the blessing of our good God, I rest. Your most assured Friend, JA. MID. Much-Haddam, Jan, 4, 1624. 232 LliTTERS. LETTER LXXVII. SIR HENRY BOURGCHIER TO THE LORD BISHOP OF MEATH. My veky good Lord ; I received your lordship's letter, which was most welcome to me, and much more the news of your recovery, which was delivered to me by Mr. Bur net, and by me to some others of your friends, who were no less glad than myself. I am afraid that you converse too much with your books ; I need not teU you the danger of a relapse. This news which I sent your lordship de served not thanks, because vulgar and trivial : that of the death of Erpenius is but too true, and is much lamented by learned men in all places, for the cause by your lord ship truly expressed ; he died of the plague. Mr. Briggs was gone from London some three days before the receipt of your lordship's letter. But I will write to him that which I should have delivered by word of mouth, if he had tarried here. In the collating of books your lordship hath made a good choice, that being a fit study in time of sickness, as not so much employing the mind as other studies. As for Bede, I doubt the collation of him wUl be scarce worth your labour : for as far as I went, they seemed rather to be variantes lectiones, than material differences, a very few excepted. To make use of my collations, your lordship shaU not want the Heydelburg edition, which I wiU take care to have sent unto you. I have been this morning with Mr. Patrick Young, who cannot give me satisfaction concerning those books till he have been in the prince's Ubrary. For the nameless Annal, LETTERS. 233 I conceive that your araanuensis raistook your meaning ; for where you say that it begins at the year of our Lord DCCXLIV. and ends in the year MC. I cannot see how Asserius Menevensis could be the author of most of it: Mr. Young will make search for it, and return an answer as soon as conveniently he may. As for Asserius de re bus gestis Alfredi, he tells me that they have only a tran script of it ; but Sir Robert Cotton hath an ancient copy ; the same he tells me of Florentius Wigorniensis, and Si meon Dunelmensis. Of Eusebius's Chronicle they have three or four copies ; and if you please you shall have all of them, or which you please. Sir Robert Cotton doth daily augment his store ; he hath gotten lately a book of St. Ed mund Bury. By the next return I hope to send the books which you desire, and perhaps to play the carrier myself. There is a rumor of the adjournment of the parliament till April, but no proclamation yet come forth. There is a new secretary. Sir Albertus Morton, to be sworn in the place of Sir George Calvert. I have not heard any thing out of Ireland since ray last to your lordship. Mr. Young tells me that he received lately a letter from Paris from one Lucas Holstenius, a young man whom I mentioned sometime to your lordship, being acquainted with him here in London the last year : he writes to him that a Je suit there doth publish a new edition of Eusebius in Greek and Latin ; for the furtherance of which work, Mr. Moun tague and Mr. Young send thither their notes and observa tions upon him. Petavius is busy about his work De emen datione temporum, which will shortly come abroad. Hol stenius is printing Scylax, Artemidorus Ephesius ; with di vers other old geographers, sorae of which were heretofore published by D. Hsschelius; and sorae till now never published. I doubt not but D. Ryves hath sent your lordship his answer to the Analecta. I have read him over, and approve the work, but not in every particular; as where he makes* Sedulius, among others, to be one of St, Patrick's forerunners in the plantation of Christian re- •> Pag. 46, lib. 2. 234 LETTERS. ligion in Ireland. I do not see how that can be ; the best authors making him contemporary, if not later than St. Pa trick. Some other passages I could censure, both of an cient and modern times ; but I will spare that labour tiU our meeting. In the mean time, with the remembrance of my love and service to your lordship and Mrs. Ussher, and my heartiest wishes and prayers for your health, I will remain Your Lordship's most affectionate Friend And Servant, HENRY BOURGCHIER. Lond. Jan. 17. 1624. LETTERS. 235 LETTER LXXVIII. MR, RALPH SKINNER TO THE LORD BISHOP OF MEATH. Right Rev. in God, and cordially religious ; Your lordship knows right well that trivial adage, that there is no fishing to the sea, nor mines of silver and gold like to the Indies : yet no fisher, when he fished, did ever draw up all fish in his net, and no mud, gravel, or stones ; nor no pioneer did ever dig up all pure trench, or without some ore intermixed there with. The same befalls me in the works of Maymon, the ocean of all Jewish learning, the quarries of silver and gold, whose (mn iy mn) fame surpasseth the Indies ; for his wine is mixed now and then with water, and his silver with some dross. All is not fish that comes to the net, nor all is not gold that glisters. What must I do then? Shall I reject Maymon, full of good mammon, for some few errors? Or, shall I not rather separate the errors from Maymon, and present you with his golden mammon? for so the aXuvg^ av9pix>Trwv (Dsn nWDJ npb id est, " He*" that winneth souls, is wise :") the true fisher of men, the wise catcher of souls, my Lord and Master, hath taught me to do, imitating the fishers, whose custom is to gather" the good into vessels, and to cast away the bad and putrid ; and to play the skUful goldsmith in the purging the tradition from the precept, as He hath taught ^ Mat. chap, 4. ver. 19. '' Prov, chap. 11. ver. 30. <: Mat. chap, 13. ver, 48. 236 LETTERS, me*, discerning inter r»)v kvToXriv mandatum, which was this, " honour thy father and thy mother ;" and inter Trjv trapadomv traditionem, which was this, when any one saith to his father or his mother, " Korban^ est quo juvari debebas a me," That the reader then may make a profitable use of Maymon, he raust observe his errors, and his good things. His errors be these six ; I. That^ the stars and celestial spheres have life and knowledge. This error is gross, it needs no confutation. II. That God did never repent him of a good thing, or retreat his words, but only once, viz. when he de stroyed the just with the unjust, in the destruction of the first temple. He forgot himself, of that he said in the first chapter, viz. " That^ no accidents are incident unto God, that he cannot change ; that he is not as man that lies, or the son of man to repent ; but one that keepeth his fidelity for ever. " III. That'' all Moses' law is perpetual. He understood not that the ceremonies were buried in Christ's grave"; that, the substance come, the shadow must vanish, IV, That' man hath free will to do good or evil. But we know that the preparations of man's heart are of God ; that we are not able, as of ourselves, to think a good thought ; and that to BiXeXv, and to Ipyttv comes from him : if the preparation then to a good thought, if the good thought itself, if the willing and doing of good be of God, wherein have we free will? V. That'' the promises of God mentioned in the Pro phets, are for things temporal, to be fulfiUed in this life "> Mat. chap. 15, ver. 5. ' Awpov 8 'edv «? ifiov uxpeXrfByg. Mark, chap, 7. ver, II, f Maym. Tract. Fund, 1, chap, 3, sect. 9. s Maym. Tract, Fund, 2. chap. 10, sect. 4, >¦ Maym. Tract, Fund, chap, 9, sect, 1, ' Dan. chap. 9, j Maym, Tiact, Repent, chap. 5, sect. 1, 2, 3, 4. &£. ¦* Maym, Tract. Repent, chap. 8, sect, 7, and chap. 9, sec. 2, LETTERS. 237 in the days of the Messiah, But " we' know that the Son of God is already come, and hath given us an un derstanding that we might know him that is true." The word irapaSomg, or tradition, is thirteen times found in our testament; but a7ro8ox»?, or cabala, his correlative, comes but twice : " This™ is, iriarog 6 Xoyog, a faithful and firm saying, Kat Traarig a7roSox»ic a^iog, et omni ca bala seu acceptatione dignus." As if he should say, if there be any cabalistical doctrine worthy undoubtedly to be received, it is this, " That Christ Jesus came into the world," &c. This is our Christian cabala then, that the Messias is already come, and that he is a spiritual king; not such a temporal one as they would have him, for he refused to be made such a king : and that the temporal blessings and proraises were made to allure, and lead them as children unto the spiritual. VI. That" the kingdom descended to Salathiel, of Je- conias's posterity, upon Jeconias's repentance. But St. Luke" hath taught us, that Salathiel was the natural son of Neri, not of Jeconias, but yet said to be his son, in that he was his successor in the kingdom. And Jeremy tells us, that Solomon's heir failed in Jeconias's dying without children, by which means the kingdom was de volved on Nathan, Solomon's brother. These six errors avoided as rocks of shipwreck to the reader, and his traditions distinguished from the com mandments, the reader may make with me this sixfold good use of Maymon. 1. His Hebraisms, which I have noted in the margin. 2. The Pirke Avoth, mnM 'pIS; the capital apo thegms, and the wise sentences of the rabbles of Israel, which are marked out in the margin with an hand, thus .CS- 3. Talmudical sentences and phrases, expounding the New Testament in some places. ' 1 John, chap. 5. ver, 20. "> 1 Tim, chap, 4, ver, 9, and chap. 1. ver, 15. " Maym. Tract, Repent, cap, 7. sect, 6, f Luke, chap, 3, ver, 27, 238 LETTERS. 4. Places of Scripture otherwise expounded than by Munster, TremeUius, Junius. 5. The judicial laws and punishments inflicted by the Sanhedrim, or Consistory, for every particular sin. 6. Rabbinical comraon j)laces. Now of these six in order. The two first whereof being either written or pointed out by the finger in the margin, I shall not need particularly to rank them toge ther in order, because of prolixity ; it is enough for them " digito monstrari et dicier hsc sunt" ©^. In the third place we are to speak of Talraudical sentences : it is ob served of the learned, that there be five several dialects or proprieties of speech in the New Testament. 1. The comraon Attick Greek. 2, The Septuagint Greek. 3. The apostolick Greek. 4. The Hebraisras noted by Beza first, then by Drusius in his Lib. Prster. And yet as many more raay be noted. 5. The Talmudical phrases, of which I am now to show those that I have noted out of Maymon's first book. First, of sealing to life or to death. As Christ was sealed, " Hira" hath God the Father sealed, Err^payiaev'" So must Christians be ; " Whoi' also hath sealed us," in ternally ; for it follows, " and given us the earnest of his Spirit in our hearts." And externally : " The"^ number of thera that were sealed, 144000 of all the tribes of the children of Israel," of each tribe twelve thousand. So verse 3. " Hurt not the earth, till we have sealed the ser vants of our God in their foreheads." To these and such like places, Maymon gives light thus : " Even' as they do examine and poise the righteousness of man, and his ini quities, in the day of his death ; so yearly do they coun terpoise the iniquities of every particular raan that comes into the world with his righteousness, on the holy day, which is New year's day. He' that is found righteous, ° John, chap. 6. ver. 27. V ea^payia&fievog fffidg. 2 Cor. chap. 1. ver. 22. ¦¦ Rev, chap, 7. ver. 4. * M. Tract. Repent, chap. 3. sect. 3. ' " I would thou vfast hot or cold, but seeing thou art lukewarm, I will spue thee out of my mouth," LETTERS. 239 is sealed unto life ; and whosoever is found wicked, is sealed unto death : but those that be neuters, between both, them they suspend until the day of expiation ; if they repent, they are sealed up to life ; but if not, they are sealed up to death." Out of which words, and laudable custom of the Jews, note with me a double sealing to life, or to death, proportionable to the double person, viz. the righteous, or the wicked. 2. Observe the two times of this sealing, in the " day of a man's death," and on " New year's day," that is, on the first day of September during one's life. Kimchy, on the ninth of Ezek. ver. 4. on these words, " Mark a mark on the foreheads of those men that sigh," comments thus : " Make a sign or writing ; he commands that they mark with ink on their foreheads, the men that sigh and cry, for a sign, that the destroyer shall not come near unto them. And this sentence is like the sentence of the blood of the passover in Egypt, which was for a sign or mark : only this of Ezekiel was in vision of prophecy. And our rabbles, of blessed memory, have expounded the word Tan, which signifies a mark, to be the letter called Tau. The holy blessed One com manded Gabriel to write upon the forehead of the righte ous, a mark or letter (Tau) made with ink ; but on the fore head of the wicked, a mark (or Tau) of blood. Now, why did he make a diverse mark ? Rab. maketh answer, Tau tichieh, and Tau tamuth, that is, the one raark, or Tau, stands for Tichieh, thou shalt live ; and the other raark, or Tau, stands for Tamuth, thou shalt die. But Rabby Sarauel saith, Tau stands for Taraath, perfect is the righteousness of the fathers ; for those men were the righteous of Jerusalem, which sighed and cried for the abominations thereof' Thus far Kimchy. Now that the full lustre of the place may be had, we will parallel these four places together, St. John, Ezekiel, Kimchy, and Maymon- 240 LETTERS, St. John Rev. chap. VII. ver. 3, axpig ov aippayiffuifiev Toiig SovXovg tov OeoS f/fiSiv iiri tuiv fieTunroiv afiTOiv. Ezek. chap, IX, ver. 4, nisjiwn Ss Hv D'pjsjm a'wwn O'rjNn mnso-Sy in nwni Kimchy, on Ezek. chap, XI, ver. 4, {VI n. 1, ("of ink. < w the mark < m ^2. 2, (_of blood this mark or Tau was f blood. 1. foflife. tin the Tau < 2. or mark 2, (oi deall 1. r-ins was found „) .,, {was-< < , ^ , . 2, vytfl wicked (^ nn'07 2. (_sealed to death. .—IWn 1.2. or mark 2, (^of death Maymon Whosoever ^' rT""* righteous f a»fh 1- ("sealed to Ufe. The marking then that Ezekiel and Kimchy speak of, is the sealing that St. John and Maymon speak of; and those that sigh and cry for the abominations of Jerusalem, are those whom St. John c.iUs the servants of our God, and Maymon names them the righteous ; and both May mon and St. John tells us, that the true marks, signs, and seals of a Christian, be repentance and righteousness : which marks, they that have them, are sealed and ap pointed unto life; and that impenitency, and want of righteousness, be the marks of the wicked, designing them to death. Kimchy, on the CXXXIII, Psalm, saith, that on the forehead of the priest, Aaron and his successors, between the eye-brows, was made a mark when he was anointed high priest (C3>31> 13 J'DD) like the Greek k or 1^, which letter, or mark, x» stood, no doubt, for xpi-<^r6g, whereof the high priest was a type. And Rabbi Shelemo Jarki saith, on these words : " Thou'^ shalt pour the oil of unction on his head, and shalt anoint him in this manner," Also this anointing was made after the manner or fashion of X : for Moses put the oil upon his head, and between his eye-brows, and made the letter x with his finger. So " Jarki on Exod. chap. 29. ver. 7, LETTERS. 241 on the seventh verse, on these words, "and unleavened cakes anointed with oil," he comments thus : " After the frying of those cakes, he anointed them after the manner of x> the Greek Cappa, or x" This x on the cake of bread, was, no doubt, to teach us that Christ was the true manna that came down from heaven, the bread of life. 1. Of the typical sense of the blowing of the trumpet on New year's day; "Awake'' to righteousness, and sin not ; for some have not the knowledge of God." " Awake' thou that sleepest and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." Some think this place is taken out of Isaiah, chap. LX. ver. 1. and some out of Isaiah, chap. XXVI. ver. 19, as Beza doth, Drusius approves Geor gius Syncellus's opinion, that it is taken out of the Apo cryphas of Jeremy. But Maymon enlightens this place fully in his third chapter of Repentance, sect. 4. thus : " That it was the custom of the Jews to blow the trumpet on every New year's day, and the cryer to cry : Awake thou that sleepest ; like John the crier, Repent, and amend ; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. His words be these ; although that the blowing of the trumpet in the beginning of the year, is the ordinance of the Scripture'', yet there is one thing or matter signified, or intimated thereby ; as if one should say, Awake you sleepers from your sleep, and ye soporiferous sluggards, arise from your drowsiness, search into your works, and return by repentance, remembering your Creator, These that forgot the truth, by reason of the vanities of the time, wandering all their years in vanity and toys, which neither profit nor deUver, look into your souls, and make good your ways and your actions ; and let each of you forsake his evil ways, and his thought that is not good." Thus far Maymon. The blowing of the trumpet, then, is a lively type of repentance, and newness of life, to begin on New year's day ; and of awaking and rising 5 1 Cor. chap. 15. ver. 34. ' Ephes, chap. 5. ver. 14. '- Lev, chap. 23. ver. 24. VOL, XV, * R 242 LETTERS. from the sleep of sin, whereof St. Paul speaks. Kimchy, on Psalm LXXXI. ver. 4. " Blow the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed in our solemn feast day," comments thus : " This psalm was sung every New year's day in the temple, and the blowing of the trumpet is raen tioned in it ; the meaning whereof is, that our fathers rested from their service, and ceased from their labours in that day : for this psalm spoke of the going of our fathers out of Egypt, which was on the eve of the four teenth day of Nisan, or March." Out of which words of Kimchy's and Maymon's compared together, note with me, that the Jews had two New year's days ; one on the first of September, of which Maymon speaks, in which the blowing of the trumpet signified waking to repentance ; the other on March 14. at even, of which Kimchy speaks, in which the blowing of the trumpet proclaimed the me morial of their deliverance out of Egypt ; for the Jews had two years, annus civilis, et naturalis, which began the first of September. And the first word of the Bible, jjier metathesin literarum, seems to prove it, God created in the beginning, n''tt>N")2 that is, ntrn S3 in the first of Septem ber. And annus sacer, which began on the fourteenth of Nisan at even : " This month shall be unto you, the first among the months of the year." I thought good to note this, that the reader might not think that the Rabbles do jar amongst themselves. 3. Of this phrase, why Abraham is called God's friend, " And"" he," id est, Abraham, " was called the friend of God :" it seems St. James alluded to that of Isaiah, chap, XLI. ver. 8. " The seed of Abraham ray friend," Now why Abrahara was called God's friend St. Jaraes particu larly opens not unto us. Rabbi Shelemo Jarki saith, God saith, " Abraham, my friend," for that he did acknow ledge me out of love, and not for the rebukes and disci- pUnes of his fathers, Kimchy saith, for that he loved me, and did adhere unto me, and went forth from among the worshippers of graven images and idols ; which exposition •> James, chap. 2. ver. 23, LETTERS, 24^3 Suits well to the prophet's precedent words. And Rabbi Abben Ezra saith. Remember Abrahara that carae away frora the idolaters. Neither is he called [Ahub] a friend passively, but [Oheb] a friend actively ; not beloved, but a loving friend, or lover; for it is an action which passeth or goeth out of the lover or agent cleaving unto the be loved, which is the patient. Mayraon in his tractate of Repentance", makes plain this raatter unto us. Men serve God three manner of ways, and have a threefold intent in serving him. 1. Some fear God for fear of punishment, that he should not bring upon thera in this life the curses written in the law, nor cut them off from the life to corae ; this is a good service, but yet none of the best : for woraen and children for the most part serve God thus. 2. Sorae serve God for hope of reward, that all the blessings promised in the law may corae upon them in this life, and that afterwards they may have everlasting life*. This is also a good kind of service, but none of the best ; for that it is mercenary, and servants serve their masters for hire. 3, Some serve God for meer love, " non formidine poens, nee spe prsmii, sed veritatis amore ;" and this is the excellent kind of serving of God, which every wise man cannot attain unto ; for it was the dignity of Abraham our father, whom the holy blessed God called his friend^ or lover : for that he did not serve him for fear or reward, but out of his love. Now what is this excellent love ? But when we are even sick of the love of our God, always musing on his love, as a lover that is sick of the disease of love, in all his actions doth nothing but muse on his beloved. And as the spouse in the Canticles was sick with the divine love ; the whole book being nothing but a lively parable of this excellent kind of serving God in love. 4. Of aperiphrastical speech, or describing of God, out of Genesis, chap I. " And he said, let there be Ught, and * Cap. 10. sect. 2, 3. ^ Maym. Tract, Repent, chap, 10. throughout. ' James, chap. 2, ver, 23, R 2 244 LETTERS, there was Hght ;" and out of Psalm XXXIII. ver. 9, the rabbins describe God thus : " He' that did but say, and the world was." So the centurion styles Christ, " aXXa^ fiovov EiTTE Xoyov, do but say the word only," thou that art the word, " and my servant shall be healed :" by which epithet he proves Christ to be God and Creator. 2 Cor. chap. IV. ver. 6. 6 Qiog 6 eIttijjv ek tTKorovc ^wc Xa/i- \pai. and Luke, chap. V. ver. 5. and Mat. chap. IV. ver. 3. 5. Of the parable of the strange sheep found, or the joy for the repenting sinner : " If^ a man hath an hundred sheep, and one of thera be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and go into the mountains and seek that which is gone astray ; and when he hath found it, he rejoiceth more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine which went not astray." And St. Luke addeth, " That joy shall likewise be in heaven over one sinner that re penteth, raore than over ninety-nine just persons, which need no repentance." This stray sheep is the unrepenting sinner, the finding of hira is his returning by repentance ; the joy is in heaven before God and his angels for his re pentance. All this Luke expounds thus : " Likewise', I say unto you, that there is joy in the presence of the an gels of God over one sinner that repenteth :" and'' lastly, he shows the occasion of the parable, viz. the murmuring of the scribes and pharisees against Christ ; " This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them;" which thing they despised : and therefore Matthew saith : " Take* heed ye despise not one of these little ones," the repent ing sinner, viz. and then tells the parable that their con version is to be joyed at and not to be despised. Maymon in his tractate of Repentance™, openeth all this excel lently : " Let not a man that is a true repentant think that he is far from the dignity of the righteous, because of ' oSiyny rrni IBWO Maym. Tract, Fund, cap, 2, sect. 2. e Mat. chap, 8. ver. 8, •• Mat. chap. 18. ver. 12. and Luke, chap, IR. ver, 7. ' Luke, chap. 15, ver, 10. 1* Ver, 1, 2, ' Chap, 18, ver. 10, '" Chap,fi. sect. 4. LETTERS. 245 the iniquities and sins that he hath coraraitted. The matter is not so, but he is beloved, and one that the Creator takes joy in as if he had never sinned ; and not that only, but his reward is great, for he hath tasted the taste of sin, but now he hath left it and subdued his ill affection. The wise have said, the place in which true repentant sinners stand, the raost perfect right eous men are not able to stand therein, that is to say, that their dignity is greater than the dignity of these righteous ones who have never sinned, because that they have subdued their affections or concupiscences more than these." And in the same chapter, sect. 8. he saith that it was accounted an absolute sin for any one to say unto a true penitent sinner, " Remember thy first works," &c. Kimchy on the LVII. of Isaiah, ver. 19. on these words, " Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near ;" comments thus : " By hira that is far off, is raeant the sinner that repents, and by hira that is near, the righteous. And from this place they have taught and said. The sinners that repent are greater than the righte ous, as is said to hira that is far off, and to him that is nigh; first to him that is far off, then to hira that is nigh. By far off is raeant, that was far off, but now is becorae nigh ; and by nigh is raeant he that was nigh already : that is, as St. Paul expounds Isaiah's words, both to Jew and Gentile : " He" preached peace to you which were far off, and to them that were nigh ;" and ver. 13. the Gentiles viz. which were sometimes far off, are now nigh; as Christ saith, " Publicans and sin ners shall enter into the kingdom of heaven before the scribes and Pharisees." And Maymon opens his mean ing more fully: Sin° is of a separating nature; your sins have made a partition between you and me ; but repentance is of a conjoining and uniting nature, mak ing the sinner to day nigh unto God, who yesterday was far off. " Ephes, chap, 2, ver, 17, " Repent, chap. 7. sect. 6. 246 LETTERS. 6. In the resurrection " theyP neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like unto the angels of God in heaven." Mayraon in his eighth chapter of the tract of Repentance, sect. 2. saith, that the first wise men have said, there is not in the world to corae, neither eating nor drinking, nor use of raarriage-bed ; but the righteous sit with their crowns on their heads, enjoying the glorious splendour of the divine Majesty, and are like unto the ministering angels. It is worth observing how that Christ confutes the errors of the Sadducees (who thought there was no resurrection) out of the ancient sayings of their own Talmudical doctors. And Mayraon gives the reason of this apothegm: " There is no eating or drinking in the world to come ; ergo, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage." Thus it is observable how Christ, disputing against the Jews about the resurrection, doth prove the resurrection out of their own Talmudics, and in proving it, he doth approve those sayings ; and in ap proving them, doth reprove the Sadducees for denying it. 7. Of eating, drinking, feasting in heaven, and such like speeches : Christ saith, " Now' I tell you, from henceforth I wiU not drink of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I shall drink it new with you in the king dom of my Father." " And'' I say unto you, that raany shall come from the east, and from the west, and shaU sit down in the kingdom of heaven vrith Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." Maymon in his tractate of Repentance^ opens this and the Uke speeches unto us, saying : " In the world to come there is neither eating nor drinking, nor any one thing of the things which happen unto bodies in this world." Again ; everlasting Ufe is called by eleven names in the Old Testament parabolically, which he there rec kons up. And the wise men have called it metaphorically by two; that is, 1. The world to come. 2. That good P Mat. chap. 22. ver, 30. Luke, chap. 20. ver. 35. Mark, chap. 12. ver. 25. 1 Mat, chap, 26, ver, 29, Mark, chap. M. ver. 25. and Luke, chap, 22. ver. 18, " Mat. chap. 18. ver. 11, • Chap. 8. sect. 2. and 4. LETTERS. 247 feast, or banquet, that is prepared for the righteous. These two last we find in the New Testament, Kai' iv Ti^ a.ld)vi r«j( £jOxojuEv<(), and in the places afore alleged : whereas they have said (saith Mayraon) that the righteous do sit ; by way of enigraa, or riddle, they have said it, meaning that the souls of the righteous are found there without labour, molestation, or weariness. 8. Of forgiveness of sins neither in this world nor the world to come. " Blasphemy" against the Holy Ghost shall never be forgiven in this world, nor in the world to come," id est, shall never have forgiveness oi/k e'xei aipEaiv dg TOV alfliva, but is guilty of eternal damnation, as St. Mark expounds the Hebraism, " Whatsoever^ ye bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven ; and whatsoever ye loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven." Maymon in his tractate of Repentance, hath the like speech ; " There" is a sin which is punished in this world, and not in the world to come; there is a sin which is punished in the world to come, and not in this world ; and there is a sin which is punished both in this world, and in the world to come." 9. " Wilf thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel ?" This phrase is frequent with Mayraon in his tract of Repentance, where he saith, " That^ the world passeth away, only the kingdom must first be restored unto Israel." 10. " For^ the fashion of this world passeth away." So 1 John, chap. II. ver. 17. " The world passeth away." So Maymon in his tract of Repentance, saith, " That'' this world after his fashion passeth away." And there he makes as it were a threefold world: 1. This present world. 2. The day of the Messiah. And 3. the world to corae, or everlasting Ufe. And he explaineth himself, ' Mark, chap. 10. ver. 30. " Mat. chap. 12. ver. 32, " Chap. 3. ver.'29. Mat, chap, 18, ver. 18. '' Chap. 6. sect. 1, y Acts, chap. 1. ver. 6. 2 Chap. 8. sect. 7. "1 Cor. chap. 7. ver. 31. *• Chap, 9, sect. 2. 248 LETTERS. that by this present world, he means the kingdoms ancf monarchies which do captivate and afflict Israel, the last of which being taken away, then shaU begin the world of the Messias ; he means, as Rabby Abrahara Tzebang, a Spanish Jew, hath expounded in his bundle of Myrrh, on the first of Genesis, that after 5600 years of the world expired, and before the end of the 6000 year (in which they say the world shaU end); in this interira, I say, of 400 years (in which time we now live) shall be the faU of Rome, which they call Edom typically, and that then redemption shall come in to Israel. And this is Maymon's meaning here when he saith, that the first wise men have said that between this world (of the monarchies, viz.) and the days or times of the Messiah, there is not any space or let, but only this, that God causes first the kingdoms to pass away, that is, the last of these monar chies that afiUcts Israel, must pass away; which is the idolatry of Rome that hinders the Jews from beUeving in Christ. 11. " The"^ God which is blessed for ever:"^ so Rom. chap. I. ver. 25. " The Creator blessed for ever :" so, Rom. chap. IX. ver 5. " God over all blessed for ever." This phrase, which St. Paul useth so frequently in his epistles, is infinitely used in Maymon and all the rabbins, and therefore is become one of their rabbinical abbrevia tures " nnpn God holy and blessed for ever." 12. " Blessed'' be God the Father of mercies." So Mayraon ends his book of knowledge : " Blessed be the God of mercy ;" it were more significantly translated, the God of commiserations, as Drusius hath well observed ; for Dorrip kXiiov is the Father of mercies ; IlarijjO olKup- fiojv is the Father of commiserations, answerable to May mon's Syriac word N3Dm whose fatherly bowels yearn with a natural uTopyrj of pity and compassion towards his. 13. He^ whom St. John calls so often in the Revela- ' 2 Cor. chap. II. ver, 31, '' Ibid, chap. 1. ver. 3. • Rev, chap. I, ver, 20, and chap. 2, ver. 1. 8, 12. LETTERS^ 249 tions ayyEXoc ikKXr^aiag, the angel of the church ; is called by Maymon in his first chapter of the fundamentals of Moses' law, sect. 9. ^^22f ri'Vi^ the messenger, legate, apostle, minister of the church or congregation. There he saith that God appeared in Mount Sinai, (when he gave the law) like to the angel or minister of the church or congregation, wrapped in garments. 14. Christ saith twice, Luke, chap. III. " It is written," and once, " It is said." And so St. Paul often useth this phrase, " The Scripture saith ;" but they seldom or never tell you in what book it is written or said, 'or in what chap ter, or in what verse. The sarae phrase is as frequent with Maymon : he saith, " It is said. It is written," or, " The Scripture saith," whensoever he bringeth any place of Scripture for to prove his assertion. Now the reason why he never cites the section, chapter, or book, is for that the Jews have always been so ready and pregnant in the Scriptures, as that they need not cite the book, chapter, or verse. For this their expertness in the Scriptures they were called Sopherim, scribes or numberers of the law. They have told us that there be fifty-four parashioths or sections in Moses's law, of which they do here join toge ther the two shortest, and so in every year they read over Moses's law, ending on the last day of the feast of taber nacles ; every sabbath-day reading in the synagogue a whole section. They set down the number of the verses of every book, as namely. Genesis hath in it 1534 verses. The midst of the book is at these words : " And by thy sword thou shalt live." The sections thereof be twelve. The Sydrim, or lesser sections be forty-three. The num ber of the letters of Genesis be 78100. And Hakmi tells us on the first of Genesis, how many alphabets there be in the law, viz. 1800. And so I could run through all the other books. But I must not be tedious. Now methinks I hear some ignorant scholar object, such an one as Jude speaks of, who condemns and speaks ill of those things which he knows not, and corrupts those things he also knows; to what end and purpose serves 250 LETTERS. this great and needless labour of the rabbles, in number ing up of the books, verses, sections, words, and letters ? I answer ; They serve us for exceeding great use, espe cially in these our days, in which God did foresee pope- lings would go about to prove that the Scriptures were corrupted, and that then we must of necessity have ano ther judge, viz. the pope. If I should grant this argu ment, made by the pope's champion, Pistorius, that the Scriptures were corrupted, and that therefore we must have another judge; yet doth it not foUow that the pope must be he ; but contrary wise, that of all other the pope must be excluded from being judge, for that he is a party. But we constantly deny the corruption of the Scriptures, which they affirm, and endeavour to prove by the 848. variae lectiones, and by the Keries and the Cethists. And we answer, that variety of reading argues not any cor ruption, but ingenuity and plentiful fruit of the Spirit of God, done only in obscure places for illumination : for we can prove out of the Nazarites and Sopherims, every word and letter to have been through God's singular providence, numbered up, and so kept by them thereby frora corruption : upon which point Pistorius the pope's charapion durst not dispute with a learned man of our land. For howsoever the Jews were male legis observa- tores, yet were they boni servatores et custodes, true keepers of the oracles of God committed unto them; and how did they keep thera but by nurabering up every word, letter, and verse, that so it being left unto poste rity on record, we raight prove the purity of the Scriptures by their Nazaretical books against the foisting papists, who do nothing but foist in and corrupt all things, not only the Greek fathers, but even the Targums and com ments of the rabbins in all those places and expressions that raake against Rome in Buxtorff's Bible lately set forth. As for example : " And^ her," id est, Edom's " rivers shall be turned into pitch." Jonathan the Chaldee ' Isaiah, chap. 34, ver. 6. LETTERS. 251 paraphrast, that wrote long before Christ, comraents thus : " And the rivers of Rome shall be turned into pitch." Rabbi David Kimchy cites this Chaldaical exposition, and confirms it, saying, that all the section is spoken against Edom, that is, Rorae. And Elias Levita in his Methurgaman, in the word Roraa, cites the Chaldee pa raphrast so against Rorae, and so doth Munster. All these follow the true and best Baraberg's Bibles. But in Buxtorff's Bibles lately set forth (which follows the third edition of Baraberg's Bibles that be purged) there the word Rome is left forth in the Targum, and in Kim chy's Comment; and four tiraes in Rabby Shelemaes, and Kimchie's Comments, instead of the word Edom, by which they mean Rome, they have put the word Javan, that is, Greece, and once the word Cuthith, that is, Samaria. And in the thirty-fifth chapter, four tiraes the word Cuthith, Samaria. So Rome is both Saraaria and Greece, and in other places Persia, and a " mess of wax." And on the sixteenth verse of the XXXIV. of Isaiah, Kimchy comraents thus : whosoever will see into the destruction of Rome, let him search over the book of Jehovah, and wade in, &c. in Baraberg's Bibles. But in Buxtorff's Bible you have no raore but these words, " who soever will see into," leaving out the words of Kimchy, " the destruction of Rome ;" and doth not tell one that he must see, for that they would have the reader blind, and not to see Rome's fall, which for all this their legerde main with scholars, must yet in the end be sacked with sword, and burnt with fire, for her idolatry and filthiness^. Now for that the Romans came of the Edomites, as him self saith on Obadiah ; and the Edomites came of Esau'', otherwise called Edom, of his red pottage ; therefore they by Edom mean Rome and the Roman Antichrist, whereof Esau was the type of his brother Jacob, the type to the elect ; which agrees with that of the apostles'. And again, what can be plainer in mysteries, than to wrap B Rev. chap. 17. h Gen, chap. 36, ver. 9. ¦ Rom, chap, 9, Heb, chap. 11, 252 LETTERS. up the thing typified in the name of the type itself, as is done in this word, miN that is ND1"i, Edom, that is, Rome : the two letters D and R, which is very frequent in the Scripture, being changed. 15. " But'' I say unto you, that of every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account in the day of judgment." Maymon saith : " The wise have said, even the light, and idle, or wanton speech that is in secret or private between the husband and his wife, the Lord will give even judgment upon that." And Mayraon saith, that this was a cabbala grounded on the fourth of Amos, ver. 13. " Who declareth unto man what is his secret thought or speech." Mameshico, the Septuagint have on purpose by a metathesis or transposition of letters made thereof 'one word, Hammeshico, and translated it tov XpiiTTov avTov, showing unto raan that his Messiah or Christ, for that the Agadah annunciation evangelization of the Messiah to the Gentiles, was one of the great est secrets of God, reckoned up there by Annas. It is one of the thirteen places of Scripture which the Septua gint did of purpose change, for the reason alleged, as I conjecture. It is not therefore a corruption of the place, as sorae do unjustly accuse thera, but a witty mutation and signification, done by them of purpose to teach us Gentiles to know the Messiah, who then, when they trans lated this, was unknown to us. Mark how Christ stiU confutes the rabbles of the Jews by the sayings still of their own Talmudics : and here by an argument taken a minore ad majus thus ; If a man by the saying of your doctors, raust give an account of every idle word, much raore for a blasphemy ; but the first is true out of your doctors, ergo the second. For they had spoken blas phemy against Christ, " That' he cast out devUs by Beel zebub," which was the occasion Christ alleged this Tal mudical sentence against them. 16. Christ having condemned the Jewish rabbins for swearing, teacheth them out of their own books of ethics, I* Mai. chap. 12, ver. 36, ' Mat. chap, 12, ver. 24, LETTERS. 253 that swearing was forbidden in a rabbi, saying, " But™ let your coraraunication be, yea, yea, and nay, nay ; for whatsoever is raore than these, cometh of evil." " But" above all things, ray brethren, swear not ; but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay; lest you fall into con deranation." Maymon in his tractate of the manners of the rabbles, saith : " The" contracts or comraerce of the scholar of a wise man, are in truth and fidelity : he saith of that which is not so, that it is not so ; and of that which is so, that it is so : he saith, I, I, or no, no ; yea, yea, or, nay, nay ; or of a negative no, and of an affir mative I." 17 " I^ was brought up in this city," saith Paul, " at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught," &c. The latter ex pounds the former ; for scholars were wont to sit on lower seats at the feet of their masters. Maymon in his trac tate of the raanners, &c. saith : " The wise have charged saying : Dust* thyself in the dust of their feet, and drink with thirst their words." The Hebrew verb p3N3, or pSXnn signifies " in pulvere seu arenam descendere," as Virgil saith, " Fulva luctatur arena." It is a metaphor borrowed from antagonists of tbe Olympian games, wrest ling and striving together for victory till they lay in the dust ; as Jacob did wrestle with God, where this word is used : " he'^ wrestled and strove with God till he lay in the dust again ;" which also is interpreted of prayer, which overcomes God invincible : " Be^ ye holy, as I am holy ; be ye merciful, as your heavenly Father is merci ful." Maymon in his tract Ethics saith : " The' wise men have taught us thus. What is meant by this that is called holy ? even this, that thou shouldst be holy. What is raeant by this, that God is called merciful? even this, that thou shouldst be also merciful : Wo° unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ; for ye compass sea " Mat. chap, 5. ver. 37. " James, chap. 5. ver. 12. ° Chap. 5. sect. 1 3. P Acts, chap. 22. ver. 3. 1 Chap. 6. sect. 2. ' Gen, chap, 32. ver. 25. " Hosea, chap. 12. ver. 5. ' Chap. 1. sect. 6. " Acts, chap. 2. ver. 10, Mat. chap. 23. ver. 15. 254 LETTERS. and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold raore the child of hell than yourselves." Maymon in his tractate of Idolatry'', tells us of the differ ence between, 1. '^N"lt2;> an Israelite. 2. '")Di a stranger, and 3. IJ a proselyte ; who is also of two sorts, pTif IJ ri'"i3 IX proselyte of righteousness, a true Israelite indeed, one of the covenant, who receiveth the 613. precepts of Moses's law, and was received at all tiraes after, and was circumcised, such were Shemagjah and Abtalian, saith Maymon in his preface pl2f '"IJ, that is, proselytes of righteousness; and Rabby Mair, pl)ir\ "IJ p, that is, the son of a righteous and true proselyte : such were the Sichemites, Urias Hettsus, Achor, of whom Judith, chap. XIV. Herod the Idumsan, Onkelos, Titus Ves pasian's sister's son Nicolaus'', Naaraan the Syrian, the eunuch, Cornelius'', are called avSpEe EuXa/BsTe (CDn>Dn) £i)(7E|3Eie, irpam'fXvToi, o-EJSo/iEvot. The ^Egyptians for the most part became proselytes : " Thou'' shalt not abhor an Egyptian," for that ye were in the land of Egypt C3'1J strangers, advens; " nor an Edomite, for he is thy bro ther." Such an Edomitish IsraeUte was the prophet Obadiah, of whom the rabbles use this proverb ; Kimchi, R, Salomon Jarchy, Aben Ezra in lonam. Obad. " The mustard-pot bites the mustard-pot-maker:" for that of an Edomite Obadiah became a proselyte, and then was sent to prophesy against Edom. And so we know that many Romish Edomites being becorae true proselytes, have prophesied against Rorae, which is Edora there, as all the rabbles say spiritually ; for, saith Kirachy there, whatever our rabbles have spoken against Edom, in the last days, is to be understood against Rome. And God grant us raore such Romish Edomites as Luther was. But of these proselytes Mat. chap. XXIII. ver. 15. is not to be understood. 2. Dtyin IN nyt:' "IJ a proselyte of the Gate, or an in habitant amongst the Jews who received not the J'ln 313. " Chap. 10. sect. 4. and 6. J Acts, chap. 6. » Acts, chap. 2. ver. 5. " Deut. chap. 23. ver, 7, LETTERS. 255 precepts, but only the seven precepts of the sons of Noe, " Qui habitabat in Israel et in se recipiebat quod noluit colere idola, quia idolatrs inter Judsos habitare non lice- bat." These proselytes were not circumcised, neither re ceived the whole law, but only the seven precepts, which were these : !• t'l'l judicia, that they should observe public justice, 2, awn n313 benedictio Dei, that they should worship God. 3- nil majf that they should not worship idols, 4, ni'iy 'iS'J that they should fly incest and lust. 5. D'BT ni3*SW that they should fly bloodshed. 6. '?Ti and avoid violence and rapine, 7- 13« and not to cut off a member from any creature whilst it was yet living. This proselyte, saith Maymon, was never to be received but only in the time the jubilee was in use. Of this se cond kind of proselyte Christ's saying is to be understood ; for that the Jews permitted these to break or omit all the other laws of Moses impune, so they kept these seven ; by which unlawful permission they becarae the children of hell, and worthy of destruction more than themselves ; living both Uke Jews in regard of the seven precepts, and like Gentiles in respect of the other 606 precepts, which yet the Jews themselves were bound to keep. Of these mungrels, heathenish Jews, or Jewish Gentiles, that like dfiipifiiov live of both fashions, I take it, under correction, that Christ speaketh, and justly reproveth such prose lytes, like our papist converts, that will both become conformable outwardly in our Church, and yet also go to mass. If any can open the place better, I shall be ready to learn. " Jam ne ists geraras quas GaUi, gallinacei instar, ego in Rabinorum sterquilinio offendl, uUo modo dominationem vestram offendant, iterum atque iterum sup- plex oro; nam si meliores invenissem etiam obtuUssem. Nihilominus tamen Davidica ilia faba in caput meum (si forte peccera) merito cudatur." Psalm, CXLI, ver, 5. DHTiis-ia "»nbQm nir •'3 win I'aw '^an'^svi non pnis "'^abn'' Now remain these three to be spoken of in the next place : 256 LETTERS. 1. Au(TV0))ra. 2. Judicials of the Sanhedrim. 3. Rabbinical common-places. but both my nephew's sudden journey, and an unexpected accident, have enforced me to defer these till the next time. Your Lordship's to command, RALPH SKYNNER. This epistle is before his translation of Bambanus Maddse" into English and dedicated to Bishop Ussher. = The work to which Dr. Parr must have intended to refer is the Madaa of Rambam (better known by the name of Maimonides), which is the first part of his celebrated Yad Haehazachah, Imbonatus and Wolfius speak of Skynner's translation of this work having been published with a dedica tion to Archbishop Ussher, The only authority to which they refer is the Life of Archbishop Ussher in the Bibliotheque Universelle, but the writer of that Memoir does not appear to have known anything of the subject be yond this letter, and to have quoted it as if it were the work itself. The Editor is inclined to believe that Skynner's translation never was pub lished : it is, however, preserved among the MSS. of Trinity College, Dublin, with this letter prefixed. LETTERS. 257 LETTER LXXIX. mr. ralph skynner to the lord bishop of me.ith. Right Reverend in Christ, I HAVE sent your lordship Drusius his Alphabetura Hebraicum vetus; and Veterum sapientum yv(l}fiai, out of which I conjecture the reason why the Jews at this day do pronounce the Hebrew words with the defect of the gutturals, is for that the Septuagint Jews have used so to write them in Greek, as 'bl) aXij, b'O^ib Xs-afiaX, &c. ynti? S;ua : yvwfxr) the 2, 3. 9. nDDD oxfia. the 12. &c. Three Jews I have talked with personally, nO bn HD and asked them the reason why they omitted these guttu rals, ynn in words, by reason of which their pronuncia tion was difficult to be understood by us which pro nounced them : I told them, that Moses wrote them to this end, that they should be read and pronounced : and they confessed it should be so, only custora and use had otherwise prevaUed. Now this custom arose (as I sup pose) frora this ancient raanner of writing and speak ing without the guttural. Now what was the original cause of this custom, I cannot yet find, unless it be that which EUas Levita allegeth, in his Titsby voce, W for y^W' cum defectu y, because, saith he, the pro nunciation of y is difficult to the Gentiles ; as Abben Ezra saith, that whosoever hath not learned to pro nounce n and y in his youth, (though he be an Hebrew) shall never be able to pronounce them genuinely while he lives. Therefore, saith he, the DMJ, id est Gentiles, pro nounce not y W but W without y. It may be therefore, that antiquity, and the Seventy, respected the Gentiles VOL. XV. s 258 letters. in the difficulty of these gutturals, as in other things, and, to make the pronunciation of this tongue more facile, did leave them out ; for surely these Seventy did, in their translation, much respect the Gentiles, that they raight not only not offend them, or make their holy tongue un- amiable to the Gentiles, through the difficulty of the hard gutturals ; but also that they might allure us GentUes to become pnsf »"|J that is, " proselytes of righteousness, to receive their 613. precepts J>"in, and to believe in the Messias ; as one, for many places, shall show : " Annun- cians'' hominera, {)nu; HD) qus sit cogitatio ipsius." May mon, " seereta verba et mussitationes." Septuaginta, TOV xP^> Pag. 117. et deinceps. letters. 259 which remained only to the priests and Levites, who were expert and of understanding in the reading and under standing thereof, having the knowledge of the points and accents of letters and vowels, &c. Out of which I note these two things : first, that Moses left unvowelled copies to the tribes, save one, which had both accents and vowels to the custody of the priests, to which they might have recourse in doubtful lections. Secondly, the antiquity of the Samaritan characters, for the commenda tion of your lordship's Samaritan Bible. I beseech your lordship, any time at your fit leisure, to send to Mr. Bur nett's that little tract of raine of aSr^g, and your lord ship's approbation, or reprobation of it, wherein I fail; for I have not yet done it so exactly as, if God permit, I intend. I would gladly be confirmed in the truth, or have the falsehood infirmed, if there be any in that tract ; for the Lord he knows, I have always sought the truth with integrity of heart, weeping often with St. John, where I find the sealed Book, submitting always my spirit to the spirit of the prophets, in propriis stare ; but cry ing out always pnii OD^ni let the righteous smite me, et vincet Veritas. Surely the prophecy and sign of Jonas is expounded to be fulfilled in that article of our Creed, Kar£X0Etv dg ^8o5; for as Jonas's aSrjc was three days and three nights, frora the time that " itn lfb2.b the fish swallowed" him, till the time " Jin Np*1 cast him up ;" so Christ's lidrig must answerably be part of three days, from the time he did a^^icE to irvivpa, and that he was laid in the sepulchre, till the time that he arose out of the sepul chre, the precise time of thirty-four hours ; at which instant neither the great stone, or the sepulchre, nor the seal of Pontius Pilate, nor the guard, could hold him any longer under the power of airjg and death; for so long he must be held under; " Destroy this temple, within three days I will build it up again." Now the Jews laboured all they could to disannul this pro phecy, and to keep him longer, yea, for ever in airig, and under the power of death. To this end, roUing on his sepulchre a stone, sealing it, and setting a guard, s 2 260 letters. saying, " This deceiver said, whUe he was living, that within three days he would rise again." Now this is more than to be buried, for he might have risen in so few hours again; but till the thirty-four hours ex pired, he could not, without the disannulling of Jonas's prophecy. And now from Christ's adrig, I pass unto raine own, (for I ara to speak with dead phrase) in a kind of living aSrig " >yTO -\wnQ obscuratus ab amicis meis," living " in tenebris," dark agjjc " cum blattis ac ti- neis quotidie rixans." Out of this place of obscurity I would gladly enter into BrfOEaSd pro iJtyT vn» D'Jiyni And as the apostle saith to the same effect: " The grace of God was not in vain in me, therefore," saith he, " I laboured more abundantly than they all." The grace of God is operative in whomsoever it is, which not suffering me to be idle, makes me seek late full employment. Now as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for your lordship's health, that you may still fight Jehovah's battles for aSrje, and aU other points, which these devilish spirits of the Jesuits, the locusts of a^ijc, and the bottomless pit, by their smoky doctrine do resist. I humbly beseech your lordship to have a care of your health, and a while to spare yourself, from being tantus helluo librorum, till you [have perfectly recovered ' Psalm 92, ver. 12, letters. 261 your former health ; for much reading is a weariness to the flesh. There is a company of " mistresses'^ of witch craft, D'Dt2^3 n^ya" lately discovered ; your lordship will by others understand the particulars ; I only touch the general. And thus with my humble duty and observance to your lordship, ever remembering you in my poor prayers, I rest now and ever, your Lordship's ever obliged, RALPH SKYNNER. From Waltham-stow, , January 26, 1624, ^ Nahura, chap. 3, ver. 4. 262 letters. LETTER LXXX. DR. THOMAS JAMES TO THE LORD BISHOP OF MEATH. After my duty in humble manner premised, I hope, and am right glad to hear of your lordship's recovery. I have received from your lordship two books, whereby I have not been a Httle benefited ; yet of Boston, I hear, there is a greater catalogue extant, I forbore to write all this while, for fear of trouble. I have laboured ever since in the common business, as your lordship shall perceive by an humble supplication printed, which your lordship shall receive by Mr. Calandrine, which could I have had the happiness that it might have passed your learned censure, would have been much more perfect, but, ut quimus aut quando, non ut volumus. I have done it as advisedly as I could, and doubt not to give every man good satisfaction in good time. If our friends of Cambridge will join with us, the work may be well achieved within half the time, they taking half the points mentioned, and they both sending to us their observations to be revised by us; we ours to them to be revised by them, that it may be the work jointly of both universities. My zeal and knowledge cannot match Dr. Ward's, yet I will endeavour to do my best. I desire to have my service remembered to my lord of Ely. I have, upon a letter of your lordship's, employed some in transcribing Guil. de S, Araore, not that which your lordship sent, but another greater and fuller work, that is done, and a great deal besides : more had been, if we had not been com pelled, for want of money, to have surceased; and my poor means would not serve to supply wants, and I am indebted for that which is done. Your lordship by letter, LETTERS. 263 if I mistake not, undertook for my lord of Ely's twenty pounds per annum ; had all promised been paid, I had had twenty or thirty quire in readiness ; that which I have shall be fitted against the parliament, in the exactest manner that it can be done for the press. I have in the press at the present these things: A confutation of papists out of papists, in the most material articles of our religion ; whose testimonies are taken either out of the Indices ex purgatorii, or out of the ancient books, especially the Manuscripts. An Index librorum prohibitorum prims, secunds, vel tertis classis, vel expurgatorum quovisraodo ; chiefly for the use of our public library, that we may know what books, and what editions to buy ; their prohi bition being a good direction to guide us therein, I have cast them into an exact alphabet. My cousin, Richard James, desireth to have his duty remembered to your lordship, he hath reviewed and enlarged his book of Bochel's Decanonization, a book so nearly concerning kingly dignity, and so fully opening the history of those times, that I know not where a man shall read the like : I would he might have the happiness that your lordship might see it, being now fair transcribed, that it might pass your lordship's censure before it pass any further. And I am persuaded (over-weening perhaps in love to my cousin) that if his Majesty saw it, it would please him, having so many good pieces of antiquity in it : it is his, and shall be my chiefest study. I have here found upon search thereof, Petrus Minorita's homily upon Matthew, and two books of St. Augustine coraing here into Eng land, which are of good note: but I raake no doubt your lordship hath seen them already; I leave therefore to trouble your lordship any further, being right glad to hear of your lordship's preferment, as I am informed, for the good of the Church ; and so I rest. Your Lordship's in all duty, THOMAS JAMES. Oxon, Feb, 8. ^^ LETTERS. LETTER LXXXL DR. THOMAS JAMES TO THE LORD BISHOP OF MEATH, My HUMBLE DUTY REMEMBERED TO YOUR LoRDSHIP, I AM encouraged by your lordship's letters to go on chearfully in my intended course and dis covery, solus aut quomodo? what is one man able to re sist, when so many oppose so falsely and so impudently ? I have written to his grace by his chaplains for helps necessary for the forwarding so great a work, as the Visibility and perpetual succession of the Church. There shall come nothing forth till I have viewed by myself, or others, under a public notary's hands, all the testimonies that do result out of the manuscripts and printed books of papists : but what can I poor weak man do, unless my lord of Canterbury command help, and command books and all things necessary to so great and requisite a work ? which being well done, will serve to close up the mouths of our deceived papists. This question, if I con ceive aright, is set afoot politically by our adversaries the papists, by especial advice from Rorae : for it is plausible amongst the people and vulgar sort, and impossible to be answered by every one ; but be it as it may, I have wil lingly offered to answer one Smith, a Lincolnshire man, who insults upon us in the close of his book in these words : " And if now they endeavour to answer them, (his reasons,) it will yet raore appear that they can no way answer them, and that this kind of deaUng with pro testants," in matters of fact, " out of their own confes sions is the fittest to stop all mouths," Upon occasion of these words, I will make bold to write soraewhat concern- LETTERS. 265 ing this matter, both to divert our papists to other matters of fact, wherein they have hitherto declined the question about the controversy of their Bibles, I mean of Sixtus and Clemens, irapossible to be answered. I have heard their best reasons about the nuraber of the bastard trea tises, which, as false writers, have put them into posses sion of their false religion, which amount unto five hun dred, reckoning none but such as are both condemned by some, and urged by others as learned papists ; touching the corrupting of all authors, and records in all ages, both in their several Indices expurgatorii, and without, especi ally of their Decretals and Gratian, wherein the soul and Hfe of popery consists. For the Decretals, I have lighted upon a manuscript, that, I trust, to a clear eye, will make the raatter indubious, and by the sight of this manuscript (which contains them not at large) there are such ab surdities contained in thera, as I sharae either in raodesty (as of mice turds in the eucharist) or in grammar, " Epis copi si in fide erraverit," are to be quitted ; but for all other matters whatsoever they are, portandi, a good reso lution set down in a good phrase. For the Canon law, I mean Gratian, I have compared it from top to toe, not without special contentment to all lovers of the truth. For by the edition of the Canon law, so carefully set out by Gregory XIII. Faber and Contius, and I know not who, raust be employed to that great business, more care had of the printing of that than of the Bible; it raust be testified that the edition doth agree exactly with the Roman copy, or else it is of no worth ; they had the use of many Vatican copies. Now either this is untrue, or their copies are of no credit: for none of our copies, of as great antiquity as theirs, either have Constantine's Dona tion, or the proof of it out of Gelasius Dist. If Gesta SS. martyrum S. Sylvestri, this is proving of a thing that is ignotum by ignotius; for both are wanting in all our copies, that are of as great antiquity as theirs, as long since Anto ninus and other good lawyers have observed. GeneraUy in the edition of the Canon law they have deceived us thus : 1. Those which are pales, noted by them, are indeed 266 LETTERS. palea, that is chaff, in our old copies. But besides, 2. There are a nuraber of good consequences that are pales, which they have passed over in silence, whereof our raanuscripts give good witness. There are also a third sort which they have raade pales, to discredit them which are no pales, as in the eighth distinction touching obedience to princes' comraandraents for religion, this is in all our raanuscripts but censured and sentenced by them. Lord ! What a world of corruptions is contained in that volume, I mean not only of Gratian's, that is bad enough, but of their additions to, and perversions of Gratian's. I mean to spend this next week wholly upon this arguraent of popish frauds, and to send up my abortive labours to be submitted to your lordship's grave judgment. I deal in matters of fact, and have little help, God knoweth : I will empty myself to your lordship. For Marianus Scotus, God knows, if I had compared it, one of the first books, and both that and Matthew of Paris, yea and Bede's history must be compared, or vain will be our labour in writing of the visibiHty of the Church, when we shall rely upon such sandy proofs. It is too true that Possevin observeth, that there are whole pages thrust into Marianus's works ; he saith by heretics : he lieth like a varlet ; the cui bono will show us that. The manuscript in our public library (I have compared the capita throughout) doth hugely differ from the printed, and so doth another copy of alike goodness and antiquity in C. C, C. To compare him exactly, is to write him out anew : " hoc opus, hie labor est." I doubt your lord ship's leisure will not serve ; after this fortnight mine shall ; and it will need the help both of Dr. Bainbridge and Mr. Briggs. To have the copy out of the library it is impossible ; for if the king should write for it, it is per jury for any man to propose a dispensation for the lend ing it forth : but the copy at C. C. C. upon a sufficient caution for the redelivery, shall and may be sent up to your lordship ; and I suppose Mr. Patrick Young hath one or two copies in the prince's library at St. James's. Not only the rabbins, but the Thalmud in six volumes at LETTERS. 267 Rome hath felt the smart of the popish indices : would God we were but half as dUigent to restore, as they abolish and put out the truth. I have restored three hundred citations, and rescued them from corruption in thirty quire of paper : Mr. Briggs will satisfy you in this point, and sundry other projects of mine, if they miscarry not for want of maintenance; it would deserve a prince's purse. If I was in Germany, the estates would defray all charges ; cannot our estates supply what is want ing ? If every churchman that hath an hundred pounds per annum and upward, will lay down but a shilling for every hundred towards these public works, I will under take the reprinting of the Fathers, and setting forth of five or six volumes of orthodox writers, comparing of books printed with printed, or written ; collating of popish translations in Greek, and generally whosoever shall con cern books, or the purity of them, I will take upon me to be a magister S. Palatii in England, if I shall be there unto lawfully required. I thank your lordship for my poor kinsman, whom I leave to express his own wants and desires himself. I have trespassed too much on your lordship, whom God long preserve. Your Lordship's in all duty, THO. JAMES. Oxon, Feb. 15th. 1624, 268 LETTERS. LETTER LXXXII. dr. ward to the lord bishop of meath. Right Reverend, I RECEIVED your lordship's letter, which I should have answered ere now. But the truth is I had a purpose to have seen your lordship at my return from London at the end of the term, but I was hindered in that intention : and since my return home, I heard your lord ship was fallen into a burning fever, whereupon I pur posed to have made a journey to visit your lordship, and to that purpose went to Mr. Crane to have his company : but being borne in hand by one of Jesus college, that he should shortly hear from Haddam how your lordship did, the party went out of town, and so I heard nothing till Mr, Crane carae home, I did hear at London of the de cease of the late primate of Armagh, and of your lord ship's designment by his Majesty to succeed in that place, which I pray God raay turn to his glory, the good of the nation, and your own comfort and contentment. I have borrowed of Mr. Vice-chancellor, the book wherein is the history of the church of Lindifern, after of Durham ; it is in four books ; the book is none of those which Bede mentioneth; I borrowed it of him for two months. It is one of them which Matthew Parker gave to the university library : I spake with Mr. Lisle, as touching the setting of some of the Saxon chronicles : he saith he hath seen some, but few of them have any thing which are not in other chronicles now extant. If you have any which you think were worth his pains, I would incite him thereunto, i^ suppose your lordship hath seen the process against the LETTERS.- 269 corpse, picture, and books of the archbishop of Spalato. Unwise man that could not easily have presaged these things. By halting between two, he hath much obscured his worth with all parties, I have perused some of Dr. Crakenthorp's book, which is well done. I purpose to see your lordship at Easter, if God will, and you continue with Sir Gerard Harvy. This messenger bringeth the book, and things from Mr. Crane, with two letters from him. Thus, with ray prayers to God for the recovery of your health, and to bless you in all your affairs, with my best wishes I comraend your lordship to the gracious pro tection of the highest Majesty. Your Lordship's in all practice, SAMUEL WARD. Cambridge, this 21st. of March, 1624. 370 LETTERS. LETTER LXXXIIL SIR HENRY BOURGCHIER TO THE LORD BISHOP OF MEATH. Salutem in Christo. Most Reverend in Christ; In discharge of my promise, and that great obligation of thankfulness due from me, I thought good to present these lines to your lordship : your friends here were glad to conceive so good hope of your perfect recovery, which I doubt not will be daily greater. I have herewithal sent your lordship Eusebius's chronicle, and Asserius de vita Alfredi from Mr. Patrick Young, toge ther with the remembrance of his love and service. It was neither his fault nor mine that you had them not sooner. He desires that your lordship will be pleased to return the transcript of epistles which you borrowed of me, if you have not present occasion to use them ; for among thera are some epistles of Grossetede, which my lord Keeper desires to have : having contracted with the printer for the impression of his works, with which he goes in hand presently, as I told your lordship. Sir Robert Cotton hath not yet gotten Malmesbury de antiquit. Glaston. but expects it daily. I have been with my lord of Winchester, and presented your lordship's love and best respects to him : I also told him of your Samaritan Pentateuch, of which he was very glad, and desires to see it with your lordship's best convenience : he keeps his chamber for a cold, being otherwise very well. Since my being with your lordship, I understand that Mr. Mounta- gue's Appeal to Cssar (for so he styles it) is in the press. LETTERS. 27 1 I am promised Sirmundus upon Sidonius Apollinaris, and Anastasius Bibliothecarius History, which are not common : the former with Savaron's notes I have ; but Mr. Selden will furnish your lordship in the mean time with both. Vettius Valens in Greek is Mr. Selden's now, but was sometimes Dr. Dee's : but the rest of his books will be had very shortly, as many as are worth the having ; and so much de re literaria. Now your lordship will expect something of the pub lic occurrences of the world, which may be to you some recreation. The siege of Breda holds still ; the prince of Orange will be in the field by the 20th of April, stylo novo, with fifty thousand foot, nine thousand horse, and one hundred and fifty pieces of ordnance, and, as they say, is resolved to fight rather than Breda shall be lost. Here is now great talk of the French match, and of the Duke's present journey thither, but I confess I believe lit tle : for I hear others speak of the pope's nephew. Cardi nal Barberino, coraing with great porap into France, and, as sorae say, rather to hinder than further the match. Here is great preparation for a fleet to go to sea : they speak of a press of ten thousand land soldiers, and seven thousand mariners to furnish that fleet ; and that it shall be victualed for eight months. Here is news come out of Spain of a great loss lately sustained by the Spaniards in the South Sea, and that by the Holland fleet that went for Lima. And thus, wishing your lordship perfect health, and as rauch happiness as to myself, I will ever remain. Your Lordship's very affectionate Friend, and humble servant, HENRY BOURGCHIER. London, March 23d. 1624, 272 LETTERS. LETTER LXXXIV. THE BISHOP OF KILMORE TO THE MOST REV. JAMES USSHER, ARCHBISHOP ELECT OF ARMAGH. Most Rev. and my hon. good Lord, I DO congratulate with unspeakable joy and comfort your preferment, and that both out of the true and unfeigned love I have ever borne you, for raany years continued ; as also out of an assured and most firm persuasion, tbat God hath ordained you a special instru ment for the good of the Irish Church, the growth whereof, notwithstanding all his Majesty's endowments and directions, receives every day raore irapediments and oppositions than ever: and that not only in Ulster, but begins to spread itself into other places : so that the in heritance of the Church is made arbitrary at the council- table ; irapropriators in all places raay hold all ancient customs, only they upon whom the cure of souls is laid, are debarred ; St. Patrick's Ridges, which you know belonged to the fabric of that church, are taken away; within the diocese of Ardagh, the whole clergy being all poor vicars and curates, by a declaration of one of the judges this last circuit, (by what direction I know not) without speedy reraedy, will be brought to much decay ; the which I rather mention, because it is within your province : the more is taken away from the king's clergy, the raore accrues to the pope's : and the servitors and undertakers, who should be instruraents for settling a church, do hereby advance their rents, and raake the church poor. In a word, in all consultations which con cern the Church, not the advice of sages but of young LETTERS. 273 counsellors is followed. With all particulars the agents whom we have sent over will fully acquaint you, to whom I rest assured your lordship will afford your countenance, and best assistance. And my good lord, now remember that you sit at the stern, not only to guide us in a right course, but to be continually in action, and standing in the watch-tower to see that the Church receive no hurt. I know my lord's grace of Canterbury will give his best furtherance to the cause, to whom I do not doubt, but after you have fully possessed yourself thereof, you will address yourself. And so with the remerabrance of my love and duty unto you, praying for the perfect recovery of your health, I rest. Your Lordship's most true and Faithful Servant to command, THO. KILMORE, &e. March 26. 1624, VOL, XV. 274 LETTERS. LETTER LXXXV. SIR HENRY BOURGCHIER TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. Most Rev. in Christ, and my very good Lord, I RECEIVED your lordship's letter of the 26th March, for which I return many humble thanks. I have written to Mr. Pat. Young, both concerning his transcript of epistles, and the nameless annal ; but I could yet receive no answer from him, and I have not yet had time to go to him myself. I have spoken with Sir Robert Cotton concerning Malmesbury, and the two books of Saints' lives in Sarisbury library, all which he hath under taken your lordship shall have with all convenient speed. As for the other two books, he tells me that you have one of thera, if not both already, but if you want either of them you shall have it sent to you. Giraldus Cambrensis of the lives of David and Patrick was in my hands, which I send your lordship herewithal. I have transcribed him for the press, only I will desire that when the printer is ready for that part, I may have it to compare with my transcript ; for I purpose to go in hand with the impres sion of his works, though I make some adventure of my own purse. If my memory fail me not, that Arabic book is in my lord Marshal's library, but I have not had oppor tunity to go in since the receipt of your lordship's letter ; by the next I will give your lordship an account of it. I received some letters out of Ireland of the 25th March, but containing little memorable ; only which is very la mentable, of five hundred soldiers lately transported from the river of Chester, three hundred at least are lost by LETTERS. 275 shipwreck upon the coast of Wales. Sir Edward Chiches ter is created baron of Belfast, and viscount of Carikfergus. Here is much preparation for the solemnities of the fune ral, parliament, and coronation. The new writs are gone out, returnable the 17th of May. The funeral-day is appointed the 10th of May, which doubtless will be very great and sumptuous. It is said that the king of Bohemia his eldest son comes over to be chief mourner. There is no day certain for the coronation, because it depends upon the marriage, that both may be done together. Italy which hath been quiet sixty years, some few brables of the duke of Savoy excepted, is now grown the stage of war : the French, the duke of Savoy, and the Venetian forces are fifty thousand, and are come within twelve miles of Genoa, having already taken divers of their towns. But now my paper bids me end : wherefore with the remembrance of my love and service to your lordship and Mrs. Ussher, as also to Sir Garret Harvy and my lady, I wUl ever remain, Your Grace's most affectionate Friend And humble Servant, HENRY BOURGCHIER. London, April 7. 1G25. 276 LETTERS. LETTER LXXXVL THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH TO SIR ROBERT COTTON. Worthy Sir, My weakness is such, that I am thereby disabled, as to write any letter myself, so to dictate very few. And therefore, as heretofore I was bold to include you in a letter to my lord of Landaff, so at this time I take the like boldness to include ray lord in your letter. This bearer is not a stranger unto me ; for I have been something acquainted with hira in Ireland : but for my turn he is altogether unfit, having never read (for ought I can learn) a manuscript in his Ufe. For scholars to re tain unto rae I have as many as any archbishop in Eng land already : the turn, that I would have presently served, is the getting of one, that hath already been tried in transcribing of manuscripts, and will sit close to work. For when God hath restored me to my health, I know not how short a tirae I have to stay in the country. Touching the Saraaritan Pentateuch, the copy which I have is, as I guess, about three hundred years old : but the work itself coraeth very short of the tirae of Esras and Malachy. I have corapared the testimonies cited out of it by the ancient Fathers, Eusebius, Jerome, Cyril, and others; and find them precisely to agree with my book, which makes me highly to esteem of it. I have perused the fragment of the Chronicle, which you had from Mr. Camden, thought to be a piece of Simeon Du nelmensis, but find it to be nothing else but a piece of Roger Hoveden, and to be clean without the compass of LETTERS. 277 the time, which Bale and others assign unto Simeon's His- otry. I pray remember my hearty affection unto my lord of Landaff, and Mr. Secretary Mourton, and still account of me as Your true and faithful Friend, JA. ARMACHANUS. Much-Hadham, May, 1625, ^'" LETTERS, LETTER LXXXVIL THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH TO THE RIGHT REV, JOHN LORD BISHOP OF LINCOLN, LORD KEEPER OF THE GREAT SEAL. My VERY GOOD Lord, It pleased your lordship and my lord treasurer, upon the reference made unto you by his Ma jesty, to order that Dr. Rives should forego the claim which he made by his patent to the exercise of the office of the prerogative and faculties, and to execute the same only as substitute under me. But the doctor having taken upon him to set down in writing your lordship's mind, hath done it with such advantage to himself, that I am forced to become an humble suitor unto your lord ship to commit the drawing np of that order to some person that shall be more indifferent. For there he hath inserted a clause, that he may enjoy the place which he desireth during his life : (which is not fit to be granted unto any substitute, but during his good behaviour) and generally he setteth down all things therein as may most make for his own behoof, without reserving any power unto me, to limit him any way in the exercise of those offices ; when it was no part of my meaning to give him any such unlimited and absolute power ; but such only as other bishops ordinarily do give unto those which they place under them. And whereas in Ireland the power of granting dispensations is not by law restrained to any competent distance of place, to any certain number of benefices, or to any quaUfication of persons : I more par ticularly declared my mind therein unto my lord treasurer in the doctor's own presence: that I held it no ways fit that my substitute should have authority to grant fa- LETTERS. 279 culties as he listed, but only to such persons, and in such manner as I myself should appoint : yet so as the whole profit of such grants should wholly be reserved unto him, and the care of ordering them left only unto me. Hereupon a motion was made by my lord treasurer, that as we had referred the main business unto your lord- ship% so we should also refer the condition and limitation of that deputation, which was to be granted unto him by me ; unto which motion both of us then yielded. After this he brought unto me the copy of an instrument drawn- by himself J wherein there was no manner of mention at all made of any limitation of his power, either in the granting of dispensations, or in any thing else : so that by virtue hereof he might also likely do what he pleased, without control or restraint from me. I leave unto your lordship's wisdom to consider, whether it would be conve nient, that the doctor should take upon him to visit the whole clergy of the kingdom, to convent archbishops and bishops before him, and to grant all manner of dispensa tions whether I will or no ; and whether I should not wrong both myself and the whole clergy of Ireland (who have groaned long under this heavy burden, as your lord ship discerns by the copy of their petitions here inclosed) if I ^did commit any such transcendent and unliraited power unto hira. My humble suit therefore unto your lordship is, that you would be pleased to get the order drawn by Dr. Rives, into your hands again, and to commit the laying down both of it and of the authority which he is to receive from me, unto some other which shall not respect his own ends, but simply express what shall be your lordship's pleasure therein ; whereunto I most willingly submit myself, and ever rest, Your Lordship's in all duty ready To be commanded, JA. ARMACHANUS. Much-Haddam, July 6, 1625. a Your lordship may by private instructions, and his discretion, free your self of this fear. 280 LETTERS. the answer of the bishop of lincoln, My Lord, I DO not conceive this patent to be so unrea sonable; so a clause be added therein, of a power re served to you and your successors' person, to take unto your own cognizance, any exercise of any one private act of jurisdiction, or issuing forth of any one particular dis pensation, that may be of consequence to the state, or the Church : which clause Sir Henry Martyn will, at my desire and request, clear up for your lordship. JO. LINCOLN, C. S. LETTERS. 281 LETTER LXXXVin. MR. ABR.\HAM WHEELOCK TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. Right Reverend, My most humble duty remembered to your lordship, being not a little affected with your reco very. My lord, you may peradventure blame me of neglect or forgetfulness, or both, concerning some busi ness I was 'entrusted with, when last I was with your lordship. I had wrote a letter fully to excuse myself. The fellows of Emanuel were confident they had not that Thalmud your lordship desired : Mr. Dr. Ward under took the delivery of that Bennet college book, when I intended to have by a letter excused myself, but a long fit of sickness prevented me. I could draw little or nothing from Mr. Downs, whose memory fails him ; by much ado I desired him to show rae that place which Mr. Broughton so much talked of concerning aSrig, it is in Plato his Craty lus, page 54. at the bottom of the leaf of the Basil edition, apud Henricum Petri ; where he brings Socrates showing why Pluto was so called ; your lordship will better gather the argument than I can fitly set it down. Socrates : To Se nXourovoc [ovojua] tovto plv kuto. rjjv tov ttXovtov Socnv, OTi EK rjjc yVQ Ka.T(ti6Ev avhrai 6 TrXoSroe, iTniyvofidadr)' 'O Se aSjjc, ot TToXXol fiiv fxoi SoKOvcnv VTToXafifidvEiv to oeiSec irpoa-EiprfTOai rt^ bvofiari tovti^' Kat (pofiovfiEvoL to ovofia nXotirova KaXovaiv avrbv. 'Epfioytvng. Sot Se ttwc ipaivErai w'\>3u; ^n^ (nniara) w* cdji ¦n"12f QVn "n IJy in^ -iIDJD n^iob There be some Psalms also that have this title or epigraph inb to David, in stead of iny:! for David. As Psalm XX. to the Master Quirester, IMb "ilDtD a Psalm to David, that is, for Da vid : which the kind of the Psalm argueth ; for it is a sup plication of the Church in the behalf of their king, ^Jy ms QIO nirr ver. l. in initio Psalmi, et in fine he closeth it up simiU sono : .iJ«"ip-C3va wv> ']bon ny>iyin nin> 2. Rabbi Elias Levita Gerraanus% in his W)QWn p"iDn lO^n chapter of the office of the article b saith, that b hath three offices. (1.) b est "laT ni'nJ est b donativura, dativi casus sig num to ut Gen. chap. XXXII. ver, 18. W^fb Minb to ray Lord, to Esau. (2.) b est vel (^^) {'Jy est genitivum, genitivi casus signum, bllf of HD J'Jp est possessivura, ut Psalra. XXIV. ^lan "'b terra est Doraino, id est Domini. So IlDtD 1Mb a psalm to David, that is of David, "it^N being un derstood. (3.) b est loco "liaya (propter) est accusativi casus ' ln>Ss *plS cap. 4. LETTERS. 305 signum (for) ut Exodus, chap. XIV. ver. 3." And Pha raoh said "b«iE?'' ''32b propter filios Israel:" so Gen. chap. XX. ver. 5. "•'b niSN say for me, he is my bro ther;" hitherto EUas. I will add other places of mine own observation, Psalm CXIX. ver. 122. " ailab T05? mS be thy servant's surety (for) good," not (to) good. So Micah, chap. I. ver. 12. " The inhabitant of Maroth was sick (for) good aitab nbn" that it had lost. So Psalm III. ver. 3. " lb nnsw T'M There is no help (for him) in God." So Psalm VII. ver. 13. " r^" 1^'' ^e hath prepared (for him) the instruments of death ;" and Kimchy notes there, that some expound lb for "nliva, that is lt»D2 -iiaya. dan, CHAP. IX. VER. 24. " Seventy weeks are determined each one of them touching or concerning thy people.'' R. Sagnadias : " Let*" us number and we shall know how many years ten times seven do amount unto, namely seventy; behold 70 weeks are 490 years; abstract from them the 70 years of the captivity of Babel, from the time that Nebuchadnezzar laid waste the sanctuary, unto the se cond year of Darius, and there remain 420 years : for so long the second house or temple remained standing; as if he should say, seventy'' years he hath decreed concerning thy people, and concerning thy city Jerusalem, the city of thy hoUness, which shall hereafter be built up. So thou hast learned, that jointly with the Babylonish captivity, toge ther with the standing of the second house, are seventy weeks, which are 490 years : 70 of the destruction, and 428 of the building. " Mbabj &c. to* restrain," or prohibit defection, or re bellion, which they had already made or committed. ^ Rabbi Sagnadias the eminent doctor his exposition on Dan, chap. 9. ver. 24. " "TOJ is nnni Sagnadias. That is, 70 years of Babel's captivity, and 420 Zorubbabel's temple stood, make together 490 years or 70 weeks. ^ Dan, chap. 9. ver. 24. VOL. XV. X 306 LETTERS. " annbl and to seal up," that is, read QMnbl, and to " finish sins of error," that is, the blessed and holy One will finish erroneous sin. " "iDDbl and to expiate, to raake reconciliation," I ex pound it to cover^ the iniquity of Israel : that is, of Solo mon's temple. " W^nbl and to bring in righteousness of eternities." This is the house of the sanctuary, as it is written, 1 Kings, chap. VIII. ver. 13. " a settled place for thee to dwell in for ever." Now the house of the sanctuary is called Qiabs' or worlds. In the world or age of the first building, and in the world or age of the second building, and in the world or age of the third building, which shall remain from age to age for ever. " Ands to seal up the vision and prophecy :" for from the time that the second house was built, there did not arise up any more a prophet in Israel, only they used bp na the echo or voice from heaven, " And^ to anoint the most holy." For greater shall be the glory of the dignity of the second house, than of the first; as it is written, "Great shall be the glory of the latter house above the first." And this that he saith nti^lib it is of the signification of the Chaldee word mS"!, to anoint, as that place " nntt^Sibj to anoint thera," is interpreted in the Chaldee " nS2"ib to anoint." And some expositions say nti^ab to anoint, is to measure out the measure TilIDb which they interpret in the Chaldee Nnnt&a, a measuring, according to the sentence, where it is said, " a line shall be stretched out over Jeru salem." " N^JS ^82, From' the going forth of the commandment." " Our English cover comes of his Hebrew mother 163, i et s Uteris 6013 organi permutatis. f R, Sagnadias by «3o Q'oSjrS means Solomon's temple, so called (the house of perpetuity), for that the ark rested there longer than in any other place, as I showed in unveiling Moses's tabernacle. s Dan. chap. 9, ver, 24. ¦" Ibid. ' Daniel, chap. 9. ver. 25. LETTERS. 307 From'' the time that the word went forth from the presence of the Creator, when the decree was decreed to bring back the captives from Babel, and to build Jerusalem by means of Cyrus. " To' Christ the Prince," until that king shall be anointed, which is the prince that must build up Jerusalem, " hitherto™ are seven weeks :" seven weeks I say are forty- nine years, from the time that the Creator preached the glad tidings, that Jerusalem should be built, until the second year of Darius king of Persia. After that shall Jerusalem be built, and shall stand built 420 years. Be hold 70 weeks wants 10 years, and those 10 years Bither stood. Now when they shall ascend up to Jerusalem, " the street shall be built;" that is, Jerusalem, and the streets thereof. " 'Vlim and" the wall;" it is properly the ditch cut out about the wall ; the ditches are the villages of the inhabi tants of Jerusalem, which are now cut ofi", so that men can not pass over. "pISai and" in the strait of times ;" they be the courts of the sanctuary, the watches and the stations of the priests and Levites ; as if he should say, Jerusalem should be waste all these years. ABBEN EZRA ON DAN. CHAP. IX. VER. 24. 70 weeks, &c. That eminent Doctor Sagnadiah saith, that these weeks are years ; witness that which he saith afterwards, chap, X. ver. 3. " till three weeks of days," that is, years, " were fulfiUed ;" but he mentioneth not '' Yet forgetting himself, he begins the 77 of Daniel from the first of Cyrus. ' Dan, chap. 9. ver. 25. " From the first year of Cyrus till the second of Darius the Persian, are 7 weeks, or 49 years, of those 490 years ; the first division of the weeks the city Bither, whereof Ben. Cozba was king, Adrianus Caesar took 73 years after the destruction of the second temple after other 52 years. He misreckons himself 1 1 years here ; for 49 and 420 and 10 make but 479 to which add 1 1 years, and there is 490. ° Dan, chap. 9. ver. 25. " Ibid. X 2 308 LETTERS. with the weeks 70 days. " For behold they are like 7 sabbaths of years:" and right is the interpretation; for that half of the week that he mentioneth, is 1290 days, as I will declare by perfect demonstration, only the exposi tion of these 70 weeks are exceeding hard. Moreover, for that we know not whether these words, " to restrain rebellion, and to finish erroneous sins," be in laudem, or vituperium ; for lo, it is semblable, tbat from the word, " to cover iniquity, and to anoint the most holy," all this is in laudem, in commendation ; but these words, " to seal vision and prophecy," cannot be in comraendation. Now seeing it is so, how can we order aright these words ? " to restrain rebeUion, and to end erroneous sin," that they should be in comraendationi'. And so the like of those words, " to seal vision and prophecy." But behold we find it written, " that the iniquity of the Araorite was not perfectly filled up," and those words are spoken in vituperium, in the ill sense : for the meaning is, that hi therto the day of his calamity, and the final punishment of his iniquity is not yet come: as that place, "Greater is my punishment than can be borne;" and so that, " if pS? punishment shall happen unto thee," And so thy ini quity is perfected and finished, thy punishment is ended ; and it is in the ill sense. But the replier may answer, that these words, "erroneous sin," and "trespass," as also that word, " I beseech thee take away now," &c,, are contrary to those words, " and her iniquity is taken away." But lo, the whole shall be expounded according to the meaning of the place ; but those words, " to bring in eternal righteousness," do show that they are in com mendation. And the sense of " to seal vision" is, the understanding of the prophets, which have prophesied of the subject of the second temple. And now I will tell the meaning of that eminent Gaon ; he saith, that the exposition of " the P Abben Ezra knows not, that Moses's ceremonial law had its funeral and death in Christ's death. Col. chap. 2. ver. 14. agreeing with this of Dan. chap. 9, ver. 24. when Christ was crucified and nailed to the cross, then was the ceremonial law crucified and nailed to his cross. LETTERS. 309 word went forth," is, that God had decreed that Jerusa lem, with the second temple, should lie waste 490 years, which are the 70 weeks. Only thou hast erred in thine account, when the 70 years were complete and ended, and they are but only seven weeks, which make 49 years ; and thou needest not be curious to mention the years, for they were 51. And the meaning " to Messias the prince," is, Cyrus the king. And he hath brought a reason from the words of the prophet : " Thus saith the Lord to Cyrus his Messias," or anointed one, " whose right hand I have strengthened." And the 62 weeks are the days, that is years, of the se cond house. But lo there is a difficulty ; for the angel saith, " Inl the beginning of thy supplications, the word went forth," Again, how can the years of the captivity be mingled with the years of the second temple? Or, how should we expound, "to restrain rebellion," and " to finish error?" Again, what shall become of the week that re mains ? Of which he saith, " he will confirm the covenant for many in one week," after the 62 weeks ; and it were meet to mention, that yet three weeks do remain. Moreover, his proof that Cyrus is the Messias, is not right ; for that " to his Messias," is as much as to his pro phet ; for so it is written for that, '? that the Lord hath anointed me." But before I speak my opinion, I will ex pound these words, " He will confirm the covenant for many." It is a thing manifestly known, that Titus made a covenant"^ with Israel for seven years ; and that three years and an half, the "daily sacrifice ceased," before the destruction of the second temple, as it is written in the book of Josephus, son of Gory on, And^ he saith, " with the wing* of abomination he shall make it desolate," because the abominations shall spoil the sanctum sanctorum, or the oracle, after the number of years mentioned before, when Jerusalem was taken. And 1 Abben Ezra confutes Rabby Sagnadiah, as before. ' Not by Titus, but by Antiochus. ¦ Dan. chap. 9. ver. 27. ' Wing of Roman soldiers. 310 LETTERS. it is written, in the fourth prophecy, " And they poUuted the sanctuary of my strength ;" that was the day Jerusa lem was taken, in the time of Titus, who had taken away the continual sacrifice before, and the abomination of deso lation was set up. For so it is written, " And from the time that the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the desolating abomination set up, shall be 1290 days:" and they must needs expound Daniel, how many complete days are half a week, because of the leap-years ; so also hy reason of the word ''Sn^ or half a week : for it is not meet that half should be the whole, neither more nor less, as the '<2n half tribe of Manasses, and many such like. Now know thou that D*ia>, days, are always so taken for days, and not for years. Only it is meet, that if it be said D'^a"', days, that it should be a complete year, in the revolution of the days of the year, as they were at first. As that, from days to days, which are the days of a coraplete year; so that " days shall be his redemption," that is, in a year shall he be re deemed. But when the number of two or three days shall be used within this word CO'', days, it cannot fitly be taken for years, but for days as they are, after the exposi tion of that place, " two days," which were two complete ones, when the days returned as they were. And so that " until a month of days," when the moon shall be seen according to the form in which she was seen in the first day of man's being. Therefore have I said 1290 days are that half of the week that he mentioneth. And so that "blessed is he that waiteth for that he raay attain to those days," as I will expound. For in case they were years, how could a raan wait or expect a 1000 years to come unto them ? And it is written, the days of our years, " in" them are 70 years." And behold we find that Nehemiah saith, That " the city of the sepulchres of my fathers hath wasted, " 'Jltf DmKn IIN or February, makes the mensis embolismicus, or in- tercalaris being doubled. " The 70 years of the captivity was a type, and the time of man's life, a captivity of 70 years. In the Psalms, " Teach us so to number our days," p is in number 70 and hath reference to the 70 years named im mediately before; the allusion is sweet. LETTERS. 311 and the gates thereof are burnt with fire." And it is writ ten, " Also me hath he commanded to be a prince in the land of Judah." And it is written of him, " He shall build up the temple of the Lord, and shall bear the honour; shall sit and reign upon his throne." So Jeremy prophe sieth of him : " A king shall reign, and be wise." And in Ezra it is written, concerning Nehemiah, " And thou shalt be to them for a king." And now I will expound the 70 weeks. The 70 weeks are from the going forth of the word in the beginning of Daniel's supplications. " To restrain rebellion," is like that " The iniquity of the Araorite is not yet raade perfect:" " And to seal up error," is as that, " thy iniquity is perfect and finished." And " to cover iniquity," to bear the yoke of the captivity, to make reconciliation with our fathers. And to bring in till God shall judge them with righteousness. Or his ex position is in dispraise : for the coming of righteousness, is the setting of righteousness ; as the going down of the sun is the setting ¦ thereof. Therefore it is in dispraise ; for commendation is the contrary, as that, " their righteous ness shall go forth like the Ught." And " he shall bring forth thy righteousness Uke light." And this is that, " Arise, O ray Ught, for thy light cometh. For thy light was set until now." •' And^ to seal up the vision and prophedy," because the prophets shall cease; "and to seal the Messias the most Holy." " And behold, this is the beginning of the cap tivity." So that the matter of the account cannot come into thy mind. For lo, in the accounts of the kings of Persia, there is a new moon added, according to the word of the angel, ^' as^ I will declare." Now whether there be in the computation an addition or subtraction, it hurteth not. Peradventure% the matter of the new moon will come into thy mind, when he knoweth the moment of the y Dan, chap. 9. ver. 24. ^ Or because ttjs - If I could tell but what verse and chapter he writes of this new moon, I had translated it ; I will seek more at leisure. I understand not by 312 LETTERS. eclipse of the moon in this year. Besides, we have found another eclipse before this, an hundred years, by which I raay know the place of the moon according to truth. And according to his account, he wiU willingly reduce back ward the years that corae. Now lo, the meaning of verse 25. " Know therefore, and understand, that from the going forth of the command ment, to restore and to build'' Jerusalem, unto the prince Messias, are 70 weeks." " And'= behold, 19 years were of the kingdom of Cyrus and Ahashuerosh, And two years of Darius, and he reigned 12 years; and it is so written in a book of the kings of Persia." " And twenty years of Artaxshashta the King. Lo, aU amounts but to seven weeks*, till Nehemiah carae, as it is written in the book of Ezra." Now' the 62 weeks are the time that the second temple stood ; and the half of the week I have expounded. And thus, my lord, I have showed your grace the ex position of R. Sagnadiah to be false, by Abben Ezra his opinion. And, 2dly, I have set down Abben Ezra's suppu- tation of the 70 weeks : which is thus, 51 years of Cyrus and Ahashuerosh, Darius and Artaxerxes ; or 7 weeks, 434 years : or the 62 weeks, the time the second temple stood ; and he makes the temple to stand longer 14 years than any other. Seven years, the last week, in all 491 years. You see he is a year too much : besides, he makes the last weeks half to be after the destruction of Zorobabel's temple, which was 40 years before the destruction thereof. My lord, I must now impart a matter unto you. My wife received a letter of late, since I was with your lord- these two eclipses, what time is gained : I would be glad to learn of your grace. *> To build again. "• Abben Ezra his account of the 70 weeks. •i So the whole is seven until vid. E.in Dan, chap, 11, ver. 2. ' 62 weeks are 434 years, so long Zorobabel's temple stood, viz. to be J290 days. LETTERS. 313 ship, from her sister, my lady Temple, wherein she writeth that my lord of Meath hearing of my entering into the ministry, did promise to confer upon me a living worth sixty pounds per annum presently ; and that within a year he would make it worth an hundred pounds per an num, if I would come over. I wonder that my lord of Meath, Dr. Martin, as I suppose, should, of his own ac cord, make such an offer unto me that am a raere stranger to him, and never had conference with hira. But, my lord, if your lordship would vouchsafe me, to be a poor Levite and chaplain in your service, I would say with Mollerus, " Carr^aiMf T* bw CiaS? •'J'^J^S Cum omne ser vire durum sit, felicissimus, cui contigerit bono ac pio ser vire Domino." If your grace shall in your letter signify T\y3 bw Q'^ssinai Q'^nita n'^-Q'i imb, then behold I will say with Ruth, " Where^ thou goest, I will go ; and where thou diest, 1 will die," &c. And thus, with thanks for your lordship's last bounty in bearing my charges, which I understood not till I took horse, and therefore could not return thanks till now, I rest now and ever. ¦^ais ''3iS'3 ti:j-i H^iaa n'^ns RALPH SKYNNER. Sutton, Oetob. 31. 1625. My lord, I would gladly be your scholar, to learn your method and facile way in preaching. O that I raight be beholden unto you for some of your directions in that kind. And that I might see but a sermon or two of your grace's in writing, according to those directions : for there fore did I enter in the last hour of the day of my life into ' Psalm 123. ver. 2. s Ruth, chap. 1. ver. 16, 17. 314 LETTERS. God's house, that I might say with David"", -i)an3 p^TS TMW> panbi nN3 mS"' The reason is rendered paiJ'' ^T)^S n2''tt>2 And Abben Ezra calleth the Rabbles, D"iT'nM3 mtt "'tsaN " Psalm 92, ver, 13, LETTERS. 315 LETTER C. MR. RALPH SKINNER TO Worthy Sir, Your last kindness is not forgotten, though unrequited, for I cannot "jiDn binJ3 nitT'nb Pecuniam qui habet non refert, et qui refert non habet. At gratiam qui refert, habet, et qui habet refert. Accept, therefore, this my Hterarum manus, by which now I prove that plainly unto you, which long ago I affirmed in conference, viz., that Israel passed not over the Red Sea transversum, as you and others have supposed. Major. If Israel, coraing out of the sea, arrived and landed at the self same side of the wilderness, from which he departed when he entered the sea : then did he not go over the Red sea transversum. Minor'. But Israel, coming out of the sea, arrived and landed at the self sarae side of the wilderness, from which he departed when he entered the sea. CoNCL. Ergo, Israel did not go over the sea trans versum. The major proposition cannot be denied. For if he went into and out of the sea, keeping still the same side, he did not pass over-thwart the sea, which is the breadth thereof, from one side to another. The minor is thus proved out of the text, in express words. They came from Succoth to Etham, in the edge of the wilderness, Exod. chap. XIII. ver. 20. Num. chap. 316 LETTERS. XXXIII. ver. 6. And returned from Etham to Pihahi- roth, encamping by the sea, Num. chap. XXXIII. ver. 7. Exod. chap. XIV. ver. 1. and 9. and passing CaTt "fina in or by the midst of the sea, Num. chap. XXXIII. ver. 8. they came unto the same wilderness again, Num. chap, XXXIII, ver.8. which is called alsonw Exod. chap, XV. ver, 22. From which collation of places it appears, the Abben Ezra his opinion is true, " We know," saith he, " that there is no Red Sea between Egypt and the land of Israel, neither was there any need that they should go into the Red Sea, for that it was their way to Canaan, only God commanded thera so to do, to the end that the Egyptians might go in after them and be drowned. Now from the wilderness of Etham, Israel entered the sea, and into the wilderness of Etham they went out again." Seeing from the collation of those two places, the truth will better appear, I will set them down. They departed from Rameses on the 15th day of the first month, and pitched in Succoth, Numb. chap. 33. ver. 3. 5, And they departed from Succoth and pitched in Etham, which is in the end of that wilderness. Numb. chap, 33. ver. 6. And they departed from Etham, and turned unto Pi-hahiroth which is before Bagnal-zephon, and pitched before Migdol,Numb. chap. 33. ver. 7. And they departed from before Pi- hahiroth, and passed [through] for, by, or in the midst of the sea, into the wilderness, rriston a»n ima inavi and they went three days journey into the wilderness of Etham, and pitched in Marah, Numb, chap, 33, ver. 8. By the collation of these two places, it appears, that Israel re turning from Etham, came to Pi- hahiroth ; there entering the sea, came out of the sea to the same wil derness of Etham again, Numb. chap. 1. On the 15th of Nisan, six hun dred thousand footmen journied from Bangmeses to Succoth, Exod. chap. 12. ver. 37. 2. They departed from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness of Etham, viz,, Exod. chap. 13, ver. 20, 3, Then from Etham they return ed, and encamped before Pi-hahi- i-ott, boiwoon Migdol and the sea, before Bagnal-zephon, before it they pitched by the sea, Exod. chap. 14. ver. 2. And six hundred chariots of the Egyptians following after Israel overtook them pitching by the sea pss Vjfs '3sS niTnn 'S '?jt en Sy Exod. chap. 14. ver. 7. and 9. There the children of Israel n'n "linS ISS* Exod. chap. 14, ver, 22. went into the midst of the sea (not through the midst of the sea) the reason is ren dered, for the waters wore to them a wall on each hand ; and the Egyp tians went in after them o'n "lin "jx ver. 23. and the waters returned on LETTERS. 317 them, ver. 26, 27, 28, So Moses brought forth Israel out of the Red Sea, and they went out into the wil derness of Shur, Exod. chap. 15. ver. 22. And for three days finding no water in the wilderness they came to Marah, Exod. chap, 15, ver. 23, 2. The same phrase is in the next verse said of the Egyptians, Ex, ch, 14. ver, 27. D»n ym nnsn ns -\j?j»i If we should expound these words as the former, that God shook the Egyptians through the Red Sea, quam absurda esset. 3. It is said, that Israel saw the Egyptians dead, Q,fi jisb» 'jy Exod. chap. 14. ver. 30. which is not likely they would have so easily done, if they had passed over the breadth of the sea, 4. It appears. Exod. chap. 14. ver. 20. that it was night when Moses stretched out his hand on the sea, and when Jehovah dried the waters, and when Israel entered the sea. And it appears also, that -\p3r; .TiClfNS Exod. chap, 14. ver. 24. which is called ip3 niJbS ^er. 27. that the waters returned, ijntNS and the Egyptians were drowned. Now is it likely that six hundred thousand men, besides women and children, could pass over the breadth of the Red Sea in so short a time as nine hours at the most ? For on the 15th of March they went from Eameses to Succoth : on the 16th day from Succoth to Etham ; on the 17th day from Etham they returned to Pi- hahiroth, and entered the sea at night, suppose at six o'clock at night at the soonest, at three in the morn ing watch they arrived at Etham, or Shur in Etham, and saw the Egyptians drowned on the shore. Now, the use and benefit plained, is threefold. 33, ver. 8. Which Moses Exod. chap. 15. ver. 22. calleth Shur : a place in the wilderness of Etham, and the same that Etham is, saith Abben Ezra, It is not for the wisest man, saith he, to judge of God's works, why dost thou thus ? For God com mands Israel here, when he had made his journey to Etham, and was so much forward on his way to Canaan, to return then backward again to Pi-hahiroth »jaS Un'l 13tt"1 niTPin 'S their three days' journey, and that j— iniy "Ol *¦" the end that Pharaoh might follow after them, and be drowned in the sea. For when Pharaoh had heard that Israel had made two days' journey to Etham in the wilderness, and that then they (after they had gone so far on their way as Moses had foretold them, ' ' We must go three days' journey in the wilderness to sacrifice") return ed back to go another way, then Pharaoh thought that Moses's in tent was to fly, for it was told Pha raoh that the people fled, Exod. chap. 14. ver. 5. and not to go to sacrifice. Then he said " q^ a'333 ^or he that flies away, his way is perplexed, and he knows not whither he goes." Then being at Pi-hahiroth, the Lord commanded Moses to bid the people go into the sea, Exod. chap. 14. ver. ) 5. which they did, ver. 22. a»fi nlna. Think not, saith Abben Ezra, be cause the Scripture saith there, D'.l Tins that they came into the half, or midst of the sea ; for iu case they had but entered, or set but half a foot or hoof no-iB into the sea, on '['in Nift' it '^"¦y ^'^ called or said, within the sea, as )r|BBD!mv cbt^n"' t»i'>-nb aint» 1-122; isi U'«bffi'i-i"« niaab s-iian D"it£?2t»n :nat» 3'n na^i'^aan 'iiasni i=i''bt»n>i nann p nnMi D"id "rbia In verba quae Dominatio vestra quserit : " sedificabitur et in sedificio ejus, id est aedificata, manebit." -\ir^ n'lttv D''ar» -^ ^ni« C3iat» "> nnti a'^v^w o^v>:iw ^irf : nTiisini izibffi'i'T' N'^n mm naan Qba^n-'b Qnib»2i To the second demand, as touching nt&Xab, Dan. chap. IX. ver. 24. I find the first part of Mr, Br,'s words out of Abben Ezra, viz. ''aiann nb^nna im n2»» on Q'^^na; nisists dids nns^i bs'^ai That the seventy weeks are from the going forth of the Word at Daniel's prayer ; as also the latter n'^W'Q Dinnbl Q^a^-fp E>lp but not in a continued coherence ; for after the word bs"'aT three lines at least of the exposition of other words of the text are inserted, without dependance ; 320 letters. for he saith not ntS'Jab IV but ntt^Sib without IV : so that he shows terminum a quo, by the preposition ^ija in voce SiSiaa but terminum ad quem he hath not precisely ex pressed, for that IV wanteth. To the third ; these be Abben Ezra's words touching the new moon, and the eclipses. / •ibiK) D-iD "rbi: -iQDiaa nan ^a -iSDan 1:11 ~\dh bv ribv'< bsi nsDin iiatijna ts'^ osi co-iqs -itt?N3 "fsban nm •'Qd f)Dia ^yivn 13 ibian -im inb b:? nbs'' -ibis p^f> Mb nviiiz in •'asb n-inN nrnp laMsai mnin nat»2 naabn nmp wi 1S31 nia«n nanbn Dipa ns'ib nn baiN na2? nwa nst : niN2n o'laffi'n is rr-a-iinN lai^j-na 2W> laiaton To the fourth ; Abben Ezra's calculation of the seventy- seven of Daniel. t»i-nwnNi ffi'iia niabta Dna; nat» n-i^v vwn nam •-sbn -isDn mna nasi naa; n"-- "jba Nim trr-nb cnatoi Qiyiatt? ban nam "iban Mntr'tcnrnMia naa? Qnti^yi dis u>wn; caiyiatt^i wits? -)DDa ainaa n'^ana wa 12? nv3.w t iat» n'^a iiart^ ci''aa?i Having written thus far, I presently came to London, and went to Mr. Walker to borrow those books 1 had not, because I am desirous to give your grace all the satis faction I can. Mr. Walker hath not Gershom, nor any comment on Daniel, but the same that I have ; only he lent me iivat^a, and so I have read over the whole trac tate nb'^aa, but there is not any word touching the dura tion of the Babylonian kingdom, or any other kingdom. It only handleth on what days the nbaa is to be read, and their rites and ceremonies ; I confess, I read only the text of MegUlah, I read not Rambanus, nor Bartinorah's comment, for that would require many days, and I found no one word in the text tending any thing at all towards any such matter; and therefore, my Lord, I would be glad to know what author referred you to that tractate of Megil- lah, or whether your grace hath mistaken the rODia : I humbly thank your grace for your lordship's last kindness unto me, when I was at Much-Hadham, for defraying my charges at mine inn. And now, my lord, " vetus confe- letters. 321 yendo beneficium invitas novum." It hath pleased my lord Carew, who lieth at N onesuch, some mile and an half from Sutton, before whose honour I have often preached, to be pleased to write his letter to the right honourable my lord keeper. Sir Thoraas Coventry, that he would be pleased, at his request, to bestow a benefice on me, when any shall fall in his gift. And he was pleased moreover to send the letter by Sir Thomas Stafford to my lord keeper, to solicit the raatter also by word of raouth. And so I was there at Harapton-court, and presented myself to my lord keeper ; who gave me his hand, and promised, that within three raonths, or sooner, he assured himself he should provide for rae. And now, my lord, my request is, that your grace would be pleased to write your letter also unto my lord keeper, in ray behalf, to this effect, having relation to my lord Carew's precedent ; that whereas your lordship is informed, that ray lord Carew hath solicited my lord keeper to bestow a benefice on one Ralph Skyn ner, rainister and preacher of the word at Sutton, under Mr. Glover, a raan of honest life and conversation, and conforraable to the orders of our Church, and so forth, as it shall please your lordship to write of me, that you would be pleased to second my lord Carew's request ef fectually, for that I am but mediocris fortunee vir, and have not means and maintenance to buy me books, and other necessaries. This your grace's letter, in my behalf to my lord keeper, if your lordship would be pleased to send it before Christide, enclosed in a letter to Mr. Bur net's, and to give me leave to seal it, after I have read it, it is most likely my lord keeper would remeraber rae the sooner. I have given my lord Carew satisfaction in many ques tions, at sundry times of conference; and especially in these three, 1. That the pope and conclave be 6 uvt'l- XptoToc. 2. That the points and vowels were given by God from Sinai, and not the invention of the Masorets. 3. That the Hebrew tongue is the most ancient tongue, and that Moses wrote in it, and not in the Chaldee and Egyptian ; and all this proved expressly out of the text of VOL. xv. Y 322 letters. the Scripture : for which my lord hath given me a greater commendation in the ancient tongues, to my lord keeper, than I either have deserved, or can answer unto. And thus, with my humble service to your grace, I end. Per metathesin RADULPH SKYNNER. London, December 8. 1625. letters, 323 LETTER CIL mr, thomas davis to the archbishop of armagh, Most Reverend, May it please your grace, upon the 8th of July past I received your letter, bearing date the 12th of March, from Much-Haddam, and the 5th of the last month the copy thereof, by way of Leghorn ; whereby I perceive that ray letter of the 29th of September, 1624. together with the five books of Moses in the Samaritan character, came in safety to your hands, being very glad it proves so acceptable to your lordship ; however I find my self to have been abused by a Jew, who pretends to have knowledge in that tongue, affirming to me that it con tained all the Old Testament. How they read those books I have inquired (having no better means) of him, who I perceive knows no more, if so much, than their alphabet, and to hear him read the first two verses of Genesis I could not, because another of those books is not here to be had. The name of God, Jehovah, is pronounced by them, as saith he, Jehueh. And the fifth, eighth, and sixth of these letters of their alphabet are pronounced hei, chei, ei ; the ch of the eight letters must be pro nounced deep in the throat, chei. I sent to Damascus to see if I could procure the Gram mar, Chronicles and Calendar, which your lordship desires, but could not obtain any of them, there being but one poor man of the Samaritan race left in Damascus, who is not able to satisfy me in any thing you desire ; only he said there were certain books in their language pawned to a great Spahee of that city, but what they contained the poor Y 2 324 letters. feUow knew not. The Spahee would not part with them under two hundred doUars, which is sixty pounds sterling : so I d urst not venture upon them, being ignorant of their worth ; yet I will not cease labouring, as occasion shall serve, to give satisfaction to your grace in what you require touching the Samaritans, and I hope to prevail in some things, unless the troubles in and about Jerusalem do hinder the free passage of caravans this ensuing spring. A former letter, which it seems your lordship writ, and sent away by Marcelles, I never received ; but as for the Old Testament in the Chaldean tongue, ray diligence hath not wanted to procure ; and to this end, sent divers times to Tripoly and Mount Libanus, but could not prevaU. I have seen here the two, first books of Moses, but examin ing thera according to your direction, I found them to be out of the Greek ; whereupon I resolved to send to Emmit and Carommitt, a city in Mesopotamia, where divers of the sect of the Jacobites do remain ; and after a long time there was sent me, which I received eight days past, the five books of Moses only, in an old manuscript, and ac cording to the Hebrews, with a promise ere long to send the rest of the Old Testament : the party that sent me this, is the patriarch of the Jacobites in those parts, who writ also that I should have Eusebius his Chronicle, with some of the works of Ephrsem ; which, if he do, shall be sent by the first good conveyance. Those parcels of the New Testament, viz. the History of the adulterous wo man, the second epistle of St. Peter, the second and third of John, the epistle of Jude, with the book of the Revela tions, I have procured, and sent thera together with the five books of Moses, and a small tract of Ephrasra by the ship Patience of London. With the said books I have sent another in the sarae tongue, which I humbly present your grace ; if it shaU yield any matter worthy your read ing I have obtained my desire ; however it may prove, I presume it will be accepted as a token of his love, who will ever be ready, in what he can, to observe and effect what your lordship shall command him. I have sought the Old Testaraent in that tongue, which letters. 325 is out of the Greek, and distinguished by certain marks and stars ; but I cannot hear of any such. From Emmit I hope to have some good news to write your lordship, and to send you a catalogue of such books as be here to be had. When this book which I now send shall be re ceived, I beseech your grace to give your secretary order to advise me thereof: in the mean time, if any of the books you desire shall be brought or sent unto me, I will not let them go for a small matter, more or less ; such books are very rare, and esteemed as jewels by the owners, though they know not how to use them, neither will they part with them but at dear rates, especially to strangers, who they presume would not seek after them except they were of good worth : and indeed they give a kind of super stitious reverence to all antiquity. Thus have I related my proceedings, and what I intend to do, in what your lord ship writes for, and I should be very glad to accomplish your desire, but I presume my willing and ready mind shall be accepted. Here is news from Bagdat, that the vizier with the army have been thereabouts now three months past, but have done little worthy so great a force; and now for seventy or eighty days have besieged Bagdat, but can do no good upon it. The Persians have raade divers sallies out of the city, and after a small skirmish returned, giving the Turks the worst ; the king of Persia, if report be true, draws all his forces that way, but rather to fear the Turk than en counter him, unless by some stratagem, wherein he hath the advantage of the Turks : the sequel and issue of this war we expect, and greatly desire in this place, the rather because our trade depends much thereupon. There hath of late happened some troubles about Jerusalem, by the insolence of an Arab, called Eraeere Farrach ; there is a force of men gone against him ; he being of no great power will be soon quiet. The estate of his empire decays, and will be utterly ruined by the tyranny and oppression of the spahees and janisaries, who are lords and governors of the country ; what man is he that dare oppose a soldier ? The Mahometans are slaves to the soldiers, the Christian 02D LETTERS. and Jew under both ; it would grieve a man's heart to see the poor estate and condition of the Christians in these parts ; nor so much for their outward estate, though that be marvellous grievous, but they are to be pitied for their estate of Christianity ; for I know that in a manner all true knowledge is departed both frora minister and people, the Lord in mercy visit them. Pardon my tediousness and presumption, and excuse my weakness, who shall daily pray unto the Lord of lords to prosper all your ways, and bless all your endeavours, and grant you a long life here, with happiness, and everlasting glory in the life to come, and will ever rest. Your Grace's in aU humble Observance to be commanded, THOMAS DAVIS. Aleppo, the 16th of January, 1625, LETTERS. 327 LETTER cm. dr. james to the archbishop of armagh, After the remembrance of my humble duty : May it please your grace to pardon my long silence and neglect of writing, according to my duty, occasioned partly by sickness, partly by discontent and discouragement from our great ones : but being now freed from both, God be thanked, I address myself wholly to the care of the public, long since by me intended. Wherein now, more than ever, I must be bold to crave your lordship's furtherance, that as it had its first begin nings from your grace, so it may its final end, and a ful filling by your lordship's good means. It is true, my lord of Litchfield is entrusted with the whole direction and managing of this business : but had your grace been near, there would have been none more able nor wiUing than your grace. I do therefore most humbly intreat your lord ship, that sometime before your grace's departure into Ireland, you would be pleased, upon conference with my lord of Litchfield, to settle the whole business, what au thors we shall begin with, in what order, and after what manner. As for the canon law, which I have looked unto, not without the vocation and approbation of Mr. Vice- chancellor; I must confess my forwardness therein, upon a supposal of sundry additions unto Gratian ; and my fel low-labourers are as earnest as rayself upon that little which we have hitherto found. Doubtless Gratian was one of the first compilers of the popish religion, in his hotch-potch of the canon law : but yet he is not so bad as he is made, the corruptions are of a later hue, and came in long since his time. I have given a taste as of all that I have hitherto done, in certain rude papers, overhastily perhaps sent up to pass your lordship's censure and judg- 328 LETTERS. ment ; and from thence to the press, that I may have a taste to present unto my lords the bishops, and others, that have already promised their helps. If this, of almost an hundred places corrupted in point of religion, (not taking all upon an exact survey, but a few to give proof of the feasibility of the work to the common profit of the Church,) shall be thought fit to be printed, and an hun dred places of flat contradiction, men, if ever, will be stirred up to advance this work ; for the doing whereof, with some jeopardy of my health, and loss of all worldly preferment, I am most willing to be employed to the utter most of my simple endeavours, having nothing to promise but fidelity and industry. Good my lord, what can be done by your grace let it be done to the uttermost ; the work is in a manner your's ; to God be the glory ; and if the Church of England receive not as much profit by this one work being well done, as by any thing since Erasmus's time, I will never look hereafter to be credited of your grace, or any man else. But to the well-doing and per fecting of this work, two things are requisite : First, that the Fathers' works, in Latin, be reprinted, (the Vindicias will not serve,) wherein I desire to have three or four able doctors, or bachelors of divinity, to be my assistants in framing the annotations. Secondly, that there be provision, either in parhament or out, that the copies may be sent from any cathedral church or college, upon a sufficient caution, non obstante statute : both these being granted, as at your lordship's instance they may be, I doubt not of a most happy success of the whole business. Which, that I raay not be too troublesome to your grace, I commend unto the protection of the Almighty, praying for your lordship's health and happiness, and resting, as I am, in aU.bands of duty and gcrvice, Your Grace's, in aU duty, THO. JAMES. I have a Pseudo-Cyprian, Arnaldus Bonavillacensis, letters. 329 work collated and restored by the MS. and printed here under your grace's name: of authors falsified it is the ; greatest instance that can be given ; the whole treatise, fairly written forth, is at your grace's dispose, your mind being signified. It hath sundry foul additions and dimi nutions in many points of controversy. Oxon, 27 Feb. 1625. 330 LETTERS. LETTER CIV. MR. JOHN COTTON TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. Right Reverend, My beloved neighbour-minister, Mr. Wood, acquainted me with your desire to hear from me, how I conceived of the way of God's eternal predestina tion, and the execution of it: I should not have hearkened to him herein, though I love hira well, were it not for the deep affection and reverence I bear to your person and gifts, which hath constrained me, together with his impor- tunacy, to yield to the sending of this discourse to you, which I was occasioned to write a year ago for the satis faction of a neighbour-minister in points of this nature. The questions and answers in the beginning of the book I delivered and opened by way of catechism long ago ; which a neighbour-minister having afterwards gotten from some of my hearers, he wrote those doubts which follow in the book, the better to inform either himself or me : where upon as I could get any tirae in the midst of other continual employraents, too heavy for me, I wrote to hira the dis course following, the more fully to acquaint him with the grounds of my judgment, as knowing well his sufficiency to object fully, if he found himself unsatisfied in any passage thereof. The style, I confess, is unmeet for you to read, as being plain and popular, and therefore too large, and withal empty of variety of reading, which store of other occurrences in my calling here, inforceth me too often to intermit. Thus much let me humbly intreat at your lordship's hands, by the honour which you owe to Christ, and by the LETTERS. 331 love you bear to his poorest servants, stick not, I beseech you, to advertise me freely of any such tenet herein as you shall think less safe. I trust you shall find me con scious of mine own slenderness, and glad to receive such light as God shall be pleased to impart to rae by you. Yet this one thing more let me also add. Though I yield some degree of efficacy in Christ's death unto all ; yet I conceive it far short, both of impetration and appli cation, of that gracious atonement which is thereby wrought to the elect of God ; whence also it is that I dare not preach the Gospel indifferently unto all, before the law ; nor the worth of Christ, before the need of Christ. Chil dren's bread is not meet for whelps ; and full souls will despise honey-combs. I see John Baptist was sent to hum ble, before Christ to heal : and Christ himself preached repentance, before faith in the promises^. Neither do I remember in the Gospel any promise of grace pardoning sin, nor any commandment to believe sin pardoned, but to the broken, the bruised, the poor, the weary, the thirsty, or the like. Faith in the promises, before the heart be changed from stonyness to brokenness, I fear is no better than the temporary faith, which is found in the stony soiP. But I cease your lordship's further trouble. Now the Lord Jesus, who hath deUghted in you to fill your heart with the riches of his manifold precious graces, be pleased to enlarge you to the employment of thera to his best ad vantage, guide all your ways in his faithfulness and wis dora, and sustain you with his mercy and power unto the end. So I humbly take leave, and rest. Earnestly desirous to be directed by your Lordship, or confirmed in the truth, JOHN COTTON. Boston, May 31. 1626, » Mark, chap. 1. ver 15. *¦ Luke, chap, 8. ver. 13, 332 LETTERS. LETTER CV. THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH TO DR. WARD. Salutem in Christo Jesu. I AM heartily glad to hear that you are rid of your ague, though very sorry to hear of your distractions there, which have almost put you into your new fit. But TavTa Qeov ev yovvaai KEtrai, to whose guidance we must refer both this and ipsam rerum suramam, quae in summo jam (si quid videmus) versatur discrimine. I heard no thing of the dean of Worcester's book; which raaketh rae imagine that he hath no purpose to make it public. Nei ther do I hear anything of the publication of your's, which I very much wonder at. When the collators have finished the Acts, I could wish they collated the epistles with the text which is inserted into the Commentaries of Photius and CEcumenius, manu script in the University library, (where there are some va rieties of readings also, as I reraeraber, noted in the mar gin in the brief scholies that are written in red letters), I pray you remeraber me to Mr. Chancye, and learn of him what he hath done for Mr. Broughton's books. Intreat him also to look into the manuscript Psalter in Hebrew and Latin, in Trinity College library, and thence transcribe for me the last verse, save one, of the fifty-second Psalm, which is wanting in our printed Hebrew Bibles. The Latin of that verse, if I forget not, beginneth " Consilium inopis," &c. I would wiUingly also hear how far he hath pro ceeded in the Samaritan Bible ; and what Mr. Boyse hath done in the transcribing of the Greek MS. which I left with him. LETTERS, 333 I have sent you your Antiquitates ecclesiae Tricassimae, and heads of Controversies ; together with the two books that I had from Mr. Austin of King's College, which I pray you restore unto him, with thanks. I do not leave London before the 15th or 16th of this month, in which space of time I hope to hear from you again, if not see you here. In the mean season I must heartily thank you and your good wife for the kind entertainment which I received at your house, and evermore rest. Your most assured friend. Ready to do you all kind offices, JA. ARMACHANUS. London, June 1. 1626. I pray you to remeraber me to Mr, Provost, Mr. Alvey, Mr. Meade, and all the rest of our good friends there. Wish Mr. Green to send me Lucian in Greek and Latin, and the New Testament in Syriac and Latin, at the price he offered me them for when I was there. If he send the books to Mr. Francis Burnett's, at the sign of the Three Swans, in Lombard-street, he shall receive payment for them. 334 LETTERS. LETTER CVI. MR. JAMES WHITE TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. Illustrissime et Reverendissime Antistes, Quod venerandae antiquitatis monu menta, quae meae curas non ita pridem conferenda credidit dominatio vestra, tardius multo, quara vellera, ad umbili- cum perduxerim, est quod sperem apud tantum candorem veniae locum me inventurum. Quod autem eo auspicio, dicam, an infortunio ? transacta sint, ut neutiquam indus- triaa mea specimen exhibendi, nedum judicio vestro sub- Hrai satisfaciendi copia fiat ; quicquid veniae audacia arro- gaverit, nuUam fidenter sperari posse exploratura habeo. Siquidem, quod minime dissimulandum existimavi, vel ipsae liturae, quibus inter scribendum iraprudens indulsi, incuriae rae vel invitura coarguunt. Quin et inter sacras illas paginas conferendas serael atque iterum in ea loca incidi, unde me facile expedire non potui. InteUigat, obsecro, dominatio vestra Psalmos CXVII. et CXLVII. Quo utroque in loco idem scrupulus, eadem occurrit diffi- cultas. Utrobique enim Psalmi duo fronte satis distincti, materia varii, titulis etiam a se invicem diversi, identita- tem numericam, si ipsum catalogum spectemus, mirum in modum prae se ferunt. Porro, naevo haud minore labo- rant Psalmi CXLV. et CXLVI. ad quos liber iUe typis excusus, quem preeire voluisse expectavi, claudus adeo inventus est, ut id spatii mea solius conjectura in versibus annotandis eraetiri coactus fuerim. Has et istiusmodi densiores ingenii mei nebulas vestro benigne affulgente candore opportune dispersum iri nuUus dubito. Colo- letters. 335 phonem imposuimus quatuor S. S. EvangeUis ante Pente- costen, coronidem pariter Actis apostolorum, si Deus de- derit, brevi addituri. Interim, quam sim obstrictus dominationi vestrae, quod me indignum ullis negotiis hisce sacris dignatus fueris, praesul ampUssirae, preces meae testatum faciant Deo Opt. Max. apud quem ardentissi- mis, uti par est, votis contendo, ut reverentiam vestram Ecclesiae suae columen diutissime conservet, Reverendissimae vestrae dominationis Observantissiraus, JACOBUS WHITE. Cantabrigiae ex Col. Sid. Nonas Junii, 1626. 336 letters. LETTER CVII. dr. ward to the archbishop of armagh. Most Reverend, and my very good Lord, I received your lordship's letter ; and that which I signified to your lordship in my last letter, was almost really effected. The night before the choice of our new chancellor, I was very ill, so as without hazard of my health I could not be at the choice, and so was ab sent. The duke carried it not above three or four voices from the earl of Berkshire ; and had not neither carried it, but that the king's pleasure was signified for the duke, both by message and letter. Quod vis summara rerum in summo versari discrimine, et timeo, et doleo. I acquainted Mr. White with your pleasure, and wished him to impart it to the rest of the collators, as touching the collation of the text in the Comments of Photius and CEcumenius. I send you inclosed the Hebrew verses you writ for. They are in Deuteronomy, in the Samaritan Pentateuch. I have not as yet spoken with Mr. Boyse. I received the books you raention, and sent two of them to Mr. Austin. Mr. Green will send you the two books, Lucian Grasco-Lat. and N. Testam. Syriacum-Latin, to Mr. Burnet's, Mr. White sendeth up unto you the varise lectiones upon the Psalras. The divers readings of Pros per shall be sent you. Dr. Goad sent rae two sheets of my Latin serraon printed. But I hear not whether our Suffrage be reprinted. I would know whether Nicetus his Orthodoxus Thesaurus be extant in Greek. I sup pose it is in Latin, at least in the new Bibliotheca. He is said to interpret Greg. Nyssen his Opinion of the conver- LETTERS. 337 sion which is made in the Eucharist raentioned c. 37, Cate- chet, I cannot tell what to pronounce touching that dis course. His discourse is soraewhat plausible till he come to the conversion made in the Eucharist by Christ's words, and then he doth falter. I pray you let me know where the manuscript copies of the Saxon Annals are to be bad. Mr. Mede and Mr. Whalley are both in good health. I ara right sorry that your lordship should so soon go from us, I am now in business, in disputations in our schools, I shall forget many things which I should have inquired of. And so with my best service reraerabered to your lordship and Mrs. Ussher, I coraraend you to the gracious protection of the highest Majesty, and so rest, Your Lordship's in all observance, SAMUEL WARD, There is good agreeraent, God be thanked, in King's College, Sidney College, June 6. 1626. VOL, XV, 338 LETTERS. LETTER CVIII. DR. SAMUEL WARD TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH, Most Reverend, and my very good Lord, I have sent you here enclosed the di verse readings of the continuation of Eusebius's Chronicle by Hierom, and both the Prospers. Mr. Elraar will bring your lordship the Concio ad Clerum, which, against my mind, is set forth without those other things which I told' your lordship of, whereof I would have had this but an appendix. We have had this week a gracious letter from his Ma jesty, much approving the choice of our chancellor. And another from our chancellor. To both which answers are returned by our university. God dispose of all to good. Our chancellor seemeth to be forward for the erecting a library here. I have not spoken with Mr. Boyse as yet ; nor do I hear that Mr. Chauncy is come home. I would be sorry your lordship should so soon leave us. I will still hope of your longer continuance. Howsoever when you leave us, I will accompany you, and all your's, with my best devotions for your safe journey and arrival at your horae. And so com mend you and Mrs. Ussher to the gracious protection of the highest Majesty. Your Lordship's, in all observance, SAMUEL WARD. Sidney-Coll, June 10th, 1626, LSTTERS. 339 LETTER CIX. THE archbishop OF ARMAGH TO DR, SAMUEL WARD. Salutem in Christo Jesu, Your letters, both of the 6th and 10th of this month, I have received, together with the divers readings of the continuation of Eusebius's Chronicle, and your Concio ad Clerum, for which I most heartily thank you. Your Gratia discriminans, I doubt not, will settle many men's minds in those dubious times, to which I wish that the other things which you intended had been added, especiaUy those places which you observed out of St. Au gustine, against falUng from grace. But of this argument I earnestly beseech you to take special care, as soon as your comraenceraent businesses are past over, and when you have put your notes together, I pray you raake me so happy as to have a copy of them, Neque enim mihi gratior uUa -est Quam sibi quae Wardi praefixit pagina nomen. The sudden dissolution of the parliament hath amazed us, all men's hearts failing thera for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the land. The Lord prepare us for the day of our visitation, and then let his blessed will be done. There is a proclamation to be presently set out for the stopping of those contentions in points of religion, which I send you herewith. I have dealt with your chancellor very effectually for the erecting of your library, to which he is of himself ex ceeding forward : I have procured him to send unto Ley den for all the printed Hebrew books of Erpenius his z2 340 LETTERS. library ; which together with his manuscripts, which he hath already, he purposeth to bestow upon your university. I have also persuaded him to send thither for the matrices of the Syriac, Arabic, .^thiopic, and Samaritan letters, and to bestow them likewise upon you, Mr. White hath sent up unto me the variae lectiones of the Psalms, accompanied with a very kind letter. I pray you tell him, frora me, that I will still keep them by me as a perpetual testimony of his love and respect to me, whereof he shall find that I will not be unmindful, when soever either himself or any of his shall have occasion to use me. Nicetus his Orthodoxus Thesaurus I have never seen in Greek, the Latin I have in Ireland ; but whether it be inserted into BibHotheca patrum I cannot teU, the book being not now by me. That Gregory Nyssen's Catechetical oration hath been evil handled and interpolated by heretics, I think is some where observed by Nicephorus^ himself; yet that discourse of the Eucharist, if my memory faU me not, is inserted by Euthimius in his PanopUa : and I have seen it myself in two ancient Greek raanuscripts of Gregory Nyssen with Mr. Patrick Young, the one whereof was Mr. Causabon's, the other of Metrophanes the Grecian, which you may do well to see collated with the printed. Spalatensis also, I think, suspecteth this place of forgery, but I have not here his book to look to. In Sir Rob, Cotton's library there be four several Saxon Annals ; and one written both in the Saxon and in the La tin tongue. In Benet college library likewise, vol. 269. there is another ancient Saxon Annal. I should have gone from hence at the time I wrote unto you ; but since that time I received a letter from tbe lord chamberlain, signifying the king's pleasure that I should preach at court the 25tb of this month, whicb hath caused me to put off my journey until the end of the term. In the mean time I pray you send to Mr. Boyse for the book ^ Eccl. Hist. lib. 2. cap. 19. LETTERS. 841 which I left with him, and let it be conveyed by the car rier unto Mr. Burnett. Commend me to all my friends there, and in particular to Mr. Chancye, and tell him that I have forborne to answer his letter because I expect daily his coming hither, according to his promise in his foresaid letter ; and so with the remembrance of my best wishes to yourself and your good wife, I rest, Your most assured, JA. ARMACHANUS. Lond. Jun, 16, 1626. 312 LETTERS, LETTER ex. THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH TO DR. SAMUEL WARD. Salutem in Christo Jesu. Sir, Since I wrote unto you last, I have received intelli gence from Leyden, that all Erpenius's printed books are already sold ; and his matrices of the oriental tongues are bought by Elzevir the printer there; so that now you must content yourselves with his manuscripts only, which are a very rare treasure indeed, and for which your uni versity shall rest rauch beholden unto your chancellor. I myself have now received, out of Mesopotamia, an old manuscript of that Syrian translation of the Pentateuch out of the Hebrew, (the same which St. Basil citeth in his Hexaraeron) which I raake very great account of The patriarch of the Jacobites in those parts, who sent this, promiseth also to send the rest of the Old Testament ere long ; in the mean time I have received the parcels of the New Testament, which hitherto we have wanted in that language, (viz. the History of the adulterous woman, the 2d epistle of Peter, the 2d and 3d epistles of St. John, the epistle of Jude, and the Revelation) ; as also a smaU tractate of Ephraim Syrus, in his own language. Elraenhorst is dead, but I wiU do my best to hearken after his copy of the Acts of the council of Calcedon at Hamburgh. I will also speak with Mr, Patrick Young, for the Stxoypaipiai of the thirty-seventh chapter of Greg. Nyssen's Catechet. as soon as I can meet with him. I pray you likewise forget not Mr. Boyse. The place of Nyssen doth not trouble you more, than a like one of letters. 343 Chrysostom hath done me, viz. Sermone quinto de pceni tentia, tom. 6. edit. Savil. pag. 791. (which in the Latin tomes is Homil. de eucharistia in Encaeniis) where I would willingly understand what the meaning of his similitude is, and of that " Mysteria consumi corporis substantia." There is another place likewise of Chrysostom, cited by Bellarmin in his apology, ex homil. 3. in 2 Thess. " Jube- bit seipsura pro Deo coli et in templo coUocari, non Hiero- solyraitano solum sed etiara ecclesiis ;" where ray lord of Winchester telleth the cardinal, that the word tantum is not in the Greek. I pray you see in Comraelinus's edi tion, or that of Verona, for Sir H. Savil's is otherwise, tom. 4. pag. 232. whether it be so. I will trouble you no more at this tirae, but tell you only that what you demand ex unanimi consensu was done ex consilio perpaucorum. Your assured Friend, JA. ARMACHANUS. London, June 23, 1626, ' 1 1' letters. LETTER CXI. dr, SAMUEL WARD TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. Most Reverend, and my very good Lord, I RECEIVED your lordship's last letter, of the 23d of this raonth, and do perceive thereby, that Erpenius's printed books, and his matrices of the oriental tongue, are already sold, I am glad your lordship hath got the old manuscript of the Syriac translation of the Pentateuch, and for your hopes of the rest. You say, you have received the parcels of the New Testament in that language, which hitherto we have wanted. But it seemeth those parcels are written out of some copies: but I doubt whether anciently they were in the old raanu script, I ara much afraid the Jesuits have laid hold of Elmenhorst's copy. As for the places of Chrysostom, I will at my better leisure, by God's grace, examine it. Mr. Boyse hath written out the fragment of P. Alex andrinus ; but entreateth me to let hira have the book till the next week, for he would gladly peruse the notes of Casaubon upon Nicander. And, God willing, the next week I wiU send it to Mr. Francis Burnett. I am right sorry to see raatters of that iraportance carried ex consUio perpaucorum. I had a letter from my lord of Sarum, by which I understand as much. There was the last week a cod-fish brought from Col chester to our raarket to be sold ; in the cutting up which, there was found in the maw of the fish, a thing which was hard ; which proved to be a book of a large 16°. which had been bound in parchment, the leaves were glewed together with a gelly. And being taken out, did smell much at the first; but after washing of it, Mr. Mead LETTERS. Mo did look into it. It was printed ; and he found a table of the contents. The book was entitled, A preparation to the cross, (it raay be a special adraonition to us at Cam bridge). Mr. Mead, upon Saturday, read to me the heads of the chapters, which I very well liked of. Now it is found to have been made by Rich. Tracy, of whom Bale maketh mention". He is said to flourish then MDL. But, I think the book was raade in king Henry the eighth's tirae, when the six articles were a-foot. The book will be printed here shortly. I know not how long your lord ship will stay in England ; I wish you raight stay longer. We are to come to present our new chancellor with his pa tent, upon the 13th of July; all our heads will be there, I would be glad to meet your lordship then. And thus wishing your lordship all good success in your affairs, a fortunate journey, and speedy passage when you go, with our best devotions, my wife and I wish you and your's all health and happiness, comraending you to the safest protection of the highest Majesty. Your Lordship's in all observance, SAMUEL WARD. Sidn, Coll. June 27. 1626. ' Cent, 9. pag. 719, 346 LETTERS. LETTER CXII. the archbishop of armagh to dr. samuel ward. Sir, I RECEIVED your letter, wherein you signify unto me the news of the book taken in the fish's belly : and ano ther letter from Mr. Mead touching the same argument. The accident is not lightly to be passed over, which, I fear me, bringeth with it too true a prophecy of the state to come ; and to you of Cambridge, as you write, it may well be a special admonition, which should not be ne glected. It behoveth you who are heads of colleges, and 6fi6(ppovEg, to stick close to one another, and (quite oblite rating all secret distastes, or privy discontentments which possibly may fall betwixt yourselves) with joint consent to promote the cause of God. Mr. Provost, I doubt not, will, with great alacrity, in hoc incumbere. So, with the remembrance of ray affections to all my friends there, I corarait you to the protection and direction of our good God ; In whora I rest, Your own raost assured, JA. ARMACHANUS. Lond. June 30. 1C26. LETTERS. 347 LETTER CXIII. DR. SAMUEL WARD TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. Most Reverend, and my very good Lord, I received your lordship's; I under stood by others, this commencement, of your Trappri Pag. 243. a. <: Pag. 9. Grffici Chronici, lin. 10. et pag. 19. lin. 36. ¦' Pag. 248. b, and 249. b. « Pag. 243. a, ' Pag. 243, a. Scaligeri. 382 LETTERS. herein the application of them to the years of Noah, there is a manifest error of the scribe^, putting ^ku and ^we for fj)Kfi and (fiiry. Adhuc tamen restat te vindice dignus nodus. St. Hierom, in his Hebrew questions upon Ge nesis, affirmeth, that he found the year of Mathusalah and Lamech to be alike, " in Hebrseis Samaritanorum libris." And indeed the Hebrew hath, as he setteth it down, that Mathusalah lived 187. years before he begat Noah. But in the Saraaritan text it is far otherwise ; that Mathusalah lived 67. years before he begat Laraech, 653. after, 720. in all ; and Laraech 53. years before the birth of Noah. And these nurabers are in the self-sarae sort related by Euse bius, who lived before St. Hierom, lest any raan should iraagine that since his time the Samaritan text which we have might be altered. Now it is to be noted, that by both these accounts it faUeth out, that the death of Ma thusalah doth concur with the year of the flood : and it is the principal intent of St. Hierom in this place to solve the difficulty moved out of the Greek edition, that Mathusalah lived 14. years after the flood; by appealing unto the books of the Hebrews and the Saraaritans, wherein Mathusalah is raade to die, " Eo anno (as he speaketh) quo caepit esse diluvium." This general peradventure might run in St. Hierom's memory when he wrote this, which well might make him think that the particular numbers of both texts did not differ ; especially if (as it is likely) he had not the Samaritan text then lying by him to consult withal. But howsoever his slip of meraory derogateth nothing frora the credit of that which we are sure was in the Saraaritan text before he committed this to writing. I come now to the years of the Fathers which lived after the flood. Wherein for the tirae ante watSoTrottav, whereupon the course of the chronology doth depend, there is an exact agreement betwixt the Saraaritan text and chronicle. Frora whora also Eusebius doth not dis sent ; if the error be araended which hath crept into pag. 10. line. 12. (Gr^ci chronici) where 130. years are as- t' Pag. 4. lin. 1 and 2. LETTERS. 383 signed to Arphaxad, instead of 135. For that this was the error, not of Eusebius, but of the transcriber, ap peareth evidently, both by the line next going before, where Sem, after the begetting of Arphacsad, is said to have lived 500. years, fiixpi pa ETOvg tjidXEK (whereas there would be but 495. years to the 111th. of Phaleg, if 130. years only had been assigned to Arphacsad, and not 1 35) ; and by the total sum thus laid down, in the twentieth line of the same page : 'Ofiov airo tov KaTaKXvapoO), etti to a STog 'AjSpaujU, etij Apf5 biroaa Jfv /cat Kara rffv tHiv o EpprivEiav, And indeed, in the years ante v-aiSoirouav, post diluvium, there is a full agreement both in the total sura, and in all the particulars, betwixt the Samaritan account, and that of the Septuagint, as it is related by Eusebius, (Cainan in both being omitted), which sum of 942. being added to the former of 1307. maketh up the full number of 2249. from the first of Adam, to the seventieth year of Terah, the very same sum which is laid down by Eusebius'^, and answereth precisely to the collection of the particulars that are found in my Samaritan Bible. In Scaliger's Saraaritan chronicle', the particulars being suramed up, amount to 2267. (2365. it is in Scaliger, pag. 625.) ; which number so laid down in the Chronicle, (and partly misreckoned, partly miswritten in the comraentary) is by the same Scaliger, in his notes upon Eusebius'^, amended 2269. " nimirum nyii/D pro nyaty neque du bium est ita esse," saith he ; of which yet I do very much doubt : or rather do not much doubt at all, because I know the error was not in the transcriber, but in the chronologer himself, who accounteth from the birth of Noah, to the birth of Arphacsad, (as did also Africanus and others before him) 600. only ; and not, as Eusebius and others more rightly, 602. ; from whence, unto the seven tieth of Terah, by the joint consent, as well of Eusebius, as of the Samaritan text and chronicle, there are 940. years. For Scaliger's' 937. is but an error of that noble '' Pag. 19, lin. 37. Groeci chronici. ' Pag. 618. Emend. k Pag. 249, b, ' Pag, 249. b, Eusebian. 384 LETTERS. wit, who intending higher raatters, did not heed so much his ordinary arithmetic. In the nurabering of the years of these Fathers, post TraiBoTrouav, there is not the like consent betwixt the Septuagint and the Samaritan, as was before. Our Greek copies differing very much herein, not only from the Samaritan, but also betwixt themselves. Euse bius, pag. 10. Graeci chronici, differeth from my Samari tan text only in the years of Ragau. Yet there, lin. 15. in Phalec. instead of Itte^ijo-ev juIxP' P^ 'srovg 'Payav, would be read more fully, ette^jjctev eVjj p9, pixpi p9 'erovg 'Payav ; and Un. 1 7. in Seruch. instead of fiEXpi Ka ^A(5padfi, fiEXpi Ka 'irovg Qdppa ; (quod res ipsa indicat) Un. 16. it is said of Ragau ; ette^jj^ev eVj) rrZ', f^^XP^ °^' ETovg Naxwp ; whereas the Samaritan text hath a whole hundred years less. And that we may not suspect there was here any error librarii, by putting ni>a> b:i VnM J—lDM naty O'DNDI lr2>]t;bU}) ywn For so the Saraaritan, in the eleventh of Genesis, as all others in the fifth, useth to sura up the whole time of the lives of the Fa thers. It is true indeed, that attributing unto Ragau 207. years after he begat Serug, he should have con tinued his life, by tbis account, until the seventy-seventh of Nachor. But the text itself of the Samaritan Bible, beareth such sway with me, that I should rather think Eusebius did, out of it, as elsewhere always, set down 107. as he found it there. And Georgius the monk, in his mis written copy, finding 207. laboured thus to fit the whole unto the seventy-seventh of Nachor. Which I ara so rauch the more easily induced to believe, because in the chro nology of the Septuagint, related by Eusebius', " Non dissiraile quirl aniraadvertisse mihi videor ;" for there the same Ragau is said to have begotten Seruch at 135, years. Scaliger giveth there a raark, that it should be ' Pag, 9. lin. 37. LETTERS. 385 132, as every" where else it is read; and that so it should be here, appeareth plainly by the total" of 942, from the flood, and 3184, frora Adam unto Abraham : which to be the genuine calculation of Eusebius, " Nemo harura re rum paulo peritior ignorat." Yet George not heeding this, but finding 35. written in that copy which came to his hands of Eusebius, turneth the stream that way, and maketh the 406. years which Eusebius" giveth to Salah, after he begat Eber, to end in the 7th of Seruch ; which would not so faU out, unless Ragau did hold his 135. years. In like manner he maketh the 207. years of Ragau himself, after he begat Serug, (in the printed books, pag. 10. Hn. 37. there is oZ-) to end in the 77th of Nachor. And the 209. of Peleg, after he begat Ragau, to end in the 75th of Serug, (though in these there be one year's odds); for of the 135. years that Eber is said to have lived, until the 28th of Nachor^, we can raake here no sense, because both the nurabers are vitiated. Thus much I thought good to write unto you, con cerning the state of the Samaritan account, because no man hath dealt herewith since Scaliger. I have Hkewise the old Syriac translation of the Pentateuch, which was received from the beginning of Christianity, in the church of Antioch; but neither have I transcribed any thing unto you out of that, nor out of ray Arabic manuscript of Moses : because the former hath but a meer translation of the years of the Fathers, as they are found in our common Hebrew text, and the other is wholly taken out of the Septuagint. I have had also another book lately sent unto me from the east, intituled, Otzar Raza (or rather Razaja) a trea sury of secrets, containing a brief commentary in the Sy- °^ Nicephori chronologiam excipio, ubi tam in Gr^co libro edito quam in MS. Anastasii bibliothecarii translatione habeatur 135. licet ibi quoque Contius substituerit 132. " Lin. 44. and 45. ° Omnes nostri libri cum antiquiss. Cottoniano MS. habent 330. P And again, p. 23!. in chronico Casauboniano ; verum in Raderi editione restitutum est, 63. 1 Pag. 1. 33. VOL. XV. 2c 386 LETTERS. riac language, upon the whole Old Testament (excepting the book of the Lamentations, Chronicles, Ezra, Nehe miah, and Esther) and likewise the New, those parts only excepted which are wanting in our printed Syriac Testa ments, (the text whereof I have procured likewise from the patriarch of the Nestorians in Syria) viz. the 2d epis tle of St. Peter, the 3d and 2d of St. John, that of St. Jude, and the Revelation. In this treasure, among other things worth the observation, are found : 1 . A genealogical table from Adam to Moses. 2. A table of the Judges to Samuel. 3. A table of the kings of Judah, from Saul to Sedechias. 4. A chronological table of the kings that successively reigned in Babylon, Persia, and Egypt, from thence unto Vespasian. Where to Nebu chadnezzar, after the time of Sedechias, are assigned 24. years ; to Evilraerodach, 1 . To Belshazzar, 2. To Da rius the Mede 3. To Cyrus 30. To Carabyses 8. and all this to make up 70. years to the second of Darius Hy staspis, frora the desolation of Jerusalera, according to Zachar. chap. I. ver. 12. In these tables some heathenish antiquities also are in serted ; as of the building of Tarsus, &c. But these are nothing in comparison of the treasure which you have found of the kings and archons of Athens : than which, as you have rightly judged, nothing can please me more. You have made my teeth water at the mention thereof; and therefore, I pray you, satisfy my longing with what convenient speed you may. I can give you no occasion of inscriptions, because I ara fixed here in a country where the old Roraanists never had any foothig. All that I have in this kind, I did but borrow frora the raonuraents of my lord of Arundel, my lord William Howard of Na- worth, and Sir Robert Cotton; which to send back unto you who are there at the well head, were inanis opera. Those Hebrew fragments of Aldersgate had your own expUcation in Latin adjoined unto them, as I reraeraber, ¦' The Syriac lately set out at Leyden, raay be much amended by my manu script copy. LETTERS. 387 which made me seek no further; especially, because those inscriptions were made by later Jews, and so were of the same stamp with that of R, Moses, filii R, Isaac found in Ludgate, whereof Stow raaketh mention in his Survey. I think you may do well to put together all the inscriptions, printed and unprinted, which are not to be found in the great volurae of Goltzius ; and amongst the rest, the Latin one, v. Scipionis Barbati F. (with Sirmon dus his explanation) and the Greek of Herod expounded by Casaubon, for Salraasius his exposition is a little too long: and whatsoever Punic letters can be had in any coin, (as one or two Sir Robert Cotton hath of thera,) would be added also, because these are scarce known to any. There was a chronology sorae years since, published by one of Ausborough, and dedicated to the pope, the eraperor, and king James, which was proscribed by the church of Rome. I pray you, if you can, help me to a sight of it ; and let me understand whether your second edition of Titles of honour be yet come abroad, for as yet I have heard nothing of it. By this time, I suppose, I have tired you with a tedious letter, and therefore now I dismiss you, and rest always. Your most assured loving Friend, JA. ARMACHANUS. Drogheda, Nov. 2. 1627. cc2 388 LETTERS. LETTER CXXVIII. THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH TO MR. DEAN Mr. Dean, I DO acknowledge no promise made unto you on my part, but upon a condition to be performed on your part, of desisting to prosecute any further your sa crilegious intention, either by yourself or by any of your's ; the jealousy whereof you have been so far from taking away out of ray mind, by" your two last letters, that you have increased it rauch more. To bear me in hand that you will not follow the business yourself, but leave it only to the prosecution of your friends; and that, if they obtain your desire, yet you will subrait all afterward to raine own disposition ; I esteem no better than a meer delusion of me. And therefore if you intend to say no more than this when you come up, you may save your journey, for I will accept no other satisfaction, but an absolute disclairaing of the prosecution of this business, either by yourself or by others. And this I look you should certify unto rae be fore Sir Archibald Atcheson's arrival, for afterward I care not a rush for it. And when you both have tried the ut termost of your wits to subvert the good foundation laid by king Jaraes, of happy raeraory, you shall but struggle in vain, with sharae enough. And so beseeching Almighty God to give you the spirit of a right mind, and to pardon the thoughts of your heart, I rest, Your loving friend, JA. ARMACHANUS. Drogheda, Febr. 1. 1627. LETTERS, 389 LETTER CXXIX. DR. W. BEDELL, PROVOST OF THE COLLEGE AT DUBLIN, TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. Right Rev. Father, my Hon. good Lord, Your letters of the 20th of Septeraber came not to my hands till the beginning of November. Upon the receipt whereof, I wrote to the vice-provost, to forbear to proceed to the election of fellows, if it were not past before. Not but that the course was such, as stood by the statutes in being ere I carae to the place; but because, by your grace's earnestness therein, I conceived your wisdom saw more to lie in it than I could perceive. Since that, I am sorry to understand the success of that election was not sucb as gave satisfaction to your grace, and hath bred a new broil in the college. For the re striction of the statute for bachelors, that they should be at least of seven terras standing ; if there be any blame, it must Ue upon me, who would have had it according to that in Emanuel college, that they should be of the third year ; but that by sorae of the corapany this temper was found. Wherein the Lord is witness, I respected merely the good of the college, and had not so rauch as in ray thoughts, the case of any that was to pretend the next election, but resolved, as every statute came to be consi dered, to reduce it to such perfection, as there should be as little need as was possible to touch them afterward. I have seen, by experience, that the timely preferring of young raen makes them insolent and idle ; and the hold ing them a little longer in expectation of preferment, doth 390 LETTERS. them raore good in one year, than two years before, or perhaps after. Wherefore I cannot herein repent rae of that which was done. If Mr. Vice-provost, and the se niors, have in any other point failed of their duty, I de sire your grace, not only to excuse rae in participation in it, but thera also thus far, that, as I hope, it proceedeth of error, and not malice. And of one thing I do assure myself, and have been bold to undertake so much to the fellows, that your grace, though it be in a sort necessary for you, and all raen of place, to give satisfaction in words to importune suitors, will not take it Ul that we discharge our consciences, coraing to do acts upon oath, such as this is ; otherwise, miserable were the condition of such places, and happy are they that are farthest from thera. I understood further, by your grace's said letters, that you dislike not that the time of the fellows should be extended to twelve' years, though you would not have it raentioned upon this sudden, &c. Which made me send for the uni versity statutes of Cambridge, to my friend Mr. Ward, (having leisure this winter to that purpose) to think of some project, according to my last letters to your grace. And shortly it seeras to me, that with one labour, the univer sity might be brought into a more perfect forra, and yet without touching our charter. At ray being in Dublin, there carae to rae one Dr. de Lanne, a physician, bred in Emanuel college : who, in speech with me, discovered their purpose to procure a patent, Uke to that which the college of physicians hath in London. I noted the thing, and partly by that occasion, and partly also the desire of the fellows to extend their time of stay in the college, I have drawn a plot of my thoughts in that behalf, which I send your grace herewith. I have imparted the same generally to my lord of Canterbury, who desireth that your grace would seriously consider of it, and, to use his own words, " that it raay be weighed with gold weights ;" and if it be found fit, will concur thereto when tirae shall be. I could have wished to have been present with you at'the survey of it, to have rendered the reason of some things, which will now perhaps be ipvi-id fiori9-rt(TavTog ; LETTERS. 391 but your wisdom, experience, and knowledge of the place, wUl easily pierce through, and disperse all those mists which perhaps overcloud my understanding ; and howso ever I shall hereby dare sapienti occasionem. For my speedy return, which your grace presseth, I con fess to them that I am ready to forethink that ever I came there, so conscious to myself of raine own weakness and unfitness for the place, as I fear rather to be burthensome than profitable to the coUege : which also made rae desirous to retain (ifl raight lawfully) the title to my benefice, resign ing the whole profits and care to some able raan, to be no minated by the patron, and approved by the bishop of the diocese; that I might have, upon just cause, whither to retire myself. I have not yet received your grace's deci sion of this case. I wrote also to the society hereabout, who being conditores juris perpetui, are also interpretes : neither have I understood what they conceive. Since my coming away, by occasion of my lord deputy his voluntary offer to confer upon rae the treasurership of St. Patrick's, I entreated thera to present a petition to his lordship for the enjoying the forty pounds anciently granted to the col lege, for the enlarging the provost's maintenance, and up holding the lecture at Christ's church, whereof I was put in hope before my coming. They have not so rauch as vouchsafed me an answer. When I took my oath to the statutes, I made protestation that I intended not to re nounce my benefice, that place being litigious, and my affairs not yet accommodated here. Since my coming home hither, ray corn, cattle, and sorae goods, and a lease of sorae pasture grounds which I held, I have foregone ; but the raain matter of my estate, lying in money, I cannot yet recover. At ray coming up hither, I left one of my chil dren sick of an ague, which he hath had these three weeks ; and if he should be recovered, he cannot be pre sently fit to travel ; neither are the ways and weather in deed seasonable thereto. But that which (to deal plainly) doth most of all trouble me, is the report of the new broils in the coUege, which I see partly in other men's letters : for to myself (as if I were but a cypher in algorism) they -¦¦''• LETTERS. vouchsafe not a word. That some feUows are displaced by the visitors, others placed by mandate of my lord de puty ; old grudges and factions revived, " et male sarta gratia necquicquara coit et rescinditur." I never delighted, nor ara raade for it, ignera gladio fodere. Some of my friends represented to rae the examples of Mr. Travers and Mr. Alvey ; and that comes to my mind, better sit still, than rise and fall. I have now an honest retreat, with that form, Non nostrum inter vos tantas componere lites. It is written hither, and I have seen it with mine eyes, that I am said to be a weak raan, and so thought to be by wise men. This witness is most true. In all these regards I humbly beseech your grace, by your undeserved love to me, (which God knows how rauch I value, and that it was no small encouragement to me to enter into this business,) by your love to the college, which I know is great; by your love to our Lord Jesus Christ, whereof he takes that proof, your love to his lambs, since you know now my weakness a Httle better than when you first nominated rae to that place, and the want of the college of an able head, dispose of ray place as you shall think most fit for that college, university, church, and kingdom. For my part, I do here absolutely resign all my interest unto it, into your grace's hands, or the hands of those whom it may concern. Assuring" your grace that I shall account your freeing me frora this burden, the greatest favour that you can do rae : under the which, if it had not been for the fear of offending God, I think I had never put my shoulder so far as I have done. But if you shaU esteem in con science I cannot go back, I beseech you be pleased freely to set down your opinion touching ray case propounded in my last. I desire of God, that neither ray Uving, nor ray Ufe, raay be so dear unto rae, as to finish my course with joy, and the ministry that I have received of the Lord Jesus. Upon the receipt of your grace's letters, I shaU resolve presently, if God let not, to come or stay. Touching the parhament affairs, I know your grace LETTERS. 393 hath better advertisement than I can give you. The be ginnings yet go marvellously well ; the lower house ex cellently tempered. Nothing hath as yet been so much as put to question. The upper house joined with them ; insomuch as when they had received the motion for a public fast, they added a motion, to petition his Majesty for the putting in execution all laws and acts of state against recusants. This petition was penned by the bishops of Norwich and Litchfield, and presented to his Majesty by both houses. The forraer is appointed by proclaraation, to be April 2 1 . The latter the king hath taken into consideration, with good signs of approbation. The lower house is now eraployed about the liberties of the subjects ; which they deduce even from the conquest, and so down. They purpose, it seems, to proceed to the examina tion of the infringing of them, and of their causes and re medies. It is resolved araong them, that the grievances of the subjects shall go hand in hand with the supply of the king's wants, which are so great, as his Majesty, when he received the latter petition, told thera, (March 3.) " That without present supply he could not set forth one ship," &c. God of his mercy grant, that the progress and end may be correspondent. In which hearty prayer I end, recommending your grace to the Lord's protection, and myself to your prayers, and rest. Your Grace's in all duty, W. BEDELL. London, April 1. 1628. 394 LETTERS, LETTER CXXX. DR, BAINBRIDGE, PROFESSOR OF ASTRONOMY IN OXFORD, TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH, Most Rev. and my very good Lord, Having so fit opportunity, I am bold to remember my service to your grace; and withal, ray forraer suit concerning Hipparchus, irEpl fiEyE9ovg iviav- aiov, which being both in the Vatican, and Escurial, I marvel that Petavius did not procure a transcript thereof; certainly it would have helped much in his Doctrina tem porum contra Scaligerum: whereas now the neglect of that, and other ancient monuments, hath left that work imperfect, and given just cause to others of a more cu rious search ; wherein I purpose to bestow ray best endea vours, not doubting of your grace's favour. Mr. Selden hath written sorae notes upon certain ancient Greek in scriptions, which were brought out of Turkey for my lord of Arundel, amongst which, one doth promise sorae light in the Persian chronology, (I raean, of the Persian mo narchy) which of all others I raost desire to be illustrated, being so necessary to the connexion of sacred and profane history ; concerning which I will yet forbear to signify my opinion, daily expecting a view of Mr. Selden's book. Your Grace's Most obliged servant, JOHN BAINBRIDGE, Oxon, April 7. 162S. LETTERS. 395 LETTER CXXXI. DR. BEDELL TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. Right Rev. Father, my Hon. good Lord ; Having the opportunity of this bearer's return from his friends, my neighbours, to Kelles, I thought fit to send by him, if it were but the duplicate of my last to your grace, from London, the first of this month, sent, as Mr. Burnet told me, by one Mr. Goodwyn of Londonderry, who had special occasion to repair to your presence. Wherein I satisfied you, I hope, of the rightness of my intention, in the restriction of the statute for bachelors probationers to seven terms stand ing, and represented to your grace the chief exercise of ray thoughts since ray leaving Ireland ; I mean the draft of a new patent, and new statutes to be procured for the university ; which, I hope, you have safely received. You may perhaps esteem it a pragraatical unquietness of spirit in me, that would busy myself with things beyond mine own line. But since it hath pleased God to embark me, by their means, in the affairs of that country, I take my self bound to further the voyage what I may ; not only for mine own safety, and the rest of the passengers, but for the honour of yourself, that are the pilot, and the glory of God especially, unto which port I am well as sured all your course is directed. I suppose it hath been an error all this while, to neglect the faculties of law and physic, and attend only to the ordering of one poor college of divines ; whereas, with a little more labour, and a few privileges attained, a great many more good wits might have been aUured to study, and seasoned with 396 LETTERS. piety, and made instruraents for the bringing iu learning, civiUty, and religion, into that country. I did communi cate the plot to my lord of Canterbury, at my first being with hira, especially in that point of admitting all students that should be matriculated, though they lodge in Dublin in private houses ; and of the four faculties, with their several promoters, &c. who seeraed not to dislike it ; but required it should be maturely thought of, by your grace and the university, and promised his assistance if it were found fit. At that time I left with him the statutes of our college, whifih I had this winter written out with mine own hand, and caused to be fair bound. He retained thera with him till the very raorning of my departing from London. At which time he signified his approbation of the whole; only accounted that too strait, for the "pro vost's absence but six weeks," whereas many causes there would be, which would require longer discontinuance. I showed his grace, that college business was excepted, and that we had not innovated any thing in that statute, it being so before my election. Another point he dis liked, was, touching students wearing gowns always in the coUege, " and if it might be when they went into the town." Whereas that of all other, said he, would have been provided for. I answered, the streets in Dublin were very foul, and that by the statutes, scholars were not perraitted to go ordinarily into the town, without their tutor's consent. He said, they might, if the streets were never so foul, take their gowns under their arms. I told him, that this was also an old statute, ere I came there. With that occasion I told his grace of the new stirs I heard of in the college; (for even but the day before, I had understood by other men's letters, raore perfectly, of ray lord deputy's putting in certain fellows, and of their displacing of Mr. Lloyd by your grace, and the visitors, whereof I had no intelligence till then, save by rumours only). I added, of mine own fears, that I should raake a very ill pUot in so rough seas. He persuaded me to go on, using that verse, " Tu ne cede raaUs," &c. I told him of my deafness, and that the law not allowing LETTERS. 397 surdum procuratorem, how could it be but absurd in the provost of such a society. He told me, that was not so great a matter, for a great many did male audire. He bade me not be dismayed, representing to me the future reward. I told him indeed if that were not, I had Uttle encouragement, sith neither I should, for ought I saw, have the maintenance for the lecture, which I was put in hope of, nor retain the title of my benefice only, renouncing the profits. To that he said, there was no question I might: that I had not beneficium; and he would maintain it to any man, &c. With these dis courses, having brought his grace from his chamber to his barge, I recoraraended myself to his prayers. The sarae raorning, ere ray departure, I wrote to Dublin, araongst others, to Mr. Lloyd, endeavouring to let him see his fault, and to keep hira from being hardened in it. At my return horae, I found one of ray sons yet afflicted with an ague, which hath held him these six weeks; and the ways being not yet fit for travel, (the spring having been very late and winterly) I have re solved to attend your grace's letters, both in answer to my case propounded in my letters of September, and of ray last frora London, wherein I did put ray place there wholly in your disposition; and if you think it may be more to the good of the college and church there, that I forego it, did (and do again by these presents) absolutely resign it into your hands, or the hands of them whom it may concern. Your grace may be pleased to consider seriously my insufficiency, which by ray last being there, partly by your own experience, and the report of others, you may have understood to be more than perhaps you imagined before. And by these new accidents, you may perceive the need the college hath of a raore able head. I have ever liked and loved to proceed by that good old form, " ut inter bonos bene ageir," &c. I have seen it written from thence, that you and other wise men, account rae a weak raan ; and in truth I do know myself to be. Do not the college that wrong to clog it with me; hi therto it hath received no great damage, and these new 398 LETTERS. broils may serve fitly as a good occasion to cover ray de fectiveness. I raay, without any disgrace, and with much content, sit still. That which Hannibal, when, in the common-council at Carthage, he plucked down a turbu lent orator that stood up to dissuade a necessary peace, said, to excuse his uncivility, " That the feats of war he had meetly learned, but the fashions of the city he was to be taught by thera :" I would crave leave to invert ; the arts of dutiful obedience, and just ruling also in part, I did for seventeen years endeavour to learn, under that good father Dr. Chaderton, in a well terapered society ; the cunning tricks of packing, siding, bandying and skir mishing with and between great men, I confess rayself ignorant in, and am now, I fear, too old to be taught. And methinks the society itself, (like the frogs in the tale, weary of the block set over them) esteem me neither wor thy to be acquainted with the college affairs, nor so much as answered in mine own, and (wherein they do extremely wrong, not me only, but your grace also, as I verily be lieve) do keep your letters frora rae. I wish them a more active governor. Concluding, I beseech your grace vouch safe me your last resolution for my coming or stay ; and esteem me, as you shall ever truly. Your Grace's humble servant in Christ Jesus, W. BEDELL. Horningerth, April the 15th, 1628, LETTERS. 399 LETTER CXXXIL JOS, MEDI EPISTOLA AD R. JA. USSERIUM, ARCHIEPISC. ARMACHANUM. Reverende Primas, Ex nuperrimis Domini Loei ad Ca- pellura nostrum Uteris, haud mediocri cum animi molestia intellexi, quos numero Apocalyptico septem ad R. D. tuam in Hiberniam transmiseram libellos, in itinere Dub- linura et Droghedara inter deperiise. Hem, itane eos in fraterculorum Hibernorura, quibus rainime laboraverara aut sumptus fecerara, raanus devenisse? Ut ut sit, jacturam istam, reverende Antistes, quantum possum, nunc resarcio, missis, numero quidem propter inopiam raeam paucioribus, sed paris oranino me^ in R. paternitatem tuam, tot mihi nominibus honorandam, observantiae et officii testibus. Unura autera rae male habet, quod cui praecipue atque in- prirais debuerara hoc quicquid sit literarii muneris, eijam, malo infortunio meo, postremo fere cranium obveniat quod destinaveram. Tu enim, reverende Praesul, priraus raihi ad haec ulterius excolenda stiraulasti. Tu torpentem animum alloquio, comitate, et plausu tuo excitasti. Imo, quod nun quam mihi nisi cum gratissimi animi significatione memo randum est, tu illustri ilia tua ad collegii Dubliniensis prffiposituram coraraendatione effecisti, ut nuUius antea ne que raeriti neque existiraationis homuncio, exinde taraen aliquid esse videar ab aestiraatione vestra. Quidni igitur aegerrirae ferara, tam sero ad te perventuram esse hanc qualemcunque officii mei et devotionis tesseram ? Hunc igitur malo sive infortunii, sive culpa fuerit, ali- quatenus ut medicer, consultum fore putabam si Auctario- 400 LETTERS. lum aliquod libellulis hisce raeis adjungerera, " Disserta- tiunculam de gemina ilia apud Danielera periodo dierum," cap, XII, ver. 11, 12.; praeterea " Specimen interpreta- tionis raillennii Apocalyptici," a reliquo similium specimi- nura corpore resectura. Nam rogatu, seu magis instantia amicorum, quibus institutura raeura in libellulo meo prae ter oranera opinionem placuit, factum est, ut specimina quaedam exinde concinnaverira interpretationum Apoca- lypticarum ad araussira Clavis Apocalypticae, In quibus qu» de sep tiraa tuba ej usque mille annis disseruerim, Uraatissirao judicio tuo, R. P. ea quae par est humilitate subjicio. De quo etiam quid paulo post mihi acciderit apud paternitatem tuam tacere non possum ; nimirum vixdum me haec conscripsisse, atque cum amicis de iis dem contulisse, cum ecce in catalogo Francofurtensi, prop ter tumultus bellicos et marinorum itinerum pericula, post quadriraestre demum ad nos allato, libellum deprehendo hoc titulo, "Verisimilia Historico-Prophetica de rebus in novissimo die eventuris, e sacris utriusque Testamenti oraculis coUecta, pio et accurate studio cujusdam dyairi'i- cravTog rffv ETTupdvEiav tov Kvpiov," Protinus animum meum suspicio incessit (quara postea veram coraperi) de raillennio Apocalyptico agi. Proinde bibliopolis nostris id negotii dedi, ut orani studio librura istura perquirerent. Duo tantura aut tria exemplaria Londinum advecta sunt. Unum ego nactus sum. Author Lutheranus est, sed anonyraus ; vir quidem, ut videtur, doctus et, quod in is tius sect« homine rarum, permodestus. Haud temere suspicatus sura de arguraento ; nam eandem plane tuetur de die suo novissimo sententiam quam ego de die ju- dicn conceperara. Ut libro perlecto non mediocriter in sententia mea confirmatus sim, tum propter hoc ipsum, tum quod multa Scripturs loca in eo reperi adeo ad meam mentera interpretata, ut consensionera in talibus a com muni sententia abeuntibus oppido mirarer. Vides, reve rende praesul, quo me rapit contemplatiunculae meae ni- mium fortasse studium, ut etiam tibi hisce narrandis im- portunus sira. Sed ultra paternitatera tuam a gravioribus tuis meditationibus non distinebo. Deus te, reverendis- LETTERS. 401 sime ac illustrissime Domine, quam diutissime incolumem et superstitem velit Ecclesiae et patriae tuae bono. Reverendissimae Paternitatis Tuae studiosissimus, JOSEPHUS MEDUS. E Collegio Christi, 24. Aprilis, An, 1628. VOL, XV. D D 402 LETTERS. LETTER CXXXIII. DR. SAMUEL WARD TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. Most Rev. and my very good Lord, Though I must needs acknowledge my neglect in writing, or forgetfulness, or both, since your last going into Ireland ; yet now I could have no further pretext for the omission of that duty, by which I am obliged by no few bonds, especially having such conve niency of sending by my most worthy friend, with whom I am raost loath to part, but that upon higher considerations I conceive God raay use hira as an instrument of much good in that place, if God send him health and life. I as sure your lordship, I know not where you could have pitched upon a man every way so qualified for such a place. He is a sincere, honest man,- not tainted with ava rice or ambition ; pious, discreet, wise, and stout enough, si res exigat ; he will be frugi, and provident for the col lege : and for converse, of a sweet and amiable disposition, and well experienced. In a word, he is homo perpauco rum hominura, si quid judico. I pray the God of heaven to bless his coming to you, to the good of your college and the Church of Ireland. I suppose your lordship will desire to hear somewhat of our Cambridge affairs ; though I doubt not but you hear by some Cambridge men which come over to you. I sup pose you have heard of a lecture for reading of history, in tended to be given us by the lord Brook. Who, as you know, first intended to have had Mr. Vossius of Leyden ; afterward his stipend being augmented by the States, be resolved of Dr. Dorjslaw of Leyden also. He, before his letters. 403 coming hither, took his degree of doctor of the civU law at Leyden : was sent down to Cambridge by my lord Brook, with his Majesty's letters to the vice-chancellor, and the heads, signifying my lord Brook's intent : and also wUling us to appoint him a place and time for his reading, which accordingly was done. He read sorae two or three lectures, beginning with Cornelius Tacitus; where his author mentioning the conversion of the state of Rome from governraent by kings to the government by consuls, by the suggestion of Junius Brutus ; he took occasion to discourse of the power of the people under the kings and afterward. When he touched upon the excesses of Tar- quinius Superbus his infringing of the liberties of the people, which they enjoyed under former kings; and so, among many other things, descended to the vindicating of the Netherlanders for retaining their liberties against the violences of Spain. In conclusion, he was conceived of by some to speak too much for the defence of the liberties of the people ; though he spake with great moderation, and with an exception of such monarchies as ours, where the people had surrendered their right to the king, as that in truth there could be no just exception taken against him : yet the master of Peter-house coraplained to the vice- chancellor, master of Christ's college : and complaint also was raade above, and it came to his Majesty's ear; which we having intelligence of. Dr. Dorislaw desired to come and clear himself before the heads, and carried himself so ingenuously, that he gave satisfaction to all; whereupon letters were written to his patron, to the bishop of Dur ham, and others, to signify so much. But he going to his patron first, he suppressed the letters, and said he would see an accuser before any excuse should be made. After word came frora the bishop of Winchester, then Durham, in his Majesty's narae, to prohibit the history-reader to read. But after that, both his Majesty and the bishop, and all others above and here were satisfied ; but then his patron kept off, and doth to this day, and wUl allow his reader the stipend for his time ; but we fear we shall lose the lecture. I see a letter which his patron writ to him to dd2 404 letters. Maiden, to wiU him to be gone into his country ; but he would assure hira of his stipend. The doctor kept with me whUe he was in town. He married an English woman about Maiden, in Essex, where now he is. He is a fair- conditioned man, and a good scholar. I had a letter from Mr. Vossius before Christmas, with a book of the Latin historians, which he lately set forth, and dedicated to my lord the duke of Buckingham. He sent also a book to his Majesty and the court-bishops. I verit back unto hira, and seut hira my lord of Sarum his comraentary on the Colossians, wiUing him to revise his Pelagian history, especiaUy about the points of original sin and the efficacy of grace. As touching myself, in my readings, I have suspended my reading upon the Real Presence, though I had almost finished it. And have read this year and half, at least, upon that point which I chiefly insist upon in my serraon in Latin, to show that the grace of conversion giveth not only posse convertere, but also to velle. I have been long in vindicating the third argument, used by the Contra-Re- monstrants in Colloquio Hagiensi, taken from the places, where we are said to be mortui in peccatis ; wherein the Remonstrants do discover the grounds of their assertions more than elsewhere. Dr. Jackson hath lately set forth a book of the Attri butes of God ; wherein, in the preface to the earl of Pem broke, he doth profess himself an Arminian, ascribing to the opposites of Arminius, as I conceive, that God's de crees, before the creation, take away all possibilities of contrary events after the creation. True it is, that God's eternal decree of any event, as that I should write at this moment, cannot consist with ray actual not writing at this tirae: but none say it taketh frora rae all possibility of writing at this tirae, unless it be sensu coraposito. This conceit, as I conceive, maketh him elsewhere to impugn all divine predefinitions, as prejudicious to man's liberty and freedom ; which is a raost silly conceit. I do conceive all that which he disputeth in his book against negative reprobation, as not sorting with the antecedent wfll of LETTERS. 405 God for the salvation of all, to be against the seven teenth article of reUgion, which plainly averreth a gra tuitous predestination of sorae, and not of all. There fore from thence is inferred, a not-election of others to that grace, which is that which properly is styled repro bation. As for our university, none do patronage these points, either in schools or pulpit ; though because preferments at court are conferred upon such as incline that way, causeth some to look that way. I suppose your lordship hath seen my lord of Sarum's readings upon the Colossians, which should have been exhibited, nomine Academiae, to his Majesty when he was here about the beginning of lent. But my lord of Win chester hindered that intention, though herein he preju diced the university. For we having received a favour from his Majesty, to enjoy the privilege of our charter for printing all kind of books, against the London printers, thought to show to his Majesty a specimen of our print ing, both for good letter and good paper, of both which his Majesty had coraplained in printing the Bibles at London. Thus, with remerabrance of ray best service to your good lordship ; with my best wishes and prayers for the con tinuance of your lordship's health and prosperity here, for the good of God's Church, and your happiness here after, I commend you to the gracious protection of the highest Majesty ; resting, Your Grace's in all service, SAMUEL WARD. Cambridge, May 16. 1628. Mr. Whalley and Mr. Mede are both in good health, for which friends I ara beholden to your lordship, though you take Mr. BedeU from me. Dr. Chaderton also is in health. ^^6 LETTERS. LETTER CXXXIV. MR. JOSEPH mede TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. My Reverend Lord, Having understood by Mr. Lowe's letter to Mr. Chappel, that ray books^ were lost between Dublin and Drogheda, as they were coraing to your lord ship ; I presumed a second time to obtrude upon your grace three or four more of them : howsoever the worth were not such that the first loss was much material. I sent with them a letter, and a speculation'' or two with it, which yet, through some defect in sending, I fear wUl come after thera. I beseech your lordship pardon me, if I have offended (as I ara afraid I have) either against dis cretion or good raanners : for I confess I have been since somewhat jealous, that the books I first sent were not so lost, but that they were found again : which if they were, how can I but blush to think, that I have with such either show of self-love or unmannerly importunity again troubled your lordship with them, who should not have presumed at the first to have offered any more than one ? But my confidence is in your grace's experienced huma nity to accept any thing in good part frora a scholar's hand, though perhaps accompanied with some melancholic vanity. My lord, I sent in the letter I mention the last para- ^ He means his Clavis Apocalyptica, seven copies whereof he sent into Ireland. •> Viz. Dissert, de numeris Dan. cap. 12. ver. 11, 12. and Specimen interpret. millen. Apocalypt. LETTERS. 407 graph or piece of some specimina interpretationum Ape calypticarum, namely, that which concerned the millenium. Whereto I added, for further probability of my conceit, somewhat more out of my Adversaria, and in special that one of Carpentarius's commentary in Alcinoum Platonis, pag. 322. " septimum millenarium ab universa Cabbalista- rura schola vocari magnum diem judicii." Wherein I had no intent or thought, nor yet have, to avow that old conceit of the Chiliasts, That the world should as it were labour 6000. years, and in the seventh thousand should be that glorious sabbath of the reign of Christ, (I inclined to think it much nearer :) but only to show how fitly in the Hebrew notion, not only a long time of some years and ages, but even this very time of a thousand years, might be styled a day. Howbeit I desire your lordship to give me leave, if but for your recreation, to relate the event of a piece of my curiosity since that time ; the rather, because the means thereof is beholding to your grace. I chanced to Hght upon Mr, Selden's Marmora Arun- delliana, and found therein, together with an honourable and deserved mention of your grace's name, the chrono logy of your Saraaritan Pentateuch, published to the view of the whole world. I had thereby opportunity to take raore Curious notice thereof than I had done when your lordship was in England ; and observed that it rauch more exceeded the Jewish in the genealogy of the patriarchs after the flood, than it came short in those before it. It came therefore into ray mind to try how near the 6000. years of the world would be by that computation : I found it would be anno aerae Christianse 1736. which is just the very year when the 1260. years of the beast's reign will expire, if it be reckoned from the deposition of Augus- tulus the last Roman empei'or. Depositio Augustuli anno ^rcE Christ. ,. .. ,, 476 Anni regni bestios .. .. ., .. ., .. 1260 Sum. 1736 LETTERS. A condito mundo ad aeram Christ, juxta Scaligerum . . 3949 Adde quadriennium quo idem anticipat initium Nebuchadnez- zaris, nam in caateris nihil muto , , , , . , , , 4 Excessus chronologiae Samaritanaa supra Judaicam ,, 311 Ita a condito mundo ad sram Christ, erunt ann. , , . , 4364 Adde annos aerae Christ, quando exibunt tempora bestiae seu 'ATToffraertoe, si ducantur a depositione Augustuli ,, 1736 Sum. 6000 I began here to consider, whether this difference of the account of the years of the world were not ordered by a special disposition of Providence, to frustrate our cu riosity in searching the time of the day of judgment. My lord, I would trouble your lordship with a conceit or two more, if I had time. As that I conceive Nebu chadnezzar's dream, Dan. chap. II. to have been some years before he sought the interpretation, which was the reason he had forgotten it: the words in ver. 29. tpbO ^>JVy'^ may be taken for the dream, and may be well so construed; viz. that his dream came upon him, or carae into his mind. Also that the forty years, Ezek. chap. IV. ver. 6. should be the tirae of Manasses' ido latry, for which God threatens so often that he would destroy that kingdom. But Mr. Provost wiU not stay for me. 1 beseech the Almighty long to bless your grace, and grant you Hfe : and thus I end with ray humble ser vice, and ara Your Lordship's most ready to Be commanded, JOSEPH MEDE. Christ's Coll. May 22. 1628, LETTERS. 409 LETTER CXXXV. SIR HENRY SPELMAN TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH, Pleaseth it your Grace, I CANNOT express with what humble gladness I received your letters : first, for that they gave me assurance of your recovery ; then, that among your, weighty affairs of Church and commonwealth, you should descend to think on me, so remote in application to your lordship, though no man nearer in affection and devotion, I register it in my raeraorials of your goodness ; as also your sending to me the copy of the Synod of St. Patrick, which I much desired ; and many thanks to your lordship for it. Touching the books it pleased you to require my help in procuring them, by sorae of my friends and kindred in France ; your grace knoweth that all intercourse between us and them is now stopped up: yet have I taken order with Mr. Boswell, who is gone over with my lord of Car lisle, and to pass near Provence, that if any opportunity- may serve, he will endeavour to procure them; and my son, who is gone after them, shall put him in mind of it. It is said, that my lord of Carlisle, having treated beyond the sea with the states of the Low-Countries, and not sa tisfied in their answer, hath left some protestation against them as he passed from them ; and that the states have done the like against us. I hope it is not true, we have enemies enow. I suppose your lordship would gladly hear how the great 410 letters. orb of state moveth here in parliament, your own and many others depending on it : and I would very willingly have been the first that should have done you that ser vice, if the raessenger had staid a day or two longer, that we might have seen the event. For all hangeth yet in sus pense ; but the points touching the right of the subject in the property of their goods, and to be free from imprison raent at the king's pleasure, or without lawful cause ex pressed upon the commitment, hath been so seriously and unanswerably proved and concluded by the lower house, that they have cast their sheet anchor on it, and will not recede from any tittle of the formaUty proposed in their petition of right touching the same. The upper house hath in some things dissented from them, proposing a caution to be added to the petition for preservation of the king's sovereign prerogative ; which the lower house affirms they have not rubbed upon in ought that of right belongeth to it. Yet wiU they not adrait that addition, lest it impeach the whole intent of their petition. Wherein they are so resolute, that having upon Thursday last ad mirably evinced the right of the subjects in every part thereof, at a conference with the upper house, they refused to meet the lords the day following in a committee re quired by them for qualification as was conceived. There upon the lords spent Saturday in debate among them selves, but concluded nothing that we hear of. It is re ported the lord Say did then speak very freely and reso lutely on behalf of the subject, with some unpleasing rubs upon the duke there present ; but by others' inter position all was well expounded. What this day will produce, night must relate. And of what I have written I have nothing but by hearsay, for I am no parUament- man. My lord of Denbigh, with the navy that went for the rescue of Rochel, is returned, without blow or blood- draught. It is said their commission gave them not suffi cient warrant to fight ; and one captain Clark (suspected in reHgion) is committed to the Gatehouse for dissuading LETTERS. 411 them. Thus, praying for your health and happiness, I rest, Your Grace's most humbly devoted, In all service, HENRY SPELMAN. Barbacan, May 26. 1628, 412 LETTERS. LETTER CXXXVI. SIR JOHN KING TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. Most Reverend, and my especial good Lord, Two things do occasion me to write to your lordship ; the one, to show the continuance of my dutiful and best respect to your lordship, which I have borne to your lordship ever since your childhood ; which indeed descended first from your father, who loved me always in his life-time, as I did him, truly and faithfully. The other is upon some mislike I understand your lord ship hath conceived of the lord Caulfield, ray son-in-law ; which indeed I ara sorry for, for I never found hira but ho nest and religious. I know he may have ill instruments about him, and the world is full of pick-thanks, and such as usually do lewd offices amongst men of place and qua lity. But if your lordship would please to take him into your favour, and upon any occasion (if any happen) to make known to him what is or raay be reported to your lordship of any of his raiscarriages, or unfriendly dealings towards your lordship, I would not doubt of his confor mity, and giving of your lordship meet satisfaction : and this is my suit and petition to your lordship ; for of all men in that kingdom, I do wish him, and all others that are my friends, to be serviceable and respecful to your lordship : and for myself, so long as it shall please God to give me life, I will pray for your lordship, which is all the service I can do you. Our worthy bishop here, who I have found here, ever since I came hither, a worthy friend, and a godly pastor and piUar of the Church, hath raany times and often most kindly remembered your lordship ; LETTERS. 413 and surely he is as good a raan as raay bo, yet in this par liament, which is yet scarcely ended, some have conceited not so well of him as before ; but who can or doth escape the malice of wicked men? this being the last and worst age of the world, and surely for all crying and notorious sins, as whoredom, lying, swearing, and drunkenness, I am persuaded that now our own nation is become the very worst of any in the Christian world, which makes me much afraid that God Almighty hath some heavy judgment a preparing for us. It is certain that in Spain are wondrous great preparations for war, especially for sea-service ; which some think is rather for Denmark, and those eastern parts, than for us; and the rather it is conjectured of, be cause Monsieur Oillur lies yet with a great army of about 60,000. men about Stoade, Haraburgh, and other parts. If his fleet come on this sumraer, as it is thought it will, and pass the narrow seas unfought withal, and un beaten by us, it is to be feared that Spain and France, or one of them, will next land upon our continent, and sit down and fortify ; being hopeful, as it may be well ima gined, of aid from EngUsh papists, whereof the kingdom is too well stored. Rochelle is much doubted cannot long hold out, and then there is little hope of any mercy from the king of France, which would be a woeful case to have so many poor souls put to the sword. It is thought his Majesty would relieve them, if these subsidies could come in time : and it is to be wished now that his Majesty had never meddled with them ; for in the beginning they were well provided to have made their own peace. It is strange to be believed how this kingdom is weakened by the loss of shipping, for within this three years it is said England bath lost of vessels, great and small, 400. All things con cur very untowardly against us : but God Almighty hath reserved victory to himself only. We had great rejoicing every where for his Majesty's gracious and good agree ment with the parliament; but sorae ten days ago, the house of coraraons having exhibited certain reraonstrances to his highness, which, as it seeraed, touched the duke : after reading thereof, his Majesty rose up, and said, they 414 LETTERS. should be answered ; and instantly gave the duke his hand to kiss : which the parliament-men and others were much amazed at. God Almighty amend what is amiss, if it be his blessed will, and send unity at home, that we may the better keep off and withstand our enemies abroad, and continue peace in these kingdoms ; and more pertinently I pray to keep the Spaniards out of Ireland, for we shall far better hold tack with thera here, if they should land, than you can do there, where too many are ready to join with them. I know I can write nothing to your lordship which is news to you, yet express my love and hearty and humble affection to your lordship, I make bold to trouble you with a long letter : and so, with my service to Mrs. Ussher, I take leave, and rest, Your Lordship's ever truly assured. To honour and serve you, J. KING. Layfield, June 30. 1628. LETTERS. 415 LETTER CXXXVII. SIR HENRY SPELMAN TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. May IT PLEASE YOUR Grace, I HAVE nothing since my letter by your servant, Mr. Sturges, to trouble you with ; but this bearer, my kinsman, coming to see your noble country, I have re quested him, and therewith enjoined him, to present my humble and most devoted service to your lordship ; and to bring me certain word how it standeth with you for your health : which to the good of the commonwealth, as well as my own particular respect, no man more desireth and prayeth for. For the passages here of note, I know you receive thera by raany pens, and therefore I will not enter into any rela tion of them ; only I wish they were better. Yet amongst them I desire to present your grace with the first printed copy of the petition of parliament to his Majesty for their ancient rights and liberties, with his gracious answer there to. And by much instance I (even in this hour) obtained it from Mr. John Bill, the printer, before they yet are be come public, and to the laming of the book frora whence they are taken. I send you also Mr. Glanvill's and Sir Henry Martyn's speeches to the upper house about this matter ; and the proclamation against Mr. Doctor Man- waring's sermons. But the king, notwithstanding, hath (as it is credibly reported) released him of all the censure imposed upon hira by the upper house of parliament, and this next month he is to serve in court. The deputy lieutenants also of the west country are released ; and 416 LETTERS. some of them repaired with the dignity of baronet, others of knighthood, all with grace. Mr. Bill desired me to re member him most humbly to your lordship, and to adver tise you that he willingly will print your noble work in one volume, as weUin Latin as in English; which with multi tude of others, I shall much rejoice to see. Thus with all humble remembrance to your grace, I rest, A servant thereof, Most bound and devoted, HENRY SPELMAN. Barbacan, July 1. 1628, LETTERS, 417 LETTER CXXXVIII, DR. GEORGE HAKEWILL TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH, My very GOOD Lord, Your lordship's favorable inter pretation and acceptance of my poor endeavours, beyond their desert, hath obUged me to improve them to the ut most in your good lordship's service ; and more especially in the good education of that young gentleman, Ja. Dillon, whom you were pleased to comraend as a jewel of price to my care and trust ; praising God that your lordship hath been made his instrument to reclaim him from the super stitions of the Romish church, and wishing we had some raore frequent exaraples in that kind in these cold and dangerous tiraes. For his tuition, I have placed him in Exeter college, with Mr. Bodley, a bachelor of divinity, and nephew to the great Sir Thomas Bodley, of whose so briety, gravity, piety, and every-way sufficiency, I have had a long trial ; and, were he not so near me in blood, I could easily afford him a larger testimony. He assures me that he finds his scholar tractable and studious ; so that such a disposition, having met with such a tutor to direct and instruct it, I make no doubt but it will produce an effect answerable to our expectation and desire : and during raine abode in the university, myself shall not be wanting to help it forward the best I raay. Your lordship shall do well to take order with his friends, that he may have credit for the taking up of raonies in London, for the defraying his expences ; for that to ex pect it from Ireland will be troublesome and tedious. VOL, XV. E E 418 LETTERS. I wish I could write your lordship any good news touch ing the present state of affairs in this kingdom ; but in truth, except it please God to put to his extraordinary helping hand, we have more reason to fear an utter down fall, than to hope for a rising. Thus, heartUy praying for your lordship's health and happiness, I rest, Your Lordship's Unfeignedly to command, GEO. HAKEWILL. Exeter College in Oxford, July 16. 1628, LETTERS. 419 LETTER CXXXIX. DR, PRIDEAUX, RECTOR OF EXETER COLLEGE IN OXON, TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH, Most Reverend Father in God; Your letters were the more welcome unto me, in that they brought news of the publishing of your Ecclesiastical antiquities, so much desired. In which the history of Pelagius and Faustus's foisting, being fully and impartially set, will put a period, I trust, to the trou blesome fancies which of late have been set on foot. The sight of such a work would more revive my simplicity, than the tender of many preferments so much sought after. Of your purpose of printing Ignatius here, I never heard. It had been little civility in me, not to have an swered so gracious an invitation. I am loath to speak, but the truth is, our Oxford presses are not for pieces of that coin. We can print here, Smiglecius the Jesuit's meta physical logic, and old John Buridane's ploddings upon the ethics. But matters that entrench nearer upon true divinity, must be more strictly overseen. I conceive it a high favour, that it pleased you to make use of my mean ness for the placing of your kinsman. I shall strain ray best endeavours to raake good your undertakings to his friends. Young tutors oftentimes fail their pupils, for want of experience and authority, to say nothing of negli gence and ignorance. I have resolved therefore to make your kinsman one of my peculiar, and tutor him wholly myself; which I have ever continued to some especial friends, ever since I have been rector and doctor. He billets in my lodgings ; hath (three) fellow pupils, which ee2 420 letters. are sons to earls, together with his countryman, the son of my lord Caulfield ; all very civil, studious, and fit to go together. I trust, that God will so bless our joint endea vours, that his worthy friends shall receive content, and have cause to thank your grace. Whose Faithful servant I remain, JO. PRIDEAUX. Oxon, Aug. 27. 1-628. letters. 421 LETTER CXL. the archbishop of ARMAGH TO THE RIGHT HON. My MOST HONOURABLE LoRD ; The noble respect, which in a singular manner you have still borne to the preservation of all mo numents of antiquity, hath emboldened rae at this time, to put your lordship in mind of a present occasion, which may much conduce to the general good of all of us, that eraploy our studies in this kind of learning. That faraous library of Giacono Barocci, a gentleman of Venice, consisting of two hundred and forty-two Greek manuscript voluraes, is now brought into England by Mr. Fetherstone the stationer. Great pity it were, that such a treasure should be dissipated, and books dispersed into private hands. If by your lordship's raediation, the king's majesty might be induced to take them into his own hand ; and add thereunto that rare collection of Arabic manuscripts, which my lord duke of Buckingham pur chased from the heirs of Erpenius, it would make that of his Majesty a royal library indeed, and make sorae re- corapence of that incomparable loss which we have lately sustained in the library of Heidelberg. We have at last made a poor return unto your lordship of our comraission, in the business of Phelim Mac Feagh Birn and his sons. And because the directions which we received from the lords required dispatch thereof with all convenient expedition ; we have made more haste, I fear, than good speed, fully purposing in ourselves, that the examination which we had taken, should have come imto your hands within such a time, as your lordship's resolu- 422 letters. tions thereupon might here have been notified before the beginning of Hilary term. That things have fallen out otherwise, is that, I confess, wherein we shall be hardly able to excuse ourselves. I could heartily wish, that this important business might in such sort be carried, that the honour and dignity of his Majesty's deputy might withal be very tenderly respected; for the least show of any affront that may appear to be given from thence unto his authority, will add encouragement to such as are too apt to abet malefactors among us, and dishearten his Majesty's ministers here, from being so forward as otherwise they would be, in prosecution of such public services of the state. Which I humbly leave unto your lordship's deeper consideration ; and evermore rest. Your Honour's in all dutiful service, Ready to be commanded, JA. ARMACHANUS. Dublin, Jan. 22. 1628, LETTERS, 423 LETTER CXLI. THE RIGHT REV. WILLIAM LAUD, BISHOP OF LONDON, TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. My VERY GOOD Lord, I HAVE received your grace's second letters, and with the letters from Dr. Barlow, a man known to me only by narae, and good report. I have, upon receipt of these, a second time humbly presented Dr. Barlow's suit to his Majesty ; with all fair representa tion to his Majesty of the necessity of a good commendam to the archbishop of Tuam. And though, in my judg ment, I hold it very unfit, and of ill, both exaraple and consequence in the Church, to have a bishop, much more an archbishop, retain a deanery in commendam: yet because there is, as I am informed, much service to be done for that archbishop, and because I have conceived this raan will do that service, for so he hath assuraed ; and because much of that service must be done at Dublin, where that deanery will the better fit him, as well for house as charge ; and because it is no new thing in that country to hold a deanery with a bishoprick ; I raade bold to move his Majesty for it, and his Majesty is graciously pleased to grant it ; and I have already, by his Majesty's special command, given order to Sir Hen. Holcroft, to send letters to my lord deputy to this purpose. But these two things his Majesty commanded me to write to your lordship; the one, that young men be not com mended to him for bishops : the other, that he shall hardly be drawn again to grant a deanery in commendam. Any other preferment, though of more value, he shaU be 424 LETTERS. content to yield. I am glad I have been able to serve your grace's desires in this business. And for Dr. Barlow, I wish hira joy; but raust desire your lordship to excuse ray not writing to hira ; for between parliament and term I have not leisure. So I leave you to the grace of God, and shall ever rest. Your Grace's loving Friend, And Brother, GUIL. LONDON. Jan. 29. 1628. My lord archbishop of York, Dr. Barlow's tutor that was, is of my judgment, for holding a deanery in com mendam. LETTERS. 425 LETTER CXLII. DR. WILLIAM BEDELL TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. Right Reverend Father, my hon. good Lord, Since your grace's departure from Dublin, I began to peruse the papers you left rae of Dr. Chaloner's hand, about the first foundation of the college; which although in some places I cannot read word for word, yet I perceive the sense, and have tran scribed so far as they go without interruption : but they refer to some copies of letters which I have not, nor yet are in our chest, namely, the city's letter to queen Eliza beth, and the lord deputy and coraisales ; and her's to the lord deputy here, for the founding of the college : all which if they might be had, would be inserted into the history of the college, ad verbum. And which is worse, the third duernion is wholly missing, noted, it seems, in the front with the figure 3. This makes me bold to write to your grace to search if you can find any thing more of this arguraent, that there raay be somewhat left to poste rity concerning the beginnings of so good a work. I have also, since your grace's departure, drawn a form of the confirmation of our rectories, from the bishop of Clogher, in conformity to two instruments, viz. the resignation of George Montgomery, sometime bishop thereof, and Derry, and Raphoe, and our college patent. I have used all the means I can, to know whether any predeces sor of your grace did, in like manner, resign into the king's hands any patronages within your diocese, and what their names be ; which if I could understand, I would entreat 426 letters. your grace to go before in your diocese, and to be our patron in the soliciting the other bishops to follow in theirs. I send your grace the form of the confirmation, and the names of the rectories in our patent, referring the rest to your wisdom and love to the college. This is a business of great importance to this society, and hath already been deferred so long, and Mr. Ussher's sudden taking away, (to omit my lord of Kilmore,) ad monishes me to work while the day lasts. Another busi ness there is, which enforceth me to have recourse to your grace; which is this; yesterday, as I was follow ing Mr. Ussher's funeral, there was delivered me a let ter from my lord chancellor, containing another to his lordship from Mr. Lloyd, together with a note which I send herewith. He demandeth of the college, not only his diet in his absence, which the statute expressly denies to a fellow, (and which if your grace and the visitors in tended to grant him, you did him a favour instead of a punishment,) but wages for being a prime lecturer ; where as his year came out at midsummer, and he had till then his allowance, although he performed not the duty. But here is not all, for it seems he hopes, by the words of your decree, to hold all this till he be possessed of some ecclesiastical benefice, notwithstanding his terra by the charter expires at midsummer. We have answered my lord chancellor, as your grace shaU find by those en closed ; and do humbly desire your grace, to certify either him or us of your intention ; and to draw a line or two to be sent to the rest of the visitors for this allowance, if you did intend it, for mine own and the feUows' discharge in the paying it. These letters your grace wiU be also pleased to send us back, as having, by reason of the short ness of time, no time to copy thera. We have obtained this night, a warrant from my lord chanceUor to the ser^ jeant at arms, to arrest Sir James Caroli; who in all this time of your grace's being in DubUn, would never be seen, and is now, as we hear, in town. We have not yet deU vered your grace's return of the reference made to you at the councU table, touching the enclosure at the college- letters. 427 gate, as having but lately received it. In the mean while the scholars, upon St. Matthew's day, at night, between supper and prayer-time, have pulled it all down, every stick, and brought it away into the college to several chambers. Yet upon warning that night given at prayers, that every man should bring into the quadrangle what he had taken away, there was a great pile reared up in the night, which we sent Mr. Arthur word he might fetch away if he would ; and he did accordingly. This insolency, though it much grieved me, I could not prevent ; I did publicly upon the reference pray them to be quiet, signifying our hope that we had of a friendly composition ; but when they heard that Mr. Arthur fell off, they would no longer forbear. Concerning the affairs in England, I know your grace hath better intelligence than I. Our translation goeth on in the Psalms, and we are now in the 88th. Mr. Neile King is in Chester. Your grace will pardon this scrib bling. And so I commit you to God, desiring to be re membered in your prayers ; and resting. Your Grace's in all duty, W. BEDELL. Trinity Coll. March 5. 1628. ^'^° letters. LETTER CXLIII. the ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH TO SIR ROBERT COTTON. Dear Sir, I KNOW not who should begin first, you to accuse me, or I to chaUenge you, for the neglect of wri ting one to another this long space of time. The best way, I think, for both of us, were to be said by the post : " hanc veniam petimusque damusque vicissim." Although I must ingenuously confess against rayself, that the fault lieth far raore on my side ; who have added to ray silence the detaining of your books from you a far longer tirae than good manners would well permit. For which fault yet I hope to raake sorae kind of expiation ; by sending you shortly, together with your own, my an cient copy of the Saraaritan Pentateuch, which I have long since destined unto that Hbrary of yours, to which I have been beholden for so many good things no where else to be found. I shall (God willing) ere long finish my colla tion of it with the Hebrew text, and then hang it up, ut votivam tabulam, at that sacrarium of yours. I meant to have written unto you by Mr. James Ware, one of his Majesty's auditors here ; an industrious searcher of the antiquities of this country ; whom I doubt not but you will add encouragement unto, to go on in the prosecu tion of that generous study. But he having departed from hence before I could write, I now send unto you by this noble knight, who is eldest son to the lord viscount Net- tervUle here, and hath married the daughter of your lord treasurer there. He is desirous by this means to be made known unto you : and I know he wiU be somewhat the LETTERS. 429 better welcome, because he cometh from him, who ever more resteth Totus tuus, JA. ARMACHANUS. Drogheda, March 22. 1628, I pray you forget not my heartiest salutations to my good lady and your worthy son. ^^" LETTERS. LETTER CXLIV. SIR HENRY BOURGCHIER TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. Most Reverend in Christ, my very good Lord, I MUST first desire your grace's pardon for my long sUence, and that you will be pleased to be lieve that it proceeded not from any neglect of hira whom I have so long and so rauch honoured. I presume your grace continually receiveth advertisement of what passeth here from abler pens than mine, and therefore my pains in that may well be spared. Among the rest, you cannot be ignorant of the close imprisonment of your grace's friend and servant, Mr. Selden, for some offence given, or rather taken, at his carriage and deportment in parlia ment. Here is lately deceased the earl of Marleburgh ; I was often with him about his Irish collections, and was so happy in the pursuit of them, that I received from him the greatest part of them, not many days before his death. Also the earl of Westmoreland is lately dead; and my ancient friend and kinsman, the earl of Totnes, deprived of his sight, and not like to Hve many days : if his library will be sold, I will strain rayself to buy it wholly, for it is a very select one. But howsoever, I will not raiss (God willing) his Irish books and papers. Mr. Selden's Titles of honour is ready to come forth here, and his De Diis Syris at Leyden, both well enlarged ; I wish he were so too, that his friends who much love hira might enjoy him. Sir Robert Cotton doth add to his inestimable library. Mr. Thomas Allen hath been lately bountiful to it ; he is now in London, and also Mr. Brigges. If I should only enumerate those who make inquiry of your grace's health. letters. 431 their names would fill a letter. Mr. Brigges's book of logarithms is finished by a Dutchman, and printed again in Holland. Mr. Brigges tells me that Kepler is living, and confesses his mistake in the advertisement of his death, by being deceived in the similitude of his name with one D. Kap- per, who died in that manner as he related. But it ap pears sufficiently, by his long-promised Tabulae Rodol- phiae, which now at last are corae forth ; but they answer not the expectation which he had raised of them. Dr. Bainbridge is well at Oxford ; Dr. Sutcleffe is lately deceased. Yesterday at Newgate sessions. Fa. Muskett, your grace's old acquaintance, was arraigned, and two other priests, and one of them an Irishman : they were all found guilty of treason, and had judgment accordingly. There were an hundred recusants presented at the same time. It is said that a declaration shall come forth concerning the Arminian doctrine, done by those divines who were at the synod of Dort. L. Wadding, our countryman, hath published a second tome of his Annales fratrum minorum. The Jesuit's Reply to your grace is not to be gotten here; those that came into England were seized, and for ought I can hear, they lie still in the custom-house : that which I used, was borrowed for me by a friend of the au thor himself, half a year since, he being then here in Lon don, and going by the name of Morgan. Since the dissolution of the parliament, there is a strange sudden decay of trade, and consequently of the customs ; God grant there follow no inconvenience in the common wealth. The French and Dunkerkers are very bold upon the coast of England, and I hear of no raeans used to repress thera. It is said that our deputy shall be presently removed ; his designed successor, my lord of Danby, is expected from Guernsey : he was employed thither, to furnish that island with munition and other necessaries, when there 432 letters. was some jealousy of the French, while that army lay ho vering about the parts of Picardy and Normandy ; but it is now gone for Italy, and is passed the mountains ; they have taken some town in Piedmont ; the king is there in person. It is now said that matters are accommodated by composition ; if not it will prove a bloody war between those two great kings, and the French will put hard for the Duchy of MUan. I humbly desire to be held in your grace's opinion as one who will ever most willingly approve himself, Your Grace's very affectionate friend. And humble servant, HENRY BOURGCHIER. London, March 26. 1029. Sir Robert Cotton desires to have his humble respects presented to your grace. LETTERS. 433 LETTER CXLV. MR. ARCHIBALD HAMILTON TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. Most Reverend, On Thursday last, I understood by cer tain intelligence, that my lord of London (whether by the persuasion of Sir Henry Wotton, or others, I know not) earnestly moved his Majesty in Dr. Bedell's behalf, pro vost of Dublin college, that he might be preferred to the bishoprick of KUmore, which his Majesty hath granted ; and the letter for his consecration is Hke to be there as soon as this. 1 am heartily glad of his good preferment, but am somewhat grieved withal that the college hath en joyed him for so small a time, who was Hke to make it much happy by his careful government. Sorae fear there is conceived, that one or other frora hence may be put upon the house, who will not, it may be, so truly aim at the reUgious education of the students ; for some one, deeply tainted with the Arminian tenets, putteth in close to be recommended thither by his Majesty, and thinks to prevail by that means. This I thought good to certify, that your grace may give timely warning thereof to the fellows, that they raay raake a wary and a safe election of some sound scholar and orthodox divine. I will not pre sume to name any, but I think Mr. Mede might be well thought of, the place being forraerly intended for him, and he generally reputed a very able man for such a charge. The earl of Totness departed this Ufe some ten days since, his corpse is not yet buried : soon after his decease, I went and made inquiry after that press of books and VOL. XV. F F 434 letters. manuscripts which only concern Ireland, and asked whe ther he had left thera as a legacy to our college, as your lordship heretofore moved him, and as he himself lately promised (to Sir Era. Annesly and myself) that he would : whatsoever the good man intended, or whatsoever direc tion he gave, I cannot learn, but the college is not like to get them ; for one Sir Thomas Stafford, the reputed son of the said earl, hath got them, and raany other things of ray lord's into his hands, out of which there wiU be hard wringing of thera. Sir Fran. Annesly and I have earnestly dealt with him, that he would give them to the college, as the earl intended to leave thera ; and if not, that he would let your lordship have the refusal of thera before any other, if they be to be made away ; he abso lutely refuseth to part with them upon any terms, aUeging that he purposeth to erect a library, wherein they, and all other the eaiTs books, are to be preserved for his ever lasting memory. He promiseth withal, that if your grace, or any that your lordship will appoint, hath a mind to exemplify, write out, or collect any thing out of any of the said books and manuscripts, he will most wiUingly afford your lordship, or them, a free and leisurely use of the sarae, as to you shall seem fitting ; and this was all that we could get from him. If your lordship's letter can be so powerful, it were not amiss to write to himself; for it may be conjectured, for all his fair pretences, that a ready sura of money may make an easy purchase of them. In my last letter I advertised your lordship how far I had proceeded in the business of Armagh; since which time I have driven it to no further perfection ; partly, be cause I expect to hear your lordship's express pleasure therehi ; and partly by reason of the lord keeper, and lord Grandison's late sickness, which hath kept thera and the rest of the committees from meeting, to make a final de terraination of their report, that his Majesty's letter raay be procured accordingly, for the setting off all things to your lordship's desire. If the report were once made, the letter shaU corae speedily over, and in a sufficient time to letters. 435 settle all before the parliament sit, or can conclude any acts for the restraining of bishops, to set any leases for any longer term than one-and- twenty years. Thus, re commending your lordship to the blessed protection of the Almighty, and humbly entreating your lordship to have a vigilant care for the providing of an able head to the college, I humbly take my leave, and reraain. Your Grace's servant, ARCHIBALD HAMILTON. Whitehall, April 8. 1629. LETTERS. LETTER CXLVI. SIR HENRY BOURGCHIER TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. Most Rev. in Christ, my very good Lord, I RECEIVED your lordship's letter of the 22d of March, by Sir Jo. NeuterviU. I doubt not but your grace hath heard of the Greek library brought from Venice by Mr. Fetherston, which the earl of Pem broke hath bought for the university-library of Oxford ; it cost him seven hundred pounds ; there are of them two hundred and fifty volumes. Dr. LindseU, now dean of Litchfield, tells me, that it is a great treasure, far exceed ing the catalogue. He likewise tells me, that there are a great number of excellent tracts of the Greek fathers, never yet published ; besides divers ancient historians and geographers ; and particularly, that there is as much of Chrysostom as will raake a volume equal to any of those published by Sir H. Savil. I do not hear of any books brought horae by Sir Thomas Roe, besides the ancient Greek Bible which was sent to his Majesty by him, from Cyril the old patriarch sometime of Alexan dria, but now of Constantinople. It is that which went among them by tradition, to be written by St. Tecla the martyr and scholar of the apostles ; but it is raost appa rent not to be so ancient by some hundreds of years ; and that, as for divers reasons, so especially because there is before the Psalms, a preface of Athanasius. I hear he hath brought home a rare collection of coins and me dals. I now spend my spare tirae in gathering matter for the story of Henry VIII. which in time, if God spare LETTERS. 437 me life and health, I intend to publish. And thus, with the tender of my love and service to your grace, I will remain. Your Grace's very affectionate friend. And humble servant, HENRY BOURGCHIER. Lond. April 13. 1629. 438 LETTERS, LETTER CXLVII. the right hon. the lord falkland, lord deputy of ireland, to the archbishop of armagh. My Lord, I HAVE received inforraation, both of the unre- verend manner of publishing the late proclamation at Drogheda, and the ill observance of the same since it was pubUshed. For the first, that it was done in scornful and contemptuous sort, a drunken soldier being first set up to read it, and then a drunken serjeant of the town, both being made, by too rauch drink, uncapable of that task, and perhaps purposely put to it, raade the same seem like a May-game. And for the latter, that there is yet very little obedience showed thereto by the friars and priests; only that they have shut up the fore-doors of some of their mass-houses ; but have as ordinary recourse thither by their private passages, and do as frequently use their superstitious service there, as if there were no command to the contrary ; those mass-houses being continued in their former use, though perhaps a little raore privately, without any demolishing of their altars, &c. I expected to have been informed as well of the pub lishing thereof there, as of the effects it had wrought, from no man before your lordship, both in respect of your profession, and the eminent place you hold in the Church, and of your being a privy counsellor, who was present and assistant in all the consultations about setting it forth, and privy to the resolutions of the board thereupon. But since this is come to ray hands frora another, I do hereby pray and authorize your lordship, calling to your assist- LETTERS. 439 ance Mr. Justice Philpot, who is now resident there, to enter into a serious examination of the premises, and to give me a full information of what you find thereof, by the first opportunity. So, desiring to be remembered in your daily prayers, I am, Your Lordship's very affectionate friend, FALKLAND. Dublin CasUe, April 14. 1629. 410 LETTERS. LETTER CXL VIII. MR, PHILPOT TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH, My good Lord, I HAVE had some conference with my lord deputy about those raatters, wherein your grace and I were lately eraployed ; he telleth me, that this day he will advise with the council upon the informations sent by us, and afterwards will take such course therein as shall be thought fit. His lordship insisteth rauch upon that part of Mr. Sing's information, where he saith, that the titulary bishop of Raphoe, did make a priest at a public mass in an orchard. He saith that the said bishop is as dangerous a fellow here in Ireland, as Smith is in England ; and that he hath good bonds upon him, and would be glad of this occasion to call hira in ; and therefore I pray your grace, to wish Mr. Sing to be ready to make good his accusation, for the said bishop is bound not to exer cise ecclesiastical jurisdiction. I told ray lord deputy how careful you were to see him before his going from hence ; and that your grace intended to make a journey of purpose hither, having now no other business here. He told rae, that if your grace had any such purpose, that you need not make any great haste, for he hoped to have time enough, before his going, to make some good pro gress in the business begun, concerning the Jesuits and their houses, &c. and that he had not his summons yet to go away, which could not come till the wind turned; and if it came then, he said, he would stay ten days after at the least; in which your grace may have notice time enough to perform your desire. I told my lord that your LETTERS. 441 , grace was somewhat troubled at his letter ; for which he was sorry, and blamed his secretary, protesting he did not intend to give your grace any cause of discontent. His lordship told me, that the news of Mantua is true, which is relieved, and the French king returned: but there is no certainty, but a common report, of any peace concluded with France. I shall be ready, upon all occa sions, to do your lordship any acceptable service; and will for ever remain. Your Grace's faithful servant, JO. PHILPOT. Dublin, April 27. 1629. 442 LETTERS. LETTER CXLIX. the lord depute, &c. to the archbishop of armagh. After our eight hearty commendations to your Lordship, By your letters of the 6th instant, which we the lord deputy thought fit to comraunicate to the council, we perceive, and do well approve the care and pains you have taken, as well in searching out the truth of the matter, concerning the titulary bishop of Raphoe, as in endeavouring to inform yourself of the proprietors and possessors of the popish conventual houses in that town. Touching the titulary bishop, we rest satisfied by your lordship's said letters, that at that time he did no public act, nor gave orders to any : but as yet remain unsatis fied whether there were any great assembly of people at that meeting ; and what persons of note were araong thera, wherein we desire to receive further satisfaction from your lordship. As to their conventual houses, we have given his Ma jesty's attorney-general a copy of the paper enclosed in your letters to us, and gave him direction to put up infor mations in his Majesty's court of exchequer, against the proprietors and possessors of those houses, that thereby way may be made to such further course of proceeding as the several cases shall require. And this being all for the present, we bid your lordship very heartily farewell. From his Majesty's Castle of DubUn, May 15. 1629. Your Lordship's very loving friends, H. FALKLAND. A. LOFTUS CANC. ANTH. MIDENSIS. HEN. DOCWRA. W. PARSONS. TYRINGHAM. LETTERS. 443 LETTER CL. the right rev. william laud, bishop of london, to the archbishop of armagh. My very good Lord, I AM glad Mr. Bedell's preferment gives your grace such contentment. Your former letter came safe to my hands, so did your second. I see no thing is so well done, but exceptions can fret it : for I hear that which I looked not for concerning Mr. Bedell's preferment, whose name was never put to the king, till both the other competitors were refused by his Majesty as too young. Ardagh is not forgotten in the letter ; for since, upon receipt of your lordship's last letters, I spake with Sir Henry Holcroft about it. Besides those of your lordship's, I have received letters from Mr. Bedell, and from the fellows, about their free dom of election of a provost. My lord, his Majesty would fain have a man to go on where Mr. Bedell leaves. I am engaged for none. I heartily love freedoms granted by charter, and would have them maintained. If they will return which are come hither, and all agree, or a major part, upon a worthy man that will serve God and the king, I will give them all the assistance I can to keep their privilege whole. The king likes wondrous well of the Irish lecture begun by Mr. Bedell, and the course of sending such young men as your grace mentions. I hope, before our committee for the establishment of Ireland end, I shall find a time to think of the remedy your lordship proposes 444 LETTERS. about scandalous ministers ; in which, or any other ser vice, I shall not be wanting. For the particulars concern ing Clark, I have your enclosed; and if he stir any thing while I am present, you shall be sure I will do you right. Now, my lord, I have answered all your letter, save about the archbishop of Cashel's for the old dean. I have done all I ara able for that reverend and well deserv ing gentleman; but the king's Majesty hath been pos sessed another way ; and it seems upon like removes, hereafter will move more than one. And at this time he wUl give Cashel to ray lord of Clogher, if he wfll take it, and so go on with another to succeed him, of whom he is likewise resolved : and who shall be Cashel's if my lord of Clogher refuse. There is nothing which the dean of Cashel can have at this time, unless he will, with a good commendam, be content to take Kilfenora. To which, though I do not persuade, yet I would receive his answer : and I add, it will be a step for him to a better. As for Betts, the lord elect that was, he hath lapsed it by not proceeding to consecration. I must now humbly entreat your grace to send me the names and values of all the bishopricks and deaneries in Ireland. And what bishoprics are joined to others, that I raay be the better able to serve that church, being as yet one of the coraraittee. And I pray excuse my not writing to Mr. Bedell, for in truth I have not leisure. So I leave you to the grace of God, and rest. Your Grace's Very loving brother, GUIL, LONDON. June 16. 1629. LETTERS. 44i: LETTER CLI. THE RIGHT REV, W, LAUD, BISHOP OF LONDON, TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. My VERY GOOD Lord, The two fellows of the coUege of DubUn which are attendant here about the freedom of their elec tion, were commanded by his Majesty to send to the col lege there, and to know whom they would pitch upon for their governor. And his Majesty was content, upon the reasons given by me, and the petition of the fellows, to leave them to freedom, so they did choose such a man as would be serviceable to the Church and him. Upon this, after some time, they delivered to the king, that they would choose, or had chosen Dr. Ussher, a man of your grace's name and kindred : his Majesty thereupon referred them to the secretary, the lord viscount Dorchester, and myself, to inform ourselves of his worth and fitness. My lord proposed that they should think of another man that was known unto us, that we might the better deliver our judgments to the king. I was very sensible of your lord ship's narae in hira, and reraerabered what you had written to rae in a forraer letter concerning him, and thereupon prevailed with his Majesty that I might write these letters to you, which are to let your grace understand that his Majesty put so great confidence in your integrity and readiness to do him service, that he hath referred this bu siness to the uprightness of your judgment, and will exer cise his power accordingly. For thus he hath commanded me to write ; that your grace should presently, upon re- 446 LETTERS. ceipt of these letters write back to me what your know ledge and judgment is of the worth and fitness of Dr. Ussher for this place, setting all kindred and affection aside : and upon that certificate of yours the king will leave thera to all freedom of their choice, or confirm it if it be made. So, wishing your lordship all health and hap piness, I leave you to the grace of God, and shall ever rest. Your Grace's very loving friend. And brother, GUIL. LONDON. London House, June 25. 1629. LETTERS. 447 LETTER CLIL MR. BAINBRIDGE TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. My very good Lord, This bearer's unexpected departdre hath prevented my desire to discharge some part of those raany obligations, wherein I am bound unto your grace ; but assuring myself that your grace will a little longer suspend your censure, I ara bold to mediate for another. Whereas our Turkey merchants, trading at Aleppo, being now destitute of a minister, have referred the choice of one unto yourself; may it please you to understand, that there is one Mr. Johnson, a fellow of Magdalen College, who hath spent some years in the oriental languages, and being desirous to improve his knowledge therein, is con tent to adventure himself in the voyage ; he would take the pains to preach once a week, but not oftener; being desirous to spend the rest of his time in perfecting his languages, and making such other observations as may tend to the advancement of learning. If your grace upon these terras please to recommend him to the raerchants, I dare engage ray credit for his civil and sober behaviour, and his best endeavours to do your grace all respective service. I do not coramend an indigent fellow, enforced to run a desperate hazard of his fortunes, but a learned gentleman of fair hopes, and presently well furnished with all things needful to a scholar. I suppose that Fetherstone did send you a catalogue of Barroccius his Greek raanuscripts ; they be now prisoners in our public library, by the gift of our chancellor, and with them some few more given by Sir Tho. Roe, amongst 448 letters. which there is (as I take it) a fair copy in Arabic of the Apostles' canons. If there be any thing in these manu scripts which may give you content, I shall (with my hearty prayers for your good health) endeavour to ap prove myself Your Grace's Most affectionate servant, JOHN BAINBRIDGE. Oxon, July 20. 1629, LETTERS. 449 LETTER CLIII. THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH TO THE RIGHT REVEREND WILLIAM LAUD, BISHOP OF LONDON. My very good Lord, Your letters of the 25th of June I re ceived the 8th day of August, wherein I found contained a large testimony, as well of your special care of the welfare of our poor college, as of your tender respect unto my name and credit ; for which I must acknowledge myself to stand ever bound to perform all faithful service unto your lordship. I have hereupon written unto the fellows of the house, that in making their election they should follow their con sciences according to their oaths, without any by-respects whatsoever. Dr. Ussher is indeed my cousin-german ; but withal the son of that father at whose instance, charge and travel, the charter of the foundation of the coUege was first obtained frora queen EHzabeth, which peradven ture raay make him somewhat the more to be respected by that society. To his learning, honesty, and conformity unto the discipUne of our Church, no raan, I suppose, will take exception. And of his abiUty in government he hath given some proof already while he was vice-provost in that house ; where his care in preventing the renewing of the leases at that time was such, that thereby we have been now enabled so to order the matter that within these six years the college rents shall be advanced well-nigh to the double value of that they have been. Whereunto I will add thus much more, that I know he sincerely in tendeth the good of his country, meaneth to go on where VOL. XV. G G 450 LETTERS. Dr. Bedell hath left, and in his proceedings will order himself wholly according as your lordship shall be pleased to direct him. Which if it may prove an inducement to move his Majesty to confirm his election, I shall hold my self strongly engaged thereby to have a special eye to the government of that college : seeing the miscarriage of any thing therein cannot but in some sort reflect upon rayself; who would rather lose my life than not answer the trust reposed in me by ray sovereign. In obedience unto whose sacred directions, and discharge of the care coraraitted unto me by his letters of the 7th of November last, (the copy whereof I send herewith) I hurably make bold to re present this also unto your lordship's consideration, whe ther, if the lord bishop of Clogher shall be removed unto the archbishoprick of Cashel, the dean of Raphoe may not be thought upon to succeed him in Clogher, as being a very well deserving man, and one toward whora his Ma jesty hath very gracious intentions. But of him I shall need deliver no more than what is contained in the en closed testimonial, sent by ray predecessor unto king Jaraes of blessed raeraory. And so with remembrance of my service unto your lordship, I rest, Your Lordship's in all Christian Duty ready to be commanded, J. ARMAC. Armagh, August 10th, 1629. LETTERS. 451 LETTER CLIV. REV. VIRO D. LUDOVICO DE DIEU ORIENTALIUM LINGUARUM IN ACADEMIA LEYDEN SI PROFESSORI EXIMIO. Si ab Academia is abfuerit, tradantur literae istae vel Danieli Heinsio, vel Ger- ardo Joh. Vossio resignandae. Quod ita compellem te familiariter, homo quem tu ne de facie quidem nosti, non est quod adeo mireris, vir eru- ditissirae. Ex Apocalypsi enim tua Syro-Latina (quam cum MS", meo codice dUigenter contuli) et Hebraeo-Chal- daicis institutionibus, ita mihi visus sura habere te cogni- tura: ut participare rae tecura, et thesauros ex oriente advectos primo quoque tempore communicare pene ges- tiam : interira, ecce tibi Saraaritanorum illud Pentateu- chura, in quo coraparando Christianae pietatis homines paulo negligentiores hactenus fuisse, conquestus est olim magnus vester Scaliger^ Cujus veto aliqua certe ex parte fuerit satisfactura, si ex academia cujus ille, dum vixit, ingens fuit ornamentum, priraura in lucem prodeat tamdiu desideratum venerandae antiquitatis monumentum. Verum properato hie opus ; ne hanc vobis desponsam jam et destinatam laudem, alius preereptum eat. Neque est quod deterreat libri raoles: merum enim Pentateuchum est; idque a punctis vocalibus et accentibus omnibus plane liberum. Ut, cum in proraptu vobis sint Samaritani typi a clarissime Erpenio relicti, nihil obstare videam, quo minus proximis vernalibus nundinis opus absolutum pubhce edi possit, ac passim divendi. Tu modo operi » Seal. De emend, lib. 7. pag. 627. gg2 452 LETTERS. manum admovere veils; et £p7o8iaiKrou in te suscipere officium. Ad exemplar ipsura quod attinet ; recentius quidera illud est, verura ex antiquioribus satis fideliter expressura. Leviticura a se descriptum annotavit libra- rius nfta AaZaaZ A^/fta v"^a a;^*" 'sr^J^ nr^vai *"'V0i9 a*"/!? raense Giumadi altero, anni nongentesimi filiorum Ismaelis. Mensis vero ille anni aerse Israaeliticae sive Ma- huramedicae 900. raensi respondet Martio anni Christianae nostrae epochae MCCCCXCV. Geneseos vero librum, qui casu aliquo exciderat, ab alio suppletum fiiisse res ipsa loquitur : et quidem ' A-S ' A"? ' iS*""? ?("*»" Ai*"9 hoc est, niNQ ytyni Q'ilDIi'l nWV r\W:i si ego decurtatas illas voces recte interpreter, qui annus Hegirae 986. in aerae nostrae MDLXXVIII. incurrit. Ut autem Judsi in describendo libro legis, quo in synagogis suis utuntur, minores suas nVti^'ID ita Sama ritani sectiones (illis ut plurimum respondentes) quos C3*Sp appellant, curiose observant; propria nota appo- sita unamquaraque terrainantes, et interjecto insuper spatio a proxime insequente discludentes. Quin et numerum earum ad uniuscujusque libri calcem recensent: 250. Geneseos, Exodi 200. Levitici 134. vel 135. Numero rum 118. et 160. Deuteronomii. Harura igitur distinc- tionera uti in editione negligi noUera : ita quo commodius textus Samaritani cum Judaico collatio possit institui, tum capitum (quibus vulgo utimur) ad marginem, tum versiculorum intra contextum, numerura adjiciendum ex- istiraarera : eo raodo, quo in primis partibus libri Gene seos a nobis factum vides et quidem versiculorum nos trorum numerura constanter retinendura judicareiii, etiam ris-inlocis'.(nam et ejusmodi aliquando occurrunt) in qui bus a Samaritis ordo est immutatus. Ubi vero integrae periodi ab iisdem ad sacrum contextum sunt adjectse (ut in XI. capite Geneseos, verbi gratia, et post XXX. ca pitis 36, versiculura, et in libro Exodi frequentissime) eiphram 0 praefigiraus. Habeo et praefationera paratam, in qua, inter alia, qui factum ut solos Mosis libros Samaritani receperint, rati onem explico ; quo tempore, et quo authore facta sit haec LETTERS. 453 primigenii contextus interpolatio, ostendo, authoresque veteres, Eusebium, Diodorum Tarsensera, Hieronyraum, Cyrillum, Anesperum, Georgium Syncellum, et alios qui illius testimonUs sunt usi, comraemoro. Eam si editione dignam censebis accipies, quam primum quid illic acturi sitis resciero. Est apud nos Dublinii Petrus quidam Wiboraeus, cujus in mercaturis faciendis opera utuntur Middleburgensium vestrorum negotiatorum nonnulli : est et Londini Franciscus Burnetus, qui in vico, quem Lom- bardicum vocant, habet domicilium, ad insigne Aurei Vel- leris, horum uter Uteras tuas recte ad me curabit defe- rendas. Vale, vir doctissime ; V. V. CI. Danieli Heinsio ac Gerardo Joh. Vossio (quos ego ambos, ob interiores illas et reconditas in quibus praeter caeteras excellunt li- teras, unice diligo) salutem meis verbis dicito. Tuus ex animo J, USSERIUS, ARMACHANUS. Pontanae in Hibernia, Kalendis Octobris an. MDCXXIX, 454 LETTERS. LETTER CLV. sir 1-1. bourgchier to the archbishop of armagh. Most Rev. in Christ, my very good Lord, My last letter, sent by Mr. Ja. Ware, I presume is come to your grace's hands long before this time. I have the happiness to hear of your grace some times by Mr. Burnet, which is a great comfort unto me ; especially when I heard of your health and ability to per form so great a journey, in your late visitation of your province, of which I shall ever wish the continuance. I am very sorry that it is my ill fortune, so often to adver tise your grace of the misfortune of your friends here. Sir Robert Cotton hath been lately committed to the cus tody of the bishop of Ely, and often strictly examined concerning the publication of a project, tending to the oppression of the commonwealth, and with him were re strained in several places the earls of Bedford, Somerset, and Clare, and some others : after ten or twelve days close imprisonment, and several examinations, they were all enlarged ; and an information exhibited against them in the star-chamber, to which they are now to answer. Mr. Selden is also made a party to this information ; he is still a prisoner in the tower, but enjoyeth now the Hberty of the prison. At my last being with him, he desired me to present his service to your grace ; he would have done it himself, if he might with safety. Here hath been a good while with us Ger. Jo. Vossius, of Leyden, a man well known to your grace by his books, and now to me de facie ; and which is more, with whom I have contracted familiarity and friendship : he told me that your grace was well known to him both by your Latin letters. 455 book, which he had diligently read, and by the report of divers learned men ; and when he understood by me, how much you esteemed and loved him, he desired rae to re turn his humble thanks, with desire that you would era- ploy his service in whatsoever he is able to perform. His Majesty has conferred on him the prebend of Canterbury, which lately was Dr. Chapman's. He is now settling himself in it ; he saith, he hath received a late advertise ment of the death of Bertius, who overlived his own credit and reputation. Mr. Selden's Titles of Honour hath long slept under the press, by reason of his long close iraprisonraent ; but now he tells me it shall go forward ; and he thinks within two months it will corae abroad. The war in Italy is like to proceed; the French king raiseth a great array for that expedition. Here was a report that the states had taken Gulick, but it holds not a certain truth. One thing I raust not overpass, and that a strange and monstrous accident lately happened here in England. One Dorington (a younger son of Sir William Dorington, of Hampshire, and grandchild to that Do rington who brake his neck from St. Sepulchre's steeple in London) being reprehended for some disorderly courses by his mother, drew his sword, and ran her twice through, and afterwards, she being dead, gave her many wounds, and had slain his sister at the same time, had he not been prevented. I presume your grace hath heard of the death of Dr. Tho. James : his nephew, Mr. Richard James, is fallen into some trouble, by reason of his familiarity and inwardness with Sir Robert Cotton. I suppose you have the last catalogue of Francfort, which hath nothing of note. But I fear I have been over troublesome to your grace's more serious and weighty employraents ; where fore, with the remembrance of my love and service, I will ever remain Your Grace's most affectionate friend. And humble servant, HENRY BOURGCHIER. London, December the 4th, 1629. 456 LETTERS. LETTER CLVI. THE RIGHT REV. WILLIAM LAUD, BISHOP OF LONDON, TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. My very GOOD Lord, I HAVE received two or three letters frora you since I writ you any answer. I hope your grace is not of opinion that it is either idleness or neglect which have made me silent ; for the plain truth is, I fell into a fierce burning fever August the 14th, which held me above three weeks. It was so fierce that my physicians, as well as my friends, gave me for dead, and it is a piece of a miracle that I live. I have not yet recovered my wonted strength, and God knows when I shall ; yet since I was able to go to the court, though not to wait there, I have done as much business as I could, and I think as your grace hath desired of rae, for the Church of Ireland, as your lordship will see by this brief account following. And first, ray lord, I have obtained of his Majesty the new incorporating of the dean and chapter of Derry, and I think the dean is returned. At the same time the king was pleased to give order for confirming the election of Dr. Ussher to be governor of the college in Dublin. Thirdly, upon the refusal of my lord of Clogher, his Ma jesty gave, in the time of my sickness, the archbishoprick of Cashel to the bishop of Killalla, and the bishoprick of KUlaUa to the dean of Raphoe. And whereas your grace, in the close ef one of your letters, did acquaint me that there was a fear, lest some cunning would be used to beg or buy some patronages out of the king's hands ; I moved LETTERS. 457 his Majesty about that likewise, and he made me a gra cious promise that he would part with none of them. And now, my lord, I give your lordship thanks for the catalogue of the bishopricks of Ireland, which I heartily desire your grace to perfect, as occasion may be offered you. And for the last business, as I remember, concern ing the table of tithing in Ulster, I have carefully looked it over ; but by reason I have no experience of those parts, I cannot judge clearly of the business ; but I am taking the best care I can about it, and when I have done, I will do my best with his Majesty for confirmation, and leave Mr. Hyegate to report the particulars to your grace. I have observed that Kilfenora is no fertile ground, it is let lie so long fallow. Hereupon I have adventured to move his Majesty, that some one or two good benefices, lying not too far off, or any other church-preferment without cure, so it be not a deanery, may be not for this time only, but for ever annexed to that bishoprick. The care of managing that business he refers to your grace, and such good counsel in the law as you shall call to your assistance. And I pray your grace think of it seriously and speedily ; and though I doubt you will find nothing actually void to annex unto it, yet if that act be but once past, the hope of that which is annexed will make some worthy man venture upon that pastoral charge; and so soon as you are resolved what to do, I pray send me word, that so I raay acquaint his Majesty with it, and get power for you to do the work. These are all the particulars that for the present I can recall out of your letters, sent unto rae in the time of my sickness. So with my hearty prayers for your health and happiness, and that you may never be parched in such a fire as I have been, I leave you to the grace of God, and rest. Your Grace's loving poor friend. And brother, GUIL. LONDON. London -house, Dec, 7. 1629. 458 letters. LETTER CLVII. the RIGHT REV. WILLIAM BEDELL, BISHOP OF KILMORE, TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. Right Rev. Father, my honourable good Lord, I have received your grace's letters concerning Mr. Cook. I do acknowledge all that which your grace writes to be true, concerning his sufficiency and experience to the execution of the ecclesiastical juris diction ; neither did I forbear to do him right in giving him that testiraony, when before the chapter I did declare and show the nullity of his patent. I have heard of my lord of Meath's atterapt; and I do believe, that if this pa tent had due form I could not overthrow it, how unequal soever it be. But failing in the essential parts, besides sundry other defects, I do not think any reasonable crea ture can adjudge it to be good. I shall more at large cer tify your grace of the whole matter, and the reasons of my counsel herein. I shall desire herein to be tried by your grace's own judgment, and not by your chancellor's ; or, as I think in such a case I ought to be, by the synod of the province. I have resolved to see the end of this matter ; and do desire your grace's favour herein, no farther than the equity of the cause, and the good, as far as I can judge, of the church in a high degree do require. So with my humble service to your grace, I rest. Your Grace's in all duty, W. KILMORE. Kilmore, Dec. 28, 1629, LETTERS. 459 LETTER CLVIII. L. ROBINSON TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. My HONOURABLE AND MOST DEAR LoRD, My poor prayers to God shall never be wanting for the continuance and increase of your lordship's health, and all true happiness, nor my serviceable and thankful affections for all your noble favours done to me and raine. I forbear to treat with my lord of Kilmore altogether about any of those things which are divulged under his hand, being persuaded his desires were only to do good, and assured himself sees his expectation fail in them ; partly by the apology he made for himself amongst his ministers, gathered together in the church of Kilmore, at the inhibiting of Mr. Cook ; where he showed much grief, that there were divers scandalous reports raised of him : as that he was a papist, an Arrainian, an equivocator, politician, and traveller into Italy ; that he bowed his knee at the narae of Jesus, pulled down the late bishop's seat, because it was too near the altar, preached in his surplice, &c. There generally he affirmed his education in Chris tian religion, and his love to the truth ; showing the rea sons of his travels, and the use of the ceremonies, not ¦ to hinder any man's liberty of conscience, nor urge consci ence, but as he had voluntarily practised them in England for the good of some others, so here. Some things he denied, and others he showed reasons for, so that he gave us all good satisfaction, and we hope we shall have much comfort in him. Yet, it is true, he sent a strange absolu tion to an Irish recusant, in a letter (using many good in structions, for the man was sick) in this form: " If you be 460 LETTERS. content to receive Christ, and believe in him, by the au thority which is given to rae, I absolve you frora all your sins you have confessed to Almighty God, and are truly contrite for, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen." Thus craving pardon for being trouble some to your grace, I take leave, and will ever rejoice to remain. Your Lordship's poor servant To be commanded, LAU. ROBINSON. Farn. Jan, 18. 1629, LETTERS. 461 LETTER CLIX. SIR HENRY BOURGCHIER TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. Most Reverend in Christ, and my very good Lord, I DID very lately presume to present my service to your grace by my servant, whom I sent into Ireland ; whose return frora thence I expect very shortly, and by hira to hear at least of your grace's health and welfare, than which no news can be raore welcorae to me. Your friends here, as many as I know, are all well. Sir Rob. Cotton is not altogether free of his trouble ; but he and his friends hope he shall shortly. Mr. Selden is also a prisoner in the King's Bench, but goes abroad when he pleaseth, so that his friends enjoy hira often ; I hope we shall have his Titles of Honour very shortly. At Paris there is ready to corae forth the king of Spain's Bible that was : it will be now in ten volumes, whereas the other was but in eight, and much fairer than the other, as they say that have seen it, which I think can hardly be. Here is little news at this present. The French army is gone into Italy, commanded by the cardinal Richlieu: the Impe rialists are so terrified with their coming, that they have raised the siege of Mantua, and drawn themselves into the Duchy of Milan, for the defence thereof. There is a treaty of peace there, and in the Low-countries, of a truce between the king of Spain and the States ; and the Spa nish ambassador is here about the same business, and ours in Spain : and these several treaties depend so one upon another, that it is thought it will either prove a general peace, or a general war. I wrote to your grace in my for mer letter, of Mr, Vossius being here in England. Within 462 letters. these two days I heard from hira by Mr. Junius, his brother-in-law, who went over with him. He liked his entertainment so well in England that he hath now a good mind to settle himself here. Concerning our own poor country I can say nothing, only that the business of Phelim Mac Teagh is in question ; which I raention the rather, because your grace had your part in it as a commissioner. The king hath sat two days already with the lords, and heard it with great patience and attention. My lord of Falkland, as I hear, hath ended his part ; which was, to answer the certificate and report of the commissioners in Ireland, as far as it touched himself. Sir Henry Beating's part is next ; when those have done, the other side shaU have liberty to reply. I cannot hear any speech of a new deputy ; I believe the government wUl continue as it is, and the rather, because it is a saving way, which these times do easily hearken unto. I have sent your grace, here enclosed, something that hath been lately done concerning the Church of England : I doubt not but your grace hath received it from other hands, but I thought good to ad venture it howsoever. I intend (with God's assistance) to be in Ireland about the midst of March at the farthest. If your grace desire any thing from hence, I shall willingly convey it to you ; and if they be books, I can do it conve niently, because I carry raany of my ovm. I will desire your grace to esteera rae in the number of those who most reverence and honour you, and will ever approve himself, Your Grace's most affectionate friend, And humble servant, HENRY BOURGCHIER. London, Jan. 21, 1629, letters. 4153 LETTER CLX, THE RIGHT REVEREND WILLIAM BEDELL, BISHOP OF KILMORE, TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH, Most Rev, Father, my honourable good Lord, The report of your grace's indisposition, how sorrowful it was to me the Lord knows ; albeit the sarae was somewhat mitigated by other news of your bet ter estate. In that fluctuation of ray mind (perhaps Hke that of your health) the saying of the apostle served me for an anchor ; " That none of us liveth to himself, neither doth any die to himself. For whether we live, we live to the Lord ; or whether we die, we die to the Lord. Whe ther we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's." There upon, from the bottom of my heart commending your es tate, and that of his Church here, (which how much it needs you he knows best) to our coraraon Master, though I had written large letters to you, which have lain by rae sundry weeks, fearing in your sickness to be troublesorae, I thought not to send them, but to attend sorae other op portunity after your perfect recovery, to send, or perhaps bring them. When I understood by Mr, Dean of his journey, or at least sending an express messenger to you with other letters ; putting me also in raind that perhaps it would not be unwelcome to you to hear from rae, though you forbore to answer : I yielded to the exaraple and con dition ; so much the rather, because I remembered rayself a debtor to your grace, by my promise of writing to you more fully touching the reasons of my difference with Mr. Cook, and now a suitor in your court at his instance. 464 letters. And first, I beseech your grace, let it be a matter merely of merriraent, that I skirmish a little with your court, touching the inhibition and citation which thence proceeded against rae, as you shaU perceive by the enclosed recusation. For the thing itself, as I have written, I do subrait it wholly to your grace's decision. And to en large myself a Uttle, not as to a judge, but a father ; to whora, beside the bond of your undeserved love, I am bound also by an oath of God ; I will pour out my heart unto you, even without craving pardon of my boldness. It will be perhaps sorae little diversion of your thoughts from your own infirmity, to understand that you suffer not alone, but you in body, others otherwise, each must bear his cross, and follow the steps of our high Master. My lord, since it pleased God to call me to this place in this Church, what my intentions have been to the dis charge of my duty, he best knows. But I have raet with many irapediments and discouragements, and chiefly from thera of mine own profession in religion. Concerning Mr. Hoil, I acquainted your grace. Sir Ed. Bagshaw, Sir Francis Hamilton, Mr. WilHara Flemming, and divers more, have been, and yet are, puUing from the rights of ray church. But all these have been light in respect of the dealing of sorae others professing me kindness, by whom I have been blazed a papist, an Arrainian, a neuter, a politi cian, an equivocator, a niggardly housekeeper, an usurer ; that I bow at the name of Jesus, pray towards the east ; would pull down the seat of my predecessor to set up an altar; denied burial in the chancel to one of his daughters; and to make up all, that I corapared your grace's preaching to one Mr. Whiskins, Mr. Creighton, and Mr. Baxter's, and preferred thera. That you found yourself deceived in rae, &c. These things have been reported at Dublin, and sorae of the best affected of raine own diocese (as hath been told rae) induced hereby to bewail with tears the misery of the Church ; some of the clergy also, as it was said, looking about how they might remove themselves out of this country. Of aU this I heard but little, tUl Mr. Price coraing from Dublin before Christmas to be ordered LETTERS. 465 deacon, having for his memory set down twelve articles, among a number of points more, required satisfaction of me concerning them. Which I endeavoured to give, both to him and to them of the ministry, that raet at our chap ter for the examination of Mr. Cook's patent. Omitting all the rest, yet because this venom hath spread itself so far, I cannot but touch the last, touching the preferring others' to your grace's preaching. To which Mr. Price's answer was, as he told me, " I will be quartered if this be true." Thus it was, Mr. Dunsterveil acquainted me with his purpose to preach out of Prov. chap. XX. ver, 6. " But a faithful man who can find?" Where, he said, the doctrine he raeant to raise was this, that faith is a rare gift of God. I told him I thought he mistook the mean ing of the text, and wished him to choose longer texts, and not to bring his discourses to a word or two of Scrip ture, but rather to declare those of the Holy Ghost. He said your grace did so. Sometiraes, I answered, there might be just cause; but I thought you did not so ordi narily. As for those raen, Mr. Whiskins and the rest, I never heard any of thera preach to this day. Peradven ture their raanner is to take larger texts ; whereupon the comparison is made, as if I preferred thera before you. This slander did not rauch trouble me ; I know your grace will not think me such a fool (if I had no fear of God) to prefer before your excellent gifts, raen that I never heard. But look, as the French proverb is, " He that is disposed to kill his dog, tells raen that he is raad." And whora men have once wronged, unless the grace of God be the more, they ever hate. Concerning the wrongs which these people have offered rae, I shall take another fit time to in form your grace. Where they say your grace doth find yourself deceived in rae, I think it may be the truest word they have said yet ; for indeed, I do think both you and many more are deceived in me, accounting me to have some honesty, discretion, and grace, more than you will by proof find. But if, as it seeras to rae, that forra hath this meaning, that they pretend to have undeceived you, I hope they are deceived. Yea, I hope they shaU be de- VOL. XV. H H 466 LETTERS. ceived, if by such courses as these they think to unsettle me, and the devU himself also, if he think to dismay me. " I will go on in the strength of the Lord God, and re member his righteousness, even his alone ;" as by that re verend and good father ray lord of Canterbury, when I first carae over, I was exhorted, and have obtained help of God to do unto this day. But bad I not work enough before, but I must bring Mr. Cook upon ray top? one that, for his experience, purse, friends, in a case already adjudged, wherein he is engaged, not only for his profit, but reputation also, wUl easily no doubt overturn me. How much better to study to be quiet, and do mine own business ? or, as I think, Stampitius was wont to bid Luther, go into my study and pray. My lord, all these things came to my mind, and at the first I came with a resolution to take heed to myself; and if I could, to teach others moderation and forbearance by raine own exaraple. But I could not be quiet; nor without pity hear the coraplaints of those that resorted to me, some of thera mine own neighbours and tenants, caUed into the court, coraraonly by inforraation of the apparitors, holden there without just cause, and not dismissed without excessive fees, as they exclaimed. Lastly, one Mr. Mayot, a minister of the diocese of Ardagh, made a complaint to me, that he was excommunicated by Mr. Cook ; notwith standing, as I heard also by others, the correction of mi nisters was excejited out of his patent. Whereupon I de sired to see the patent, and to have a copy of it, that I raight know how to govern myself. He said, Mr. Ash be ing then from home, should bring it me at his return : him self went to Dublin to the term. At the first view I saw it was a formless chaos of authority, conferred upon him against all reason and equity. I had not long after occa sion to caU the chapter together at the time of ordination: I showed the original, being brought forth by Mr. Ash, desired to know if that were the chapter-seal, and these their hands ; they acknowledged their hands and seal, and said, they were the less careful in passing it, because they accounted it did rather concern my predecessor than them. LETTERS. 467 I showed the false Latin, nonsense, injustice of it, preju dice to them, contrariety to itself, and to the king's grant to me. I showed there were in one period above 500. words, and which passed the rest, hanging in the air, without any principal verb. I desired them to consider if the seal hanging to it were the bishop's seal. They ac knowledged it was not. Therefore with protestation that I meant no way to call in question the sufficiency of Mr. Cook or his former acts, I did judge the patent to be void, and so declared it, inhibiting Mr. Cook to do any thing by virtue thereof, and them to assist him therein. This is the true history of this business, howsoever Mr. Cook disguises it, I suspended him not absent, et indicta causa. It was his commission which was present, that I viewed, with the chapter, and censured ; which if he can make good, he shall have leave, and time, and place enough. And now to accomplish my promise, to relate to your grace my purpose herein ; my lord, I do thus account, that to any work or enterprize, to remove impediraents is a great part of the perforraance : and amongst all the impe diments to the work of God amongst us, there is not any one greater than the abuse of ecclesiastical jurisdiction. This is not only the opinion of the most godly, judicious, and learned men that I have known, but the cause of it is plain : the people pierce not into the inward and true rea sons of things, they are sensible in the purse. And that religion that makes men that profess it, and shows them to be despisers of the world, and so far from encroaching upon others in raatter of base gain, as rather to part with their own, they magnify. This bred the admiration of the primitive Christians, and after of the monks. Contrary causes raust needs pro duce contrary effects. Wherefore let us preach never so painfully and piously; I say more, let us live never so blamelessly ourselves, so long as the officers in our courts prey upon thera, they esteem us no better than publicans and worldlings : and so rauch the more deservedly, be cause we are called spiritual men, and call ourselves re formed Christians. And if the honestest and best of our H H 2 ^¦"^ LETTERS, own protestants be thus scandalized, what may we think of papists, such as are all in a raanner that we Hve araong ? The tirae was, when I hoped the Church of Ireland was free from this abuse, at least freer than her sister of Eng land; but I find I am deceived. Whether it be that dis tance of place, and being further out of the reach of the sceptre of justice, breeds more boldness to offend, or ne cessarily brings more delay of redress, I have been wont also in Ireland to except one court, (as he doth Plato) : but trust rae, my lord, I have heard that it is said among great personages here, that my lord primate is a good man, but his court is as corrupt as others; some say worse. And which, I confess to your grace, did not a little terrify me from visiting, till I raight see how to do it with fruit; in that of your late visitation they see no pro fit, but the taking of money. But to come to Mr. Cook: of aU that have exercised jurisdiction in this land these late years, he is the most noted man, and most cried out upon. Insomuch as he hath found from the Irish the nick-narae of Pouc. And albeit he came off with credit when he was questioned, and jus tified hiraself by the table of fees, (as by a leaden rule any stone raay be approved as well-hewed) ; by that Httle I have met with since I came hither, I ara induced to beUeve it was not for lack of raatter, but there was some other cause of his escaping in that trial. By his pretended commission, and that table of fees, he hath taken in my predecessor's time, and seeks to take in mine for exhibits at visitations, and his charges there above the bishop's procurations ; for unions, sequestrations, relaxations, cer tificates, licences, permutations of penance, sentences (as our court calls them) interlocutory in causes of correction, &c. Such fees as I cannot in my conscience think to be just : and yet he doth it in my name, and tells me I cannot call him into question for it. Alas, my lord ! if this be the condition of a bishop, that he stands for a cypher, and only to uphold the wrongs of other men, what do I in this place ? am I not bound, by my profession, made to God in your presence, and foUowing your words, " To be gen- LETTERS. 469 tie and merciful, for Christ's sake, to poor and needy people, and such as be destitute of help?" Can I be ex cused another day with this, that thus it was ere I came to this place, and that it is not good to be over just? Or sith I am persuaded Mr. Cook's patent is unjust and void, am I not bound to make it so ? And to regulate, if I may, this matter of fees, and the rest of the disorders of the ju risdiction, which his Majesty hath betrusted rae withal? Your grace saith truly, it is a difficult thing, if not irapos sible, to overthrow a patent so confirraed ; and I know in deliberations, it is one of the raost iraportant considerations what we raay hope to effect. But how can I tell till I have tried ? To be discouraged ere I begin, is it not to consult with flesh and blood ? Verily I think so, and therefore must put it to the trial, and leave the success to God. If I obtain the cause, the profit shall be to this poor nation ; if not, I shall show my consent to those my reverend bre thren that have endeavoured to redress this enormity be fore me. I shall have the testimony of mine own con science to have sought to discharge my duty to God and his people. Yea, which is the main, the work of my mi nistry, and my service to this nation, shall receive further ance howsoever, rather than any hinderance thereby. And if by the continuance of such oppressions, any thing fall out otherwise than well, I shall have acquitted myself to wards his Majesty, and those that have engaged them selves for rae. At last I shall have the better reason and juster cause to resign to his Majesty the jurisdiction which I am not permitted to manage. And here I beseech your grace to consider seriously, whether it were not happy for us to be rid of this charge, which not being proper to our calling, nor possibly to be executed without deputies, as subjects us to the ill-conceit of their unjust or indiscreet carriage, and no way furthers our own work ? Or if it shall be thought fit to carry this load still, whether we ought not to procure some way to be discharged of the envy of it, and redress the abuse, with the greatest strict ness we can devise ? For my part, I cannot bethink me of any course fitter for the present, than to keep the courts 470 LETTERS. myself, and set some good order in them. And to this purpose I have been at Cavan, Granard, and Longford, &c. and do intend to go to the rest, leaving with some of the ministry there a few rules, touching those things that are to be redressed ; that if my health do not permit me to be always present, they may know how to proceed in mine absence. I find it to be true that TuUy saith, " Jus titia rairifica quadam res multitudini videtur ;" and cer tainly to our proper work a great advantage it is, to obtain a good opinion of those we are to deal with. But besides this, there faU out occasions to speak of God and his pre sence, of the religion of a witness, the danger of an oath, the purity of marriage, the preciousness of a good name, repairing of churches, and the like. Penance itself may be enjoined, and penitents reconciled, with some profit to others besides theraselves. Wherefore, albeit Mr. Cook were the justest chancellor in this kingdora, I would think it fit for rae, as things now stand, to sit in these courts ; and sith I cannot be heard in the pulpits to preach as I may in thera (although innocency and justice is also a real kind of preaching) I have showed your grace my intentions in this matter. Now should I require your direction in many things, if I were present with you. But for the present it may please you to understand, that at Granard, one Mr. Nugent, a nephew as I take it to ray lord of Westmeath, delivered his letter to Mr. Aske, which he delivered me in open court, requiring that his tenants might not be troubled for christenings, marriages, or funerals, so they pay the minister his due. This re ferred to a letter of ray lord ChanceUor's to the like pur pose, which yet was not delivered till the court was risen. I answered generally, that none of my lord's tenants, or others, should be wronged. The like motion was raade at Longford by two or three of the Farrells, and Mr. Fa- garah in Ross; to whom I gave the like answer; and added, that I would be strict in requiring them to bring their chUdren to be baptized, and marriages to be solem nized likewise with us, sith they acknowledge these to be lawful and true ; so as it was but wilfulness if any forbear. LETTERS. 471 Here 1 desire your grace to direct me ; for to give way that they should not be so much as called in question, seeras to further the schism they labour to make. To lay any pecuniary mulct upon them, as the value of a license for marriage, three or four shillings for christening, I know not by what law it can be done. To excomrauni- cate thera for not appearing or obeying, they being al ready none of our body, and a multitude, it is to no profit, nay rather makes the exacerbation worse. Many things more I have to confer with your grace about, which I hope to do coram ; as about the re-edifying of churches, or employing the mass-houses (which now the state inquires of), about books, testaments, and the comraon-prayer book ; which being to be reprinted, would perhaps be in some things bettered : but specially about men to use them, and means to maintain them, now that our EngUsh have engrossed their living : about the print ing the Psalter, which I have caused to be more dili gently surveyed by Mr. James Nangle, who adviseth not to raeddle with the verse, but set forth only the prose, which he hath begun to write out fair to the press. Mr. Mortagh King I have not heard of a long tirae, I hope he goeth on in the historical books of the Old Tes taraent. Mr. Crian was with me about a fortnight after I came to Kilmore, since I heard not of him. Of all these things, if by the will of God I raay make a journey over to you, we shall speak at full. As I was closing up these, this raorning, there is a coraplaint brought rae frora Ardagh, that where in a cause matriraonial, in the court at Longford, a woman had proceeded thus far, as after contestation, the husband was enjoined to appear the next court to receive a libel; one Shane-Oge in Ingarney, the popish vicar-general of Ardagh, had excommunicated her ; and she was by one Hubart in Cairil, a popish priest, upon Sunday last, put out of the church, and denounced excoraraunicate. Herein, whether it were raore fit to proceed against the vicar and priest, by virtue of the last letters from the council ; or complain to them, I shall attend your grace's 472 LETTERS. advice. And now for very shame, ceasing to be trouble sorae, I do recommend your grace to the protection of our merciful Father, and rest. Your Grace's in all duty, WILL. KILMORE AND ARDAGHEN. Kilmore, Feb, 15. 1629. LETTERS. 473 LETTER CLXI. THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH TO THE BISHOP OF KILMORE. Salutem in Christo Jesu. I THANK your Lordship for the great pains you have taken in writing so large a letter unto me ; and especially for putting me in raind of that corafortable place of the apostle, which you mention in the beginning thereof. But as for the raatter of merriraent, as you call it, con tained in your enclosed recusation, I confess ray igno rance to have been such, that I understand not where the jest lay : yet when I showed it to those that had better skill in the law than myself, I saw that they did heartily laugh at it : whose reasons I had no list to examine, but referred the scanning thereof to the judex ad quem, to whom the cognizance of this matter now properly be longeth. Most of the slanders wherewith you were so much trou bled, I never heard of till you now mentioned them your self; only the course which you took with the papists was generally cried out against: neither do I reraeraber, in all my Hfe, that any thing was done here by any of ours, at which the professors of the Gospel did take more offence, or by which the adversaries were more confirmed in their superstitions and idolatry. Whereas I could wish, that you had advised with your brethren, before you would adventure to pull down that which they have been so long a building ; so I raay boldly aver, that they have abused grossly both of us, who reported unto you, that I should give out, that I found myself deceived in you. What you did, I know was done out of a good intention, but I was '^'^'^ LETTERS. assured that your project would be so quickly refuted with the present success and event, that there would be no need that your friends should advise you to desist frora building such castles in the air. Of Mr. Whiskins, Mr. Creighton, and Mr. Baxter's preaching, I heard not a word tUl now. Would God that aU the Lord's people might prophesy, and there might be thousands of his faithful servants that might go beyond rae in doing our Master's work : the spirit that is in rae, I trust, shaU never lust after such envy. For your judging of Mr. Cook's patent to be void, and so judicially declaring it, I wish you would not be too forward in standing upon that point. To pronounce in a judicial raanner of the validity or invalidity of a patent, is no office of the ecclesiastical, but of the civil raagistrate ; and for the one to intromit himself into the judicature of that which appertaineth to another, you know draweth to a preraunire. Coraplaints I know will be made against ray court, and your court, and every court wherein vice shall be pun ished, and that not by delinquents alone, but also by their landlords, be they protestants or others, who in this country care not how their tenants Uve, so they pay them their rents. I learned of old in ^Eschylus, Kar apxvQ ^iXainog XEoig, and if they that be in the like authority, will be ready to receive such accusations against their brethren, every one wiU judge that there is less cause why they should be pitied, when they are served so them selves. The way to help this is not to take away the jurisdiction of the chancellors, and to put it into the bishops' hands alone. All bishops are not like my lord of Kilmore. I know a bishop in this land, who exerciseth the juris diction himself; and I dare boldly say, that there is more injustice and oppression to be found in him alone, than in all the chancellors in the whole kingdora put together; and though I do not justify the taking of fees without good ground, yet I may truly say, of a great part of mine own, and of many other bishops' dioceses, that if men LETTERS. 475 stood not more in fear of the fees of the court, than of standing in a white sheet, we should have here among us another Sodom and Gomorrah. Your course of taking pains in keeping courts yourself, I will commend, so that you condemn not them that think they have reason why they should do otherwise. As for myself, mecum habito, and am not ignorant, quara sit mihi curta supellex. My chancellor is better skilled in the law than I am, and far better able to manage matters of that kind; suam quisque norit artera, runneth still in my raind ; and how easy a matter it is for a bishop that is ignorant in the law, to do wrong unto others, and run hiraself into a preraunire ; and where wrong is done, I know right raay raore easily be had against a chancellor than against a bishop. If my chancellor doth wrong, the star-chamber lieth open, where I will be the man that will cast the first stone at him myself, as I did for the remov ing and censuring of him whora I found at ray first coraing into the diocese of Meath. And as for my late visiting of your dioceses, your lord ship need not a whit be terrified therewith. It is not to be expected that an archbishop passing through a whole province upon a sudden, should be able to perform that which a bishop may do by leisure, in his every year's visi tation: neither may the archbishop raeddle with the rcfor raation of any thing but what is presented ; if any such presentation were made, and reformation of the abuse neglected, there is cause to complain of the visitation. But as for the taking of raoney, your lordship will find, that when you corae next to visit yourself, there will be great odds betwixt the sura that ought to be paid unto you, and that which was delivered unto rae ; and yet if your clergy can get but half so much for their money from you, as they did frora me, they raay say, you were the best bishop that ever carae araong them. When the clergy of the diocese of Ardagh was be trayed into the hands of their adversaries, (a quibus mi- nirae oraniuraoportuerat) and like to be so overborne, that many of them could scarce have a bit of bread left them 476 LETTERS. to put in their mouths ; I stood then in the gap, and op posed myself for them against the whole country, and stayed that plague. In the other diocese of KUmore, when complaint was made against the clergy by that knave, whom, they say, your lordship did absolve, I took him in hand, and if the clergy had not failed in the prosecution, would have bound him fast enough, without asking any question for conscience sake, whether he were of our communion or no. And whereas they held their means, as it were, by courtesy from the state, I took the pains myself to raake up the table of all their tithes and duties ; and at this very instant am working in England to have it firmly estab lished unto them by his Majesty's authority. And yet the sums of raoney which they paid me, were not so great, but that I could raake a shift to spend it in defraying the charges of the very journey. I am a fool, I know, in thus commending, or defending rather, myself; but consider who constrained me. The writings which you sent rae, I had long before frora the sarae hand which sent them unto you : I should be glad to hear your judgment of thera, and would be glad also to go on in further answering of the remain of your letter, but that I am quite tired ; and what I have written, I fear will not be so pleasing unto you. What resteth, I partly refer to Mr. Dean's relation, and partly to our conference when we shall next meet, where many things raay be more fitly delivered by word of mouth, than committed to a letter. In the mean time I com mend you to the blessing of our good God, and ever rest, Your raost assured loving friend, and brother, (notwithstanding any unkind passages which raay have slipped from me in this letter) JA. ARMACHANUS. Drogheda, Feb. 23. 1629. LETTERS. 477 LETTER CLXII. THE RIGHT REV. WILLIAM LAUD, BISHOP OF LONDON, TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. My VERY GOOD Lord, I THANK your grace heartily for your letters, especially for the preface of this your last. It is true, ray lord, God hath restored rae, even from death itself, for I think no man was farther gone and escaped. And your grace doth very Christian-like put rae in mind that God having renewed ray lease, I should pay him an income of some service to his Church ; which I hope, in the strength of his grace, I shall ever be willing, and sometirae able to perforra. I have not yet recovered the great weakness into which ray sickness cast me, but, I hope, when the spring is come forward, my strength will increase, and enable me to service. In the mean time, my lord, as weak as I have been, I have begun to pay my fine ; but what the sura comes to, God knows, is very little. Your table of the tithes of Ulster and the business concerning the impropriations, are both past; and concerning both, I leave myself to Mr. Hygat's report. As touching the deanery of Armagh, I ara glad to hear that any place of preferraent in that kingdora hath so good raeans of subsistence without tithes. But I raust needs acquaint your grace, that neither ray lord of Win chester, that now is, nor Dr. LindseU, did ever acquaint me with your grace's purpose, of drawing Johannes Ge- rardus Vossius into those parts ; had I known it in time, the business might have been easier than now it will be. 478 LETTERS. For, first, upon an atterapt raade by the lord Brook to bring Vossius into England, to be a reader in Cambridge, the States allowed him better maintenance, and were unwilling to have him come ; and hiraself was not very willing, in regard of his wife, and raany children, being loath to bring thera from their kindred and friends into a strange place. And if he were unwilling upon these grounds to come into England, I doubt whether he will venture to Ireland or no. But, secondly, my lord; since this, my lord duke in his life-time procured hira of his Majesty the reversion of a prebend in Canterbury, which is since fallen ; and Vos sius carae over into England in the time of ray infirmity, and was installed, and I was glad I had the happiness to see him. After he had seen both the universities, he returned home again, and within these two days I re ceived a letter frora hira of the safety of his return thi ther. The church of Canterbury, notwithstanding his absence, allow hira an hundred pounds a year, as they forraerly did to Mr. Casaubon. Now, I think, the pre bend of Canterbury (would he have been priest, and re sided upon it) would have been as rauch to hira as the deanery of Arraagh. But howsoever, my lord, the king having given him that preferment already, will hardly be brought to give him another, especially considering what I could write unto you, were it fit. Nevertheless, out of my love to the work you mention, if you can prevaU with Vossius to be wUUng, and that it raay appear the deanery of Arraagh wiU be of sufficient means for him and his numerous family, if your grace then certify me of it, I wiU venture to speak, and do such offices as shaU be fit. And now, my lord, for your own business, Mr. Archi bald HamUton, who it seeras, by your grace's letters, is your agent here, hath not as yet been with me; but whensoever he shall come, he shaU be very welcome; and I hope your grace knows, I wiU be very ready to do that Church and you the best service I can. As I had written thus far, Mr. HamUton came to me; so that now I shaU inform myself, as weU as I can, of your lordships LETTERS. 479 business, which he tells me is perplexed by some to whom it was formerly referred. His Majesty is now going to Newmarket, so that till his return, little or nothing can be done ; but so soon as he comes back, I will not be wanting to that part which shall be laid upon me. I formerly writ to your grace about divers businesses, and I have received your answer to the most of them, only to one particular you have answered nothing, which makes me think that letter scarce came safe to your hands : it is about the bishoprick of Kilfenora, which is so poor in itself, that no man asks it of the king ; and his Majesty is graciously pleased that your lordship would think of some good parsonage, or vicarage, or donative, that might for ever be annexed unto it. And though nothing be now perchance actually void to fit this pur pose, yet I conceive the annexation raay be presently made, though the profit arising from the thing come not to the bishop till it become void. I pray your grace take as much care of this as possibly you can, and let me hear from you what may be done. This letter, my lord, is a great deal too long ; but so many occasions would not suffer it to be shorter. I wish you all health, and so leave you to the grace of God, ever resting. Your Grace's loving poor friend. And brother, GUIL. LONDON. Lond. House, Feb. 23, 1629, 480 LETTERS. LETTER CLXIII. THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH TO DR. SAMUEL WARD. Salutem a salutis fonte D. N, Jesu Christo. Your letter of the 24th of November baited by the way almost a quarter of a year before it came into ray hands, but was the most welcome when it carae of any that ever I did receive frora you, as bringing with it the joyful news of your life, together with the godly caveat of putting us in raind of our subjection to the law of mor tality. Which instruction God did shortly after really seal unto rae by his fatherly chastisement, whereby he brought me even unto the pit's brink, and when I had re ceived in myself the sentence of death, was graciously pleased to renew the lease of my life again : that I might learn not to trust in myself, but in Him^ which raised the dead. Our comfort is, that* Ufe as well as death, and death as well as life, are equally ours. " For" whether we live we live unto the Lord ; and whether we die we die unto the Lord : whether we live therefore or die we are the Lord's." I heartily thank you for your large relation of the state of your differences there. Let me intreat you to take pre sent care that a fair copy be taken as well of your lectures touching grace and freewill, as of others touching the eu charist, which I rauch desire you should finish, that it raay not be said of you, as it hath been noted of Drs. » 2 Cor. chap. 1. ver, 9. " 1 Cor. chap. 3. ver. 22. >: Rom, chap. 14. ver, 18. LETTERS. 481 Whitaker, Danaeus, and Charaier, that God took thera all away in the raidst of their handling of that arguraent, making an end of thera before they made an end of that controversy. It is great pity your lectures should be ha zarded in uno exemplari ; two at least I would have, and preserved in two diverse places ; lest that befall to them which happened to Dr, Raynolds his answer to Sanders touching the king's supremacy, (a copy whereof I have by God's good providence recovered), and his writing of Christ's descent into hell, (which I fear is utterly abo lished.) Mr. Vossius having some notice that I intended to pub lish Marianus Scotus, (who printed fragraents of his chro nicle being scarce worthy to be accounted his), sent rae word that he Hkewise had a like intention to print the same out of a MS. copy which he received from Andr. Schottus, and desired that either I would receive his notes for the setting forward of that edition, or else send unto him what I had in that kind. I purpose to send unto hira my transcripts, both of Marianus himself, and of his abridger, Robertus Lotharingus, bishop of Hereford; as also the history of Gottheschalcus, and the predestination controversy moved by him, which I ara now a making up. Whereunto I insert two confessions of Gottheschalcus hiraself, never yet printed, which I had frora Jacobus Sir mondus. I touch there also that comraentitious heresy of the predestinations., which was but a nicknarae that the Semi-Pelagians put upon the followers of St. Augustine, who is raade the author thereof in the Chronicle of Tiro Prosper, whose words in the MS. are, " Predestinatorum haeresis, quae ab Augustine accepisse dicitur initium," not as in the printed books, " ab Augustini libris male intel- lectis ;" for which I desire you should look your MS. Pros per, which is joined with Eusebius his Chronicle in Bennet coUege Ubrary. I should wish also that when you carae thither you would transcribe for rae Gulielraus Malmes buriensis his short preface before his abbreviation of Ama larius, (which is there in volurae 167.) and Scotus De perfectione statuum, (which is there in volurae 391. VOL. XV. I I 482 LETTERS. cum tragcedus Senecae) if it be but a short discourse. I remember the master of that college (who is now with God) did show rae in his own private library a MS. copy of that Rathrannus whora you did transcribe out of the other copy of the coUege library. It were good that raanuscript were looked after ; which when you have compared with your transcript, I expect to receive a copy thereof, according to your promise when I delivered your own book unto you. I have written a large censure of the Epistles of Igna tius, which I forward to pubUsh before I have received a transcript of the Latin Ignatius which you have in Caius College*- If I could certainly have learned that Mr. Tho mas Whaley had been in Cambridge, I should have written to him for procuring it unto me. I have a friend in Emma nuel College that hath taken some pains therein already. But if both fail I must make you my last refuge. What soever charges shall be requisite for the transcription Mr. Burnet will see defrayed. You have done me a great pleasure in communicating unto me ray lord of Salisbury and your own determination touching the efficacy of baptisra in infants ; for it is an ob- ^ scure point, and such as I desire to be taught in by such as you are, rather than deliver mine own opinion thereof. My lord of Derry hath a book ready for the press, wherein he handleth at full the controversy of perseverance and the certainty of salvation. He there determineth that point \ of the efficacy of baptism far otherwise than you do : ac- ' comraodating hiraself to tbe opinion more vulgarly received among us ; to which he applieth sundry sentences out of St. Augustine ; and among others that De baptismo: " Sa- craraenta in soUs electis hoc vere efficiunt quod figurant." Upon the receipt of your letter of the 11th of January, I presently sent to the court for a copy of Sir John Brere- ton's wiU, which I send you herewith testified under mine own hand, and the registers. As soon as the inventory is put in, you shaU have a copy thereof likewise. You shaU 1 Vol, 152, of Dr, James his Catalogue, LETTERS. 483 not need to send over hither any agent ; I shall be ready myself to do any thing for you here that you shall judge requisite for the following of that business, being very glad that I have an occasion offered to do any pleasure to that society (from which I received such kindness at my being there) and to yourself especially, unto whora I always de sire to approve myself. Your most assured loving Friend and brother, JA. ARMACHANUS. Drogheda, March 15. 1629. I pray you remeraber my kindest respects to your good wife ; whose great care of me (when you had me for a troublesome guest) I have great cause not to forget. 11^ 484 LETTERS. LETTER CLXIV. THE LORD BISHOP OF KILMORE TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. Most Rev. Father, my Hon. good Lord, The superscription of your grace's letters was raost welcorae unto me, as bringing under your own hand, the best evidence of the recovery of your health ; for which I did, and do give hearty thanks unto God. For the contents of thera, as your grace conceived, they were not so pleasant; but " the wounds of a friend are faithful," saith the wise man : sure, they are no less painful than any other. Unkindness cuts nearer to the heart than malice can do. I have some experience by your grace's said letters : concerning which I have been at some debate with myself, whether I should answer them with David's deraand : " What have I now done ?" Or as the wrongs of parents, with patience and silence. But Mr. Dean telling me, that this day he is going to wards you, I will speak once, come of it what will. You writ, " That the course I took with the papists was generally cried out against ; neither do you remem ber, in all your life, that any thing was done here by any of us, at which the professors of the Gospel did take more offence, or by which the adversaries were more con firmed in their superstitions and idolatry. Wherein you could wish, that I had advised with my brethren, before I would adventure to pull down that which they have been so long a building. Again, what I did, you know was done out of a good intention ; but you were assured that my project would be so quickly refuted, with the present LETTERS, 485 success and event, that there would be no need my friends should advise me from building such castles in the air," &c. My lord, all this is a riddle to me. What course I have taken with the papists ; what I have done, at which the professors of the Gospel did take such offence, or the adversaries were so confirmed: what it is that I have adventured to do, or what piece so long a building, I have pulled down : what those projects were, and those castles in the air so quickly refuted with present success, as the Lord knows, I know not. For truly, since I came to this place, I have not changed one jot of my purpose, or practice, or course with papists, frora that which I held in England, or in Trinity coUege, or found, I thank God, any ill success, but the slanders only of sorae persons discontented against me for other occasions: against which I cannot hope to justify rayself, if your grace will give ear to private inforraations. But let rae know, I will not say ray accuser, (let him continue masked till God discover hira,) but my transgression, and have place of defence ; and if mine adversary write a book against me, I will hope to bear it on ray shoulder, and bind it to rae as a crown. For ray recusation of your court, and advertisement what I heard thereof, I see they have stirred, not only laughter, but some coals too. Your chancellor desires me to acquit him to you, that he is none of those officers I meant : I do it very willingly ; for I never meant him, nor any raan else ; but thought it concerned your grace to know what I credibly heard to be spoken concerning your court. Neither, as God knows, did I ever think it was fit to take away the jurisdiction frora chancellors, and put it into the bishops' hands alone ; or so much as in a dream condemn those that think they have reason to do otherwise, nor tax your grace's visitation ; nor imagine you would account that to pertain to your reproof, and take it as a wrong from rae, which out of my duty to God and you, I thought was not to be concealed from you. I beseech you pardon me this one error, si unquam post- 486 LETTERS. hac. For that knave whom, as your grace writes, they say I did absolve ; I took him for one of my flock, or rather Christ's, for whora he shed his blood. And I would have absolved Julian the apostata under the sarae form. Some other passages there be in your grace's letters, which I but I will lay mine hand upon mine mouth. And craving the blessing of your prayers, ever remain. Your Grace's poor brother. And humble servant, WILL. KILMORE AND ARDAGHEN. Kilmore, March 29. 1630. LETTERS. 487 LETTER CLXV. THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH TO THE LORDS JUSTICES. My MOST Honoured Lords, I received a letter from your lord ships, without any date, wherein I am required to de clare what motives I can allege for the stopping of Sir John Bathe's patent, Whereunto I answer : that I cannot, nor need not, pro duce any other reason, than that which I have done ; and for the maintenance of the sufficiency whereof, I will adventure all I am worth, naraely, that for the particular now in question, Sir John Bathe's letter hath been gotten frora his Majesty by racer surreption, and therefore no patent ought to be passed thereupon. For although I easily grant, that ray lord treasurer, and the chancellor of the exchequer, raight certify unto his Majesty, that there was no other thing left to be passed here but irapropria- tions, (though Sir John Bathe, I think, hath found alrea dy soraewhat else to be passed in his book, and raay do more if he will not be so hasty, but take tirae to inquire) : yet how doth it appear that either of these two noble gentleraen did as rauch as know, that his Majesty had taken a forraer order for the settleraent of these things upon the Church? To which resolution had they been privy, I do so presume of their nobleness and care of the public good, that the remittal of a raatter of two thousand pounds, would not induce thera to divert his Majesty from making good that precious donation, which (by the ex ample of his father, of never-dying memory) he had solemnly devoted to God and his Church: such an exi- 488 LETTERS. mions act of piety, as is not to be countervalued by two, or twenty thousand pounds of any earthly treasure. But whatsoever they knew, or knew not of his Majesty's own pious resolution, and constant purpose, never to revoke that which he hath once given unto God ; I rest so confi dent, as I dare pawn ray Ufe upon it, that when he did sign those letters of Sir John Bathe's, he had not the least intiraation given unto him, that this did any way cross that former gift which he raade unto the Church, upon so great and raature deliberation, as being grounded upon the advice, first, of the commissioners sent into Ire land ; then, of the lords of the council upon their report in England ; thirdly, of king James, that ever blessed father of the Church ; and lastly, of the comraissioners for Irish affairs, unto whora for the last debating and con clusion of this business, I was by his now Majesty referred myself at my being in England. I know Sir John and his council do take notice of all those reasons that may seem to raake any way for them selves. But your lordships raay do well to consider, that such letters as these have come before now, wherein rectories have been expressly naraed, and those general non obstantes also put, which are usual in this kind : and yet notwithstanding all this, his Majesty intimateth unto you in his last letters, that he wUl take a time to examine those proceedings, and punish those that then had so little regard to the particular and direct expression of his royal pleasure for the disposing of the impropriations to the general benefit of the Church: which whether it car rieth not with it a powerful non obstante to that surrep- tious grant now in question : I hold it raore safe for your lordships to take advice araong yourselves, than frora any other body's counsel, who think it their duty to speak any thing for their client's fee. As for the want of attestation, wherewith the credit of the copy of a letter transmitted unto you is laboured to be impaired : if the testimony of my lord of London, who procured it, and the bishop elect of Kilfenora, who is the bringer of it, and of a dean and an archdeacon now in lETTERS. 489 Ireland, who themselves saw it, will not suffice ; it will not be many days, in all likelihood, before the original itself shall be presented to your lordships. In the raean time, I desire (and more than desire, if I may presume to go so far) that your lordships will stay your hands from passing Sir John Bathe's patent, until my lord of London himself shall signify his Majesty's further pleasure unto you in this particular. And if my zeal hath carried me any way further than duty would require, I beseech your lordships to consider, that I deal in a cause that highly concerneth the good of the Church, unto which I profess I owe my whole self; and therefore, craving pardon for this my boldness, I humbly take leave, and rest, stUl to continue Your Lordships' in all Dutiful observance, J. A. Drogheda, April 3, 1630, 490 LETTERS. LETTER CLXVI. INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN TO MR. DEAN LESLY, APRIL 5. 1630. FOR THE STOPPING OF SIR JOHN BATHE's PATENT. 1. You are to inform yourself whether Sir John Bathe's patent be already sealed ; and if it be, whether it were done before Saturday, (which was the day wherein I received and answered the lords justices' letters touching this business ; and at whicb time they signified the patent was as yet unpast) and use all speedy means that the pa tent raay not be delivered into Sir John Bathe's hands be fore you be heard to speak what you can against it, and if that also be done, I authorize you to signify unto the lords justices, that I raust and will complain against them to his sacred Majesty. 2. You are to go unto Sir James Ware^ the younger from me, and inquire of him whether he gave any certifi cate unto my lord treasurer and the chancellor of the ex chequer, that the king had not of temporal lands the an nual rent of three hundred pounds to grant in reversion ; but that of necessity must be supplied with the grant of the reversion of tithes impropriate. And withal, learn of him, to what value the temporal rents, not yet passed in reversion, do arise ; and what proportion thereof Sir John Bathe is now a passing in his book. 3. Whereas the lords justices in their letter do signify unto me that such a certificate had been made unto his Majesty by the lord treasurer and chancellor of the ex- " Sir James Ware the younger made no certificate, but upon conference with Sir Francis Cottingham, Sir James told him that there was but Uttle left in lease to the value, but impropriations. LETTERS. 491 chequer ; you may certify them that Sir John Bathe sent unto me a certificate under their hands to view ; wherein they do inform his Majesty, that in their judgments the granting of three hundred pounds rent in reversion, will countervail the sum which Sir John was to remit; but that there was no other thing left to be passed but impro priations, which is the main thing that concerns this busi ness ; that, to ray remembrance, they meddle not with at all ; and Sir John Bathe by the temporal lands that now he is passing in his book, doth prove it to be otherwise. 4. Take a view of Sir John Bathe's letter, and consider (with your council) first, whether there be any general non obstante in it against all precedent instructions and directions, of which I much doubt. And*, secondly, whether any such general non obstante have power to cross the particular letter (which in ray apprehension is more than an instruction at large) which I brought over from his Majesty, that now is, for the disposing ofthe im propriations otherwise. 5. Let Sir John Bathe be deraanded upon his con science, whether he did so much as know that I had ob tained any such letter from his Majesty when he procured his? If he did, why did he not (to take away all suspicion of surreption) cause a special non obstante to be inserted against it, as well as he hath done against another particu lai- instruction, mentioned in the end of his letter ? If he did not, (as his kinsman, who brought me the lords jus tices' letters assured me he did not,) how in any comraon intendment can it be presumed that the particularities of my former letter were taken into due consideration, and revoked by his Majesty? If it be alleged, that his letter coming after mine, is of itself a sufficient revocation there of: I allege in like manner, that this last letter of raine coraing after his, is of itself a sufficient revocation of his; and so much the more by far, because his was obtained upon my direct complaint against Sir John Bathe's letter, as surreptitiously procured, (which I take to be a non ob- •> As is aUeged in the lords justices' letters. 492 LETTERS. stante sufficient enough against him, whatsoever it be against any other :) whereas in the procuring of Sir John Bathe's there was no notice at all taken of my particular letter. 6. You are to put the lords justices in mind (frora rae) that in the instructions which they received with the sword, they are authorized to make stay ofthe passing of any grant, for which the king's letters are brought unto them, where they have cause to doubt, whether his Ma jesty were fully informed or no, concerning the conve niency or inconveniency of that particular. Wherein, if my lord of London's letter be not of authority sufficient otherwise to raake a legal attestation of his Majesty's royal intendment : yet, I suppose, it will carry so much weight with it, as to stay their hands a little while longer, (as they have done hitherto, when they had nothing so strong a motive) until his Majesty, being fully informed upon both sides, shall signify his express pleasure unto them in this particular. And in doing otherwise, they may justly con ceive, that it will be charged upon them for a neglect in performance of his Majesty's pleasure. LETTERS. 493 LETTER CLXVII. the right rev. george downham, bishop of london derry, to the archbishop of armagh. Most Reverend, My very good lord. The book and papers which you were pleased to send to me, I have now returned with thanks. Of which I raade this use as soon as I had received thera, that I gave directions to Mr. Price to insert those additions unto the 13th chapter of Perseverance, and sect. 3. both in the beginning, whereof I spake of adulti, of whom properly this controversy is understood. And in the end thereof, where I speak of infants, touching whom, I say first, that this controversy is not understood of those, who neither are endued with habit of grace, nor are able to produce the acts thereof, as not having the use of reason. And therefore being neither justified by faith, nor sanctified by the habits of grace, cannot be said to fall from them. Thus I thought good to rid rayself of that question, rather than to profess a difference frora them, who, notwithstanding that objection taken from baptism, agree with me in the doctrine of perseverance ; yet I must profess to your grace, that I do not subscribe to their opinion, who extend the benefit of baptisra beyond either the purpose or covenant of grace. But hereof more when it shall please God to give us a meeting. In the mean tirae, and always, I coraraend your grace to the gracious protection of the Alraighty ; in whora I ever rest, Your Grace's in all duty, GEORG. DERENS. Fawne, April 24, 1630, 494 LETTERS. LETTER CLXVIII. MR. JOSEPH MEDE TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. Right Rev. and my most honoured Lord, I MAKE no question but your college is far better provided of a provost than it would have been of me, who never could persuade myself I was fit to be the head and governor of the only seminary of a kingdora. And therefore though ray name were the second tirae brought upon the stage, yet it was without consent or pri vity of raine. Indeed a proposition was raade unto me upon Mr. Bedell's preferment, (and before the news there of was sent to him) whether I would accept the place in case I were again chosen thereto. Unto which because I answered not by a direct and categorical denial, but only alleged divers reasons, both from mine own unfitness in di vers respects, and other circurastances which raight and did deter me therefrom, leaving them who made the mo tion to infer the conclusion ; it pleased some (to whora I am yet beholden for their affection) so to interpret it, as if in modesty only I had by such a kind of answer concealed my willingness : which as soon as I understood, and that some (Sir Nathaniel Rich by narae) endeavoured upon the motion of some others to procure me to be naraed by his Majesty, I presently took him off, and that so effectually as he stirred no more ; though perhaps I was not a little blamed by some of ray friends for so doing. But enough of this. For ray Clavis, I am afraid that reverend archbishop LETTERS. 495 your lordship nameth values it far more than it deserveth ; though it may be something I have by God's goodness discovered toward the better understanding of that book ; which if I have, the praise be to God alone, to whom it is only due. But I cannot imagine what those additions thereto should be, which your lordship saith you received out of the north of Ireland. I sent a copy or two to Franeker to Doctor Ames ; he sends one of them to Daniel Lawenus, an ancient student in those parts in that prophecy, (whose Apparatus to a bigger volume of many years study was printed the same year,) desiring his censure of it. He finding it not to suit with his notions, wrote presently Stricturae in Clavem Apocalypticam, not knowing my name, but calling rae Synchronista ; and sometimes seeraed to be very angry in his confutation of me, though he agreed with me in the mainest paradox of all. He sends it to doctor Ames, as I suppose not intending me. But the doctor dispatcheth it to me, together with his printed book, for my better understanding his meaning ; desires to receive again from me what I thought fit to oppose by way of defence. Thus unwittingly I made rayself work, yet such as in the doing I at length found sorae benefit by, having my torpid thoughts revived and quickened, and the second time more able to wield any notions than they were at the beginning. But I should admire if your lord ship had seen a copy of this. For besides that I sent into Friseland, I conceive not how any other should get abroad, having, as I thought, kept mine own copy private in my study. That touching the years of Israel and Judah, I know not what it should be, unless that the 40. years of Judah's sin, for which the prophet* lay so many days upon his right side, were the years of Manasse's idolatry, to which the Scripture particularly ascribes their captivity, 2. Kings, chap. XXIV. ver. 3. and chap. XXIII. ver. 26. Jer. chap. XV. ver. 4. Which I thought had been a novelty, and "- Ezek. chap. 4. ver. 6. 496 LETTERS. cried EvprfKa ; but since I find it to be the opinion of R. Kimchi, whom I suppose also the first author thereof. Salianus'' adds Hieronymus (not Josephus) de Prado, and Funccius ; but I never looked them. It was but a con jecture, which, had it been new, I conceived would not have been altogether unacceptable to your lordship, whom yet far be it from rae to teach or inforra, but only to be better instructed or confirmed by your lordship's pro- founder judgment. Presently after my Clavis was printed, I drew, at the entreaty of some friends, Specimina interpretationum Apocalypticarum ad araussira Clavis Apocalypticse ; which finding beyond ray expectation or raerit to be accepted, I have since gone more largely through some part thereof, as the description of the Theatrum Apocalypticum, chap. IV. The six seals and seven trurapetsunto the eleventh chapter : the rest is yet but Speciraina, as it was in the beginning; the last chapter whereof I once sent your lordship, naraely De raillennio. But could I have gotten an orthographical scribe, I would have sent your lordship all ere this, both Speciraina and the larger expositions upon the first half. But I had no such of raine own, and those who have are not so kind as to lend thera for any hire. And for rayself, I should never get through that which is raine own, without everlasting raending, blur ring, and pausing at every sentence to alter it. I am ex ceedingly sorry for the death of Buxtorf and Amama, especially the latter, as being but now in flore, and one that had a natural genius to enlighten the text of Scripture, and to find the notion of the sacred lan guage. If Ireland will not spend the remainder of ray para- phlets, if your lordship have opportunity to send them, I shall willingly entertain them again, their fellows being all gone. Thus, with my most humble service reraerabered to '' Annal. Eccles, tom, 4, LETTERS. 497 your gracious lordship, desiring the God of heaven to bless and preserve your grace, I rest, and am Your Lordship's most ready To be commanded, JOSEPH MEDE. Christ's College, May 4, 1630. VOL. XV. K K 498 LETTERS. LETTER CLXIX. THE RIGHT REV. THOMAS MORTON, BISHOP OF COVENTRY AND LITCHFIELD, TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. Salutem in Christo Jesu. Most Reverend, I WAS right glad to receive, by your grace's own letters, the report of your late almost despe rate sickness ; they being therein the messengers of your present health. Wherein I and others are to acknow ledge the mercy of God unto us, who hath preserved you to be still a most eminent instrument of his glory, and comfort of his Church. I do also condole with your lord ship the loss of those rare lights of learning mentioned m your letter ; but yet enjoying also with you the hopes of their blessedness. Your grace inquires after Christ his mass, a fruit which will not be in season before Michael mas. I have an eager longing to be made partaker His- toricae controversiae predestinatianae, together with your new edition of altering the Jesuit's challenge. I had the sight of your adversary's book, but obiter ; at what time I alight on a palpable falsification of his ; but ea est infelici- tas memoriee, that I have forgot it ; else, according to my duty, I should have acquainted your grace with it. Good, my lord, that which our outward man denieth, let our inward continually seek to embrace and enjoy, our mu tual presence by brotherly affection, and holy prayer unto God, that we may be that which we profess, filii gratise et charitate fratres. Our Lord Jesus preserve us to the glory of his saving grace. Your Grace's in Respectful acknowledgment, THO. COVENT. AND LITCHFIELD. Eecleshall-Castle, May 21. 1630. LETTERS. 499 LETTER CLXX. DR. WARD TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. Mo,sT Rev. and my very good Lord, I RECEIVED your lordship's letters, sent by Mr. Stubbin ; by which I understood of your lordship's late recovery, even from the jaws of death ; but more fully by Mr. Stubbin himself, who related unto me the great hazard your lordship was in, by so excessive bleeding so many days together, as is most incredible. So that as it is said of Abraham^ that he received his son frora the dead, ev TrapafBoXij ; so we all, even God's Church, have received your lordship in like manner, a faucibus orci: praise be to the Lord of life, who killeth and reviveth again; who bringeth down to hell, and bringeth back again : to hira be given all glory for ever. Amen, araen. Since the receipt of your lordship's letters, there hath happened the most doleful dissolving of our university, and the most sudden dispersion of our students that ever I knew, occasioned by the infection brought hither by a soldier or two, disraissed not long since frora the king of Sweden's army, in February last. So, whereas this time was our chief time of the year for acts and disputa tions, now our school-gates are shut up, and our colleges left desolate and empty almost. There have died of this infection, from the last of February, till the 24th of April, twenty-four persons; and since then till May 15. thirty more, and seven more*". The magistrates are careful. But Heb. chap. 11. ver. 19. '' Sixty-one in all, kk2 500 letters. the charge groweth great, both in maintaining the in fected, and the poor amongst us, which want both means and work. I pray God we may be sensible of our sins, and his heavy hand, and raay by serious repentance raeet him, that so he may forgive our sins, and heal our town and land. I received in your lordship's letter, the copy of Sir John Brereton's will enclosed, signed with your grace's hand : for which, in the name of our whole society, I humbly thank your lordship. It seeraeth the inventory is not yet put in. I received also by Mr. Stubbin, a letter from Mr. Randal Brereton, sole executor to Sir John his bro ther; who at his coming into England from you, pro miseth me to acquaint the college with the particularity of his brother's bequest. I have heard Mr. Randal very well reported of; and I hope verily he will faithfully dis charge the trust reposed in him by his deceased brother. I will still entreat your lordship, when the inventory is exhibited, for a copy to be sent us. If my leisure permit, I will hearken, God willing, to your lordship's motion, of revising my lectures of grace and free-will. In my proceedings in my readings, I ac quainted your lordship formerly, with some opposition I had from sorae in our university, under pretence of vio lating his Majesty's declaration ; which, I say, I do not. And so as yet I have continued in reading on that argu ment, though not in naming the authors (remonstrants) whom I impugn. If God give opportunity, and health, I will do the like in my readings upon the eucharist. My lord of Sarum hath transcribed his readings, De praedestinatione et reprobatione, et morte Christi. I am instant with him to transcribe other readings of his. I suppose your lordship hath heard of my lord of Sarum, how he was questioned for his serraon before his Majesty, in the beginning of lent last ; the particulars whereof you shall raore fully understand by the enclosed parcel of a letter he wrote to me. I am right sorry, the delivery of the estabhshed doctrine of our Church should thus be questioned. LETTERS. 501 I have vindicated my reasons, I sent one in our uni versity touching the seventeenth article, from such an swers as he had returned rae ; as also sundry testimonies of St. Augustine, from the like opposition ; which I sent the same party, tending to show, that according to St. Au gustine, the non-elect never come to be justified by a true and lively faith, nor ever are by that bond mystically united to Christ as their head, nor ever attain unto true repentance, &c. It is worthily done of your lordship, to set forth Marianus Scotus emendate, and his abridger; who, as it seemeth, abridged his work in Marianus's life time; for Marianus died but a little before Rob. Lotha ringus. As touching the history of Gotteschalcus, I wish it raay be cleared out of the ancient monuments. It seemeth your lordship hath taken pains therein. It may occasion Mr. Vossius to revise his story touching hira. I make no doubt but that the Semi-Pelagians and Massilienses were the first inserters of the praedestinatiani into the cata logue of heretics : and it may seem that Arnobius jun. who writ upon the Psalms, was one of the first that im posed the narae of heresy upon the doctrine of predesti nation and reprobation, as it was delivered by St. Augus tine"^, vid. in Psalm CVIII. And was the first that styled the holding of St. Austin's doctrine, pradestinatus, in Psalm CXLVI. For I conceive he was in time before Tyro Prosper, Faustus, or Gennadius. For the conjec ture of S. Senensis seeraeth to rae probable, that this Arnobius lived in St. Austin's time, for that his Comraen tary upon the Psalras is ascribed to two African bishops, Laurentio et Rustico episcopis. Now S. Senensis saith, he findeth in a council of Carthage, in which St. Austin was present, there were also present Laurentius Icosi- tanus, and Rusticus. Though I find not this in any one council of Carthage, yet I easily believe it was so, for I find that Rusticus, an African bishop, was one of those "^ Biblioth. Sanct. lib, 4. in Arnob. 502 LETTERS. bishops, which in a synodical epistle to Innocentius I. con demned Pelagius and Celestius ; the epistle is the hundred and seventy-fifth epistle araongst St. Austin's epistles ; where two of that name (Rusticus) are mentioned ; this epis tle was written anno CCCCXVI. Now shortly after, viz. anno CCCCXIX. in that council of Carthage, wherein the book of canons, which is Codex Africanus, was con firmed, there were present two hundred and seventeen bishops, as the Code saith, of which only twenty-four are named ; in which number are St. Austin and Laurentius Jositanus : and it is very credible, that Rusticus living a little before, was among the one hundred and ninety-three the rest which were not named. Again, it is observed, both by Erasmus in his preface prefixed before Arnobius, and by S. Senensis also, that in these commentaries are found sundi-y unusual Latin words, which in St. Austin's time were very usual amongst the Africans; which, though Laurentius de la Barre doth hold to be no suffi cient reason, yet it carrieth with it no Httle probability. Tyro Prosper may seera to be next, who, asit seemeth, was not that Prosper Aquitanus, who was episcopus Rhegi- ensis, in Italy, though they both continued St. Hierome ad eadem usque tempora. According to your lordship's direc tions, I looked into the Prosper which is in Bennet college library, and I find, Ad Arcadii et Honorii, an. XXIV. thus : " Predestinatorum haeresis quee ab Augustino acce pisse initium dicitur, his temporibus serpere exorsa ;" just as it is in the manuscript which is in his Majesty's li brary at St. James's, as I remeraber your lordship told me. The four divines of Leyden, in the censure of the remonstrants' confession, relate the words of Tyro Prosper thus: " Prasdestinatorum'^ haeresis, quae ex Augus tini libris raale intellectis accepisse dicitur initium, his temporibus serpere exorsa, sine specie tamen erroris." The last words are not in ray Tyro Prosper which is araongst the works of P. Pithaeus, nor in the raanuscript of Bennet college. 'I Pag. 97. LETTERS. 503 After these, Faustus and Gennadius continued this nickname ; the latter expressly, in the continuation of the Index haeresium Hieronymi, where he perstringeth a sen tence of Augustine contra Julianura', as I conceive. Now howsoever Sigebert relateth the opinion of the praedes- tinati, as having grown out of the raisunderstanding of St. Augustine, and not as any just sequel of St. Austin's doctrine: yet it may seem that both the Massilienses, and some Africans in St. Avigustine's time, did conceive the opinion, as is related by Sigebert, to be a just sequel of St. Austin's defence, as it raay appear by Prosper in epistola ad Augustinum : " Haec sententia et lapsis cu ram resurgendi adimit, et Sanctis occasionera teporis, eo quo in utraraque partem superfluus labor sit, si neque rejectus ilia industria possit intrare, neque electus uUa negligentia possit excidere," &c. Et Hilarius in epistola ad Augustinum. " Nam si sic praedestinati sunt, inquiunt, in utramque partem et de aliis ad alios nuUus possit accedere, quo pertinet tanta extrinsecus correctionis in stantia ?" And the like inferences doth Faustus make in his two books, even as do the remonstrants, their succes sors, at this day, though raost falsely, these predefini tions not prejudging liberty, I send you here enclosed also Gulielmus Malmesburi ensis his short preface before his abbreviation of Amu- larius. As for Scotus de perfectione statuura, it is six teen folio and one page^. The arguraent, or conclusion, which he goeth about to deraonstrate, is this, " Quod status preelatorura et pastorura Ecclesiae praesupponit sta tum ahum perfectiorem quara sit omnis status praelationis pastoralis." If your lordship desire a copy, I wUl see, when God shall bring together our dispersed students, if I can get a fit amanuensis. As for Dr. Walsall's manuscript of Rathramraus, I know where it is. I think it were not amiss to print both those treatises of Rathram's, with that De corpore et sanguine Doraini, which is already extant. If I do not print them, your lordship shall have a copy, ' Lib. 5. cap. 3. ' Rather Fol. 6. pag. 1. ^"* LETTERS, As for the latin copy of Ignatius's epistles, in Caius college library, I was in good hope it had been the same with an old printed translation which I have ; but com paring thera together, I find thera differ rauch, I ac quainted Mr, Thomas Whalley, now Dr. Whalley, with that you wrote in your letter. He seemed to me not un wiUing to undertake ; but now in this contagious time he is gone into the country. I spoke also with Mr. Foster of ^ Emanuel college, who it seemeth hath taken some pains already in it, but then he was to go into the coun try. I am informed by some fellows in that coUege, that being shortly to depart from the college, by his time there allotted, finding in himself some impediraent in his utter ance, he could wish to be employed by your lordship in such-like business. He is a good scholar, and an honest man. The worst is, the book cannot be lent out of the coUege. I wiU see, by God's grace, at the return of our students, what can be done if God send life. As touching those papers which I sent, touching the efficacy of baptism in infantj ; I do acknowledge it a point in which the Scriptures are sparing. The occasion of my determination, was (as I think I signified in my former letters) for that the question was given with a purpose to impugn the doctrine of perseverance, as they conceived, by an undeniable argument, I was very loath the question .should be brought upon the commencement stage, and therefore signified to the then vice-chancellor, that it would entrench upon the question of perseverance, which is one of those questions, I said, his Majesty would not have discussed, which he signifieth by his declaration. Yet he replied, the affirmative part of the question was the autho rized doctrine of our Church, as appeared in the Rubric, of deferring confirmation : and the answerer was importunate to have that question ; and so accordingly it was overruled by the major part of the doctors, I had heretofore thought upon the point somewhat. And my lord of Sarum, and myself, at Dort, had speech of it, when we signified in our judgraent, that the case of infants was not appertaining to the question of perseverance, I consi- LETTERS. 505 dered also, that howsoever the Scripture sparingly speak of the effect of baptisra in infants, yet there are general grounds, frora the nature of sacraments, which raay serve to inforra and direct our judgraents herein. Again, I considered the perpetual tradition of the Church is no way to be slighted, where it doth not cross the Scripture, but is consonant to general grounds contained in thera. My lord of Derry is a worthy man, and whom I do much reverence ; yet I would wish his lordship to be well advised. I doubt not but the doctrine of perseverance may sufficiently be cleared, though we grant that all in fants baptized be free from original guilt. The speech in Lombard, alleged as out of St. Augustine, " Sacraraenta in solis electis efficiunt quod figurant," is no where to be found in St. Augustine, And if it were, yet it is to be understood as Lombard doth gloss it, otherwise Augustine should contradict himself, as is evident by the testimonies he there produceth out of Austin ; and many more which might be brought for remission of original sin in all bap tized infants, out of hira, I know most of our divines do make the principal end and effect of all sacraments to be obsignation, and all sacraments to be raerely obsignatory signs ; and consequently that ablution of infants from ori ginal sin, is only conditional and expectative, of which they have no benefit, till they believe and repent; I cannot easily assent hereunto. For so, 1. Infants baptized, dying in infancy, have no benefit by baptism. And all non-elect infants have no be nefit at all, so that to both of these they are nuda et ineffi- cia signa, 2. What necessity of baptizing of infants, if it produce no effect till years of discretion? 3. Though our divines do most-what run upon obsig nation, yet often they do expressly hold, that sacra ments do offer and exhibit that grace which they signify, and as I conceive raust needs offer and exhibit the grace which they signify, before they assure and confirra. For God doth offer and exhibit grace promised in the sacra ment; then we exercise our faith in relying upon God, 506 LETTERS, proraising, offering, and exhibiting on his part ; and so ac cording to the tenure of the covenant, receive the grace promised, and then sacraments in the second place do as sure us of the grace received. And thus rauch is signified in the definition of a sacraraent in our short catechism, as I conceive, when it is said, " It is an outward visible sign, of an inward spiritual grace given unto us, ordained by Christ himself, as a raeans whereby we receive the same, and a pledge to assure us thereof." So that first it is a means whereby God doth offer and exhibit on his part the grace it signifieth; which we receiving by faith, it then also becometh a pledge, to assure us of the receipt thereof. So the eucharist doth first offer and exhibit " augmentum gratias, auctiorera et perfectiorem coraraunionem cura Christi corpore et san guine, et participationera in beneficiis inde fluentibus;" and then it is a pledge to assure us thereof. And so Ursinus truly saith, " Baptisraus et coena Doraini sunt sa- cramenta, quia sunt opus Dei, qui aliquid in iis nobis dat, et se dare testatur ;" and he hath many speeches to this purpose. So Calvin\ So that instruraental con veyance of the grace signified, to the due receiver, is as true an effect or end of a sacraraent, when it is duly ad ministered, as obsignation, and is pre-existing in order of nature to obsignation: for obsignation must be of that, quod prius datur et exhibetur, as Mr. Beza often saith. Mr. Hooker, in raine opinion, doth truly explicate the nature of sacraments*. Nay, it raay seem, that obsigna tion is not so essential as exhibitio rei signatae, for the lat ter may be without the former, as in the baptism of infants, where no preparation, ex parte suscipientis, but only ca pacity and not-resistance is sufficient, ad rem signatam recipiendam. All these I submit to your lordship's judg ment, and will not be contentious, if any can bring that which is raore deraonstrative out of Scriptures. Mr. Hook er saith as we say, touching the efficacy of baptisra in in- => lust. lib. 1. cap. 17. sect. 10, 11. and in 1 Cor, chap. 11. ver. 24. » Lib. 5. sect. 57. 59, 60. 64, et 67. LETTERS. 507 fants, and yet holdeth the doctrine de perseverantia fide lium, as weU as we do. Thus, fearing too much prolixity may argue me to be unmannerly, I hold my hand I know not how my lord of Kilmore doth sort with the Irish. I persuade rayself he hath godly and pious inten tions : he is discreet and wise, industrious and diligent, and of great sufficiency many ways. I do persuade my self, the more your lordship doth know him, the more your lordship will love him : and this I dare say, he truly honoureth and sincerely loveth your lordship. And thus with my affectionate and earnest prayers to the God of heaven, for the continuance of your lordship, and him, and my reverend good lord of Derry, for the good of his Church ; and to multiply his graces upon you, and to give you all health here, and happiness hereafter. With ten der of ray best service to your lordship, I coramend you to the most gracious protection of the highest Majesty. Your Grace's in all observance for ever, SAMUEL WARD. Sidn. Coll. May 25. 1630. The Arminians (as Dr. Meddus writeth to Dr. Chad- derton) are very factious in Arasterdara, and deraand jus tice for Barnevelt's death. I fear rae they wUl much dis turb that state. God keep us also. 508 LETTERS. LETTER CLXXI. PART OF A LETTER OF THE RIGHT REV. WILLIAM BEDELL, BISHOP OF KILMORE, TO DR. WARD, MASTER OF SIDNEY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE. I THANK you for the two treatises, that of ray lord of Salisbury and your own, which you were pleased to com municate to me. Concerning which, to give you mine opinion shortly, for the present. This I do yield to my lord of Sarum most willingly, that tbe justification, sancti fication, and adoption which children have in baptism, is not univoce the same with that which adulti have. And this I likewise do yield to you, that it is vera solutio reatus, et veraciter, et in rei veritate performed, and all the like emphatical forms, &c. But all these sacramentaliter, and that is obsignative ex forraula et conditione foederis. Where you raake circuracision and baptism to be the re medy of original sin, I think it be too specially said, which is true of all sin. And so much the text. Acts, chap. II. ver. 38. with the rest do show. I do think also that reprobates coraing to years of discretion, after baptism, shall be conderaned for original sin. For their absolution and washing in baptisra was but conditional and expecta tive, which doth truly interest them in all the promises of God, but under the condition of repenting, believing, and obeying, which they never perform, and therefore never attain the promise. Consider well what you will say of woraen before Christ, which had no circuracision, and of all mankind before circumcision was instituted ; and you will perceive, I think, the nature of sacraments to be not as medicines, but as s'eals, to confirm the covenant, not to LETTERS. 509 confer the promise immediately. These things I write now in exceeding post haste, in respect that this bearer goes away so presently. I only give sapienti occasionem. I think the emphatical speeches of Augustine against the Pelagians, and of Prosper, are not so much to be re garded, (who say the'like of the eucharist also) touching the necessity and efficacy in the case of infants, and they are very like the speeches of Lanfranck and Guitraund of Christ's presence in the sacrament, opposing veraciter et vere to sacramentaliter ; which is a false and absurd con traposition. Sed raanum de tabula. The right definition of a sacrament in general will de cide this question. JlO LETTERS. LETTER CLXXII. PART OF LETTER FROM DR. WARD TO THE RIGHT REVEREND WILLIAM BEDELL, BISHOP OF KILMORE. As touching the papers which I sent you, and had be fore sent to ray lord priraate, touching the efficacy of bap tism in infants ; I would desire your censure at your best leisure. You seem in your letter to make the principal end and effect of all sacraments to be obsignation, and all sacraments to be merely obsignatory signs, and that all ablution of sin in infants is only conditional and expecta tive, of which they have no benefit tUl they believe and re pent. I cannot easily assent hereunto. For so, 1. In fants baptized dying in infancy, have no benefit by bap tism. 2. Non-elect infants living, have no benefit at all : so that to both these they are made nuda et prorsus in- efficacia signa. And, 3. What necessity can there be of baptizing infants, if it produce no effect till they come to years of discretion? 4. Our divines do generally hold, that the sacraments do offer and exhibit that grace which they signify ; and in order of nature, do first offei' and exhibit, before they assure and confirm. For God doth offer and exhibit grace promised in the sacrament. Then we exercise our faith in relying upon God promising, of fering, and exhibiting, on his part, and so receive the grace promised ; and then the sacraraent assureth us of the grace received. So it is in the definition of a sacra ment in our short catechism ; when it is said, " It is an outward visible sign of an inward spiritual grace, given unto us, ordained by Christ hiraself, as a means whereby we receive the same, and a pledge to assure us thereof." So that, first, it is a means whereby God doth offer and exhibit the grace it signifieth, which we receiving by faith. LETTERS. 511 it then also becometh a pledge to assure us of the receipt thereof. So the eucharist doth first offer and exhibit growth and increase of grace, and a nearer and faster cora raunion with Christ's body and blood, and all the benefits flowing thence ; and then it is a pledge to assure us here of. For as Mr. Beza saith in Col. Mompel. " Obsignari" non potest quod non habetur." Ursin. Cat. Edit. Cant.*" " Sacramentura est opus Dei erga nos, in quo dat aliquid scilicet signa et res signatas, et in quo testatur et se nobis offerre ac dare sua beneficia ;" et mox " Baptisraus ac cce- na Doraini sunt sacramenta, quia sunt opus Dei qui aliquid ni iis nobis dat et se dare testatur." — Vid. etiam Calvin. Instit." So that instruraental conveyance of the grace sig nified to the due receiver, is as true an effect of a sacra ment, when it is administered, as obsignation, and is pre existing in order of nature to obsignation. See more at large Mr. Hooker"^, who, in my opinion, doth truly expli cate the efficacy of sacraments. The opinion of the Fran ciscans out of Scotus, Bonaventure, and St. Bernard, men tioned in the history of the Council of Trent^, is a true opinion, though they leave out the other use of the sacra ments, which is obsignation. Though Catharinus and Eisin- grenius hold that also. Since then infants are capable of baptisra, why not of spiritual ablution of original guilt, which is the thing signified, though not of actual obsigna tion of this, since they cannot interpose any impediment to hinder the operation of the sacrament. It seemeth you conceive that I make circumcision and baptisra to be the remedy of original sin only : I neither so say nor think. It is true, your lordship saith, the true definition of a sacra ment in general will decide this question, and so say I ; and think the definition in our ordinary catechism for merly mentioned, is a good and sound definition. May 28, 1630, " Pag. 66. 76. et 131. >> Pag. 585. <: Lib. 4. cap. 17, sect, 10. 11. and in 1 Cor. chap, 24, "1 Lib. 5. sect, 57. 59, 00. 64, et 67. « Pag. 237. 512 LETTERS. LETTER CLXXIII. PART OF A LETTER FROM THE RIGHT REV. WILLIAM BEDELL, BISHOP OF KILMORE, TO DR. SAMUEL WARD. First, you say, " if sacraraents be merely obsignatory, and the ablution of sins in baptisra only conditional and expectative, of which the baptized have no benefit tiU they believe and repent. Then infants baptized, dying in in fancy, have no benefit by baptisra." This consequence, raethinks, is not good : for they are by baptism received into the visible Church, which is a noble privilege of com fort to parents, and honour and profit to themselves. Again, there is presently granted them an entrance into covenant with God, as was anciently by circumcision with the God of Abraham, wherein God proraises pardon of sin, and life eternal, upon their faith and repentance ; and in this they have a present right, though the accomplish ment be deferred. Yet if God take them out of this world while the condition is in expectation, most pious it is to believe that he takes the condition for performed : like to him that soleranizeth a marriage with her to whom he was betrothed sub conditione. And here, if the souls of Christians be indued with any actual knowledge at all, so soon as they leave the body, it seems, the mystery of redemption by Christ is revealed unto them, and faith is given them, whereby they cleave to God by him, the au thor of their blessedness, although they have no need now of the obsignation of the promise whereof they are in pre sent possession. The second reason : " Non-elect infants living, shall thus have no benefit at all by baptism." I answer : where there be divers ends of one and the same thing, the denial LETTERS. 513 of one is not the denial of the rest. These non-elect in fants have offered by God the same with the other, viz. the obsignation of the covenant, and aggregation to the Church. The same that he hath also, qui fictus accedit ut ponit obicera gratise, as to the present possession of it. All that come to the sacrament, elect or non-elect, receive the pardon of sin original and actual sacraraentally ; and whosoever performs the condition of the covenant, hath the fruition of that, whereof before he had the grant under seal. So as the sacraments are not nuda et inefficacia signa on God's part to the one or other. Thirdly, you say, " What necessity of baptizing infants, if their baptisra produce no effect till they corae to years of discretion ?" Though the most principal effect be not attained presently, the less principal are not to be refused. So children were circumcised, which could not understand the reason of it ; and the same also did eat the passover. And so did also children baptized in the priraitive Church comraunicate in the Lord's Supper. Which I know not why it should not be so still, de quo alias. Fourthly, " Our divines," you say, " generally hold that the sacraments do offer and exhibit the grace which they signify, and in order of nature, do first offer and exhibit before they assure and confirra." For God doth, 1. Offer and exhibit grace promised in the sacraments. 2. We exercise our faith, resting upon God promising and exhibiting. 3. So we receive the grace proraised. 4. Then the sacraraents assure us of the grace re ceived. And this order you endeavour to confirm out of the de finition of a sacrament in our catechism : you declare it in the eucharist, and bring divers testimonies of our wri ters to prove it. I answer : The grace which the sacraments confer, is of three sorts. The first is, the spiritual things which are proportionable to the outward. The second, the effects of these. The third, the certification ofthe party in the lawful use of the outward, of the enjoying the two former, VOL. XV. L L il4 LETTERS. As in baptisra, 1. the blood and spirit of Christ; 2. the washing of sin, and new birth ; 3. the obsignation to the party baptized, that by Christ's blood his sins are cleansed. The first of these is signified in that common sentence, " That sacraments consist of two parts, an outward visible sign, and an inward invisible grace." The second is the most useful and common notion of the word grace ; meaning some spiritual favour, in order to salvation promised in the new covenant. The last is most properly the grace of the sacrament itself. For the two former (which our catechism seems to reduce to one) are properly the grace of the covenant, which God doth confirm and seal by the sacraments. As when the king's majesty grants lands and tenements with certain immunities and privileges thereunto apper taining, as in his letters patents at large appeareth, and sets to the great seal; all the grants and articles in the patent are confirmed thereby materialiter et subjective, but the ratification of the patent is properly and formally that which the seal works : which also, according to the form of the patent, may be simple or conditional, present, or ad diem, according as his Majesty is pleased. As touching the terms also of offering and exhibiting, they raay be taken two ways : either of the offering and propounding; so doth Calvin^ take the word exhibit in the covenant and institution of the sacraraents ; or, 2. con- firraing in the use of thera. These things thus premised, it seems to rae that the order is this : God doth, 1. Offer his covenant, under the condition of faith and repentance, and therein Christ and his benefits. 2. We accept of the covenant according to the tenor of it. 3. God offers to confirra it with sacraraents propor tional. 4. We receive thera, and so are certified of the perfor mance of the covenant, and have the promises thereof con veyed by covenant, and by seal also to us. " Institut. lib. 4. cap. 17. sect. 10. LETTERS. 515 Where you say, " In the eucharist God doth first offer and exhibit growth, and increase of grace, and a nearer and safer communion of Christ's body and blood, and all the benefits flowing from thence ; and then it is a pledge to assure us thereof." It seems to rae that God having in the New Testaraent (confirmed with Christ's blood) offered unto us Ufe under the condition of our receiving him, would confirm to as many as receive him that they have Hfe. Therefore he hath instituted bread and wine, the means of natural life, in a certain use, to be seals of spiri tual life. We now receiving thera, they are pledges unto us, and do certify us of that spiritual Ufe which we have by receiving Christ. Where then you say, " That the instruraental convey ance of the grace signified, is as true an effect of a sacra ment as obsignation, and is then existent in order of na ture unto it." I do conceive that the setting of Christ and his benefits before us in the Gospel, (as the bread that came down frora heaven) and in the institution of the holy supper, in the proportional creatures of bread and wine, with condition that these, worthily received, shall confer those, must needs go before any obsignation. But then our partaking of these creatures duly, giveth unto us the possession ofthe former by way of obsignation; which in our purpose is the sole and only instrumental convey ance which the sacraments have. You will ask, what is the due participation? That which God requires. There can be required no raore of infants but the receiving of the outward washing in bap tism ; they cannot prove theraselves, nor repent and be lieve. Very true. Have they then that obsignation ? Yes doubtless, according to the form of the covenant. How is that ? That repenting and believing, their sins are washed away. Then, because they do not yet repent and believe, nothing passes. Yes, this passes, the confir mation that this sacraraent gives upon repentance and be lief of all God's promises of the New Testament. The same thing which passes to him qui fictus accedit ; who, when afterward he doth indeed repent of his fiction, and ll2 516 LETTERS. receives Christ by faith, hath also the actual enjoying of the thing so confirmed to him. The opinion of the Franciscans, out of Scotus and Ber nard, mentioned in the CouncU of Trent, seeras to be the true opinion ; for they make the sacraments to be effec tual, because God gives thera, effectus regulariter con- comitantes ; and to contain grace no otherwise than as an effectual sign ; and that grace is received by them as an investiture by a ring or staff, which is obsignando. Which agrees also with Catharine's opinion, De intentione ministri. And Eisingrens'' saith, that God only can give to sensible signs virtue to confer grace^ Yet I beUeve they under stand the matter otherwise than I have before expressed. Their authority is of Httle moraent either way. Beza, Ursine, and Calvin have no other raeaning than I have ex pressed. Mr. Hooker I have not. " Since infants," say you, "are capable of baptisra, why not of spiritual ablution of original guilt? which is the thing signified, though not of actual obsignation of this, since they cannot interpose any impediment to hinder the operation of the sacraraents." Questionless they are partakers ofthe actual obsigna tion of ablution frora original and actual guilt, say I. Sup pose they understand not this obsignation, nor receive this ablution otherwise than sacraraentally ? As I said before the counterfeit convert also doth; though he put a bar to his present ablution of his sins, and consequently his own certification thereof. Where I said, the true definition of a sacraraent in ge neral will decide this question, which you grant, and cora mend that of our catechism. I do not disallow it, being well interpreted ; but do think incomparably better that of the apostle ; " that they be seals of the righteousness of faith." Or if we will include the sacraments of the state of grace before the faU, they be seals of God's covenant concerning everlasting happiness. If yet more generally <> Pag. 192. ' Confess, cap. 1. LETTERS. 517 we win include the rainbow'', they be seals of God's co venants. The definition of Scotus°, " Signum sensibile gratiam Dei ejus effectum gratuitum ex institutione divina effica- citer signanus, ordinatura ad salutem hominis viatoris," raethinks is a good definition, especially declaring efficaci- ter as he doth, " etin hoc efficaciter," saith he, " includitur tara certitudinaliter, quam prognostice." I know that he acknowledges no sacraraent pro statu innocentiae, but without all reason, and the definition will serve well enough for both states ; where he and the other schoolraen require since the fall sorae reraedy for original sin; and I per ceived the same forra in your deterraination : " Certum esse Christum sacramentura baptisrai instituisse in rerae- dium originalis peccati et ad reatus ejusdem veram solu- tionera." I conceived you raeant to raake that the proper effect of baptisra : which seemed also to be implied in the explication ofthe question in the first sentence, and after: " Cumque baptismus potissimum institutus sit ad solu- tionera originalis peccati," &c. You know what it is to demonstrate specially of one sort of triangles that which is true in all ; which made me a little touch upon that point. But verily, I think this conceit of sacraments, to make them medicines, is the root of all error in this matter; and that it is good to take light from the tree of life, and that of the knowledge of good and evil, that they are seals only to God's promises. In my last to you, as I remem ber, I gave you occasion a little to consider the case of women under the law, and of all raankind before circura cision, Methinks it is very inconvenient to say, that the males should have a remedy against sin, and the females none. And the schoolraen when they will first lay down their own conceit, that such a remedy there must be, and then divine what it must be ; they make BeUarmine ridi culous, who from the silence of holy scripture herein, la bours to show'^ the Scriptures are insufficient, and yet he Cic, Orat. pro Dejotaro. 652 LETTERS. similem, nee canonicorum tantum, sed apocryphorura quoque adjuncto etiara Fl, Josephi de Maccabaeis. Hanc, et quicquid penes me est Samariticorum fragmentorum, tecum comraunicaturus sum libens : si quando animum induxeris Parisiensem (quam expectamus), Samaritani et Syriaci contextus editionera cum MSS. nostris exerapla- j-ibus coraparare. Id enira tantura relinquitur peragen- dura ; primae editionis gloria, quara academiae vestrae op- tabara, aliorum festinatione jara praerepta. Neque alium in finera quaternio ille Arabico- Saraaritan us, elegantis- simo charactere exaratus, a me missus fuerat, quam ut formulae archetypae, quas matrices vocant, inde exprirae- rentur, si, quod sperabara, editio ista apud vos proce- deret. Integrura vero Samaritanum Pentateuchum in Arabicam et Cuthseis vernaculam linguam translatum extat : licet ea solum pars, quae Genesin et Deuterono- raion complectitur, ad raeas raanus pervenerit. Sunt etiam apud me numrai sex aenei vetustissirai, partira Phce- niciis partira Arabicis literarura notis, longe ante tempora Mahuraraedica, insigniti : quorura usus fortasse aliquis in dissertatione de Samaritanorum characterum origine esse poterit. Arabici Psalterii tria habui exemplaria, satis antiqua : quorum unum D. Londinensi episcopo, academiae Oxoui- ensis dignissimo cancellario, cum aliquam multis aliis co dicibus MSS. nuper a me donatum est: alterum quod D. Gulielrao Bedwello commodaverara, eo jam vita functo, vix est ut recuperari a me posse sperera : bibUotheca mea tertiura adhuc conservat. Habeo et Genesim Arabice ex Graeco versam, et araplo coramentario explicatam : Ara- bicas quoque homilias in sacrae historise partera, a Jo- sepho incipientes, Eadem lingua Chrysostorai concioiies quadragesiraales habeo, quae in nostris desiderantur libris, et Graecis et Latinis. Arabicura quoque Nomocanonem possideo ; in quo veterum synodorum canones ad certos titulos reducti continentur, E Syriacis Ephraemi, praeter tractatura quera habes de amore sapientiae, hymni apud me sunt de humUitate, resci- piscentia, fine seculi, Gog et Magog, raonachis et eremitis ; LETTERS. 653 nocturna meditatio contra ebrietatem et crapulam : et praecationura liber. Item hymni varii alphabetici. Habeo et Syriacum in quatuor Evangelia comraentarium : et in universa fere biblia alterura Thesauri Secretorura titulo praenotatum : cui et quatuor tabulae chronologicae sunt insertae 1. Patriarcharum, ab Adamo ad Mosem. 2. Judicum, a Josua ad Samuelem. 3. Regum a Saule ad Sedechiam. 4. Imperatorum exterorura a Nebuchadnetsare ad Ves- patianum usque, librura serraonura in dies festos his addas Ucet : et Syriacara grararaaticam absolutissimam, Sama- ritica vero scripta, praeter Pentateuchum, quae nactus sum omnia ad communera amicura nostrura D. Johannera Sel- denura transmisi : a quo, quod contineant poteris rescis- cere : et de nostris quidem hactenus. Accepi, simul cum canonicarum epistolarum editione Syra, eruditissimas tuas in quatuor evangelia aniraadver- siones : in quibus quod culpera nihil est, si profusam mei, nihil tale promeriti, laudationera exceperis. Omnino lu culentum opus est, et recondita raultiplicique doctrina refertum : nee, si me audias, prius conquiesces quam pari diligentia et simili comraentationis genere quod Novi Tes tamenti est reliquura illustraveris. Nihil enira certe in raorte clarissimi Amanae amisisse nos video, quod non academia vestra Lugdunensis in te, in Imperatore, in Golio, abunde compenset. Reliquit vero filium post se doctissimus Buxtorffius, qui parentis vestigiis et loco in- sistens, magnam de se apud omnes spem concitat, in- primis sacrarum literarum studiosos : dum, quod audio, rabbinicura studium sacris aliquando meditationibus con- cionando teraperat. Vidi et ego specimen concordantia- rum patris, quas pro merito magni facio ; majori tamen desiderio expecto lexicon, de quo filius ad clarissimum Heinsium : quandoquidera (quod a Buxtorffio P. verissime est notatum) id quod dederunt nobis Parisienses, bono publico parum consulat. Loco tuorum remitto munera T(;oAK£a plane xpvctiwv ; Praedestinatianae (quae ecclesias vestras tantopere per- 654 LETTERS, turbat) controversiae historiam, et veterum epistolarum Hibernicarum farraginera : utramque manu mea correc- tam, ut si deinceps forte edantur, ex isto avToypdfo^ paulo prodire possint emendatiores. Tu donura ipsum non spec- tabis, quod est profecto leviculum, sed animum summe erga te affectum donantis, qui est Totus tuus, JACOBUS USSERIUS ARMACHANUS, Dubhnii, V, Idus Junias, 1632. Si D. Casauboni apud vos edendae sint epistolae ; habeo illius aliquot, quas typographo impertiam. LETTERS. 555 LETTER CLXXXV. ORNATISSIMO CLARISSIMOQUE VIRO D. GERARDO VOSSIO, HIS- TORIjE ET CIVILIS DOCTRIN.aE APUD AMSTELODAMENSES PROFESSORI. AccEPi, vir eximie, Uteras tuas, quibus dum amorem quo te prosequor ex breviore saltem muneris indicio recte quidem colUgis, nobiUssimum tuum pectus instar fertili- oris alicujus agri aperis, qui plus multo adferat quam ac ceperit. Adeo munusculum nuper tibi a me oblatum extoUis, ut quo te merito me absolvere studebas, eo me tuo totum iraplices, et beneficium longe majus reddere videaris, cum te debere aliquid mihi profiteris. Utcunque vero aliqua inter nos in Gotteschalci historia oboriatur differentia ; gaudeo tamen, et tibi ex animo gratulor, nos, (quod ait) in eo, quod rei caput est, consentire, uterque dura B. Augustini sententiam araplectimur. Quam sive Gotteschalcus per omnia fuerit secutus, sive aUquando excesserit, nolim ego multum contendere : modo, quod libenter audio, nobis ipsis cum Augustino conveniat, cu jus sententiam in causa Gotteschalci tuendam susceperat Remigius. Qui vero duriores sunt, vel fuerunt, Augus tini interpretes nunquam mihi placuerunt, minimeque om nium inertes illi tov dpyov Xoyov KiipvKtg, qui faciunt agendo ut nihil agamus, et horaines sponte sua ignavos ipsos quoque truncis reddunt stupidiores, quura divinus iUe gratiae praeco, ex eo ipso quod Deus is sit qui efficiat in nobis Kai to OeXeiv icat to ivspyEtv vntp Trjg tvSoKiag, contrarium plane deducat wopirrfia : studendum idcirco ut cura timore et tremore salutem nostram operemur. Quip pe quod verendum sit, si ab religione officii hie declinave- rimus, et, vel nihil agendo vel raale agendo, eura a cujus EvSoKia ilia quam habemus volendi et faciendi potestas 556 LETTERS. tota pendet initaveiimus ; ne Deus ita a nobis lacessitus jure suo nobiscum agat atque nos desertos deserat, et novas ad volendum et agendura vires, absque quibus ipsi nos lassos erigere nequearaus, ultra non irapertiat. De Mariano nostro, qui factum ut mutus omnino ad vos venerit, araantissimo utriusque nostrum D. Ludovico de Dieu rationem reddidi. Mens vero quae nunc est mihi, tura erat eadera : nempe ut, sicut tua opera, ita etiam sub tuo noraine, integer prodiret Marianus. Integrura vero in unico Cottonianae bibliothecae exeraplari reperi : si ta raen integrura. Postreraa enira pars chronici a Diony- sianae aerse anno 900. usque ad finera, quam inde descrip- tam totara seorsira ad te miserara, integrior in Sichardi editione legitur; cui siquid desit ex tuo supplendura erit exemplari ; quod illud Gemblacense esse suspicor, ex quo novara Mariani editionera promisit nobis Miraeus quam non praestitit. Nactus sum et alia tria exemplaria, in quibus Anglicanum Florentii chronicon cum universali Mariani hoc Wigorniensis quidam monachus regis Ste phani temporibus coramiscuerat. Ex eorura uno Floren- tiura, vel potius Marianum, suum edidit nobiUssimus D. Gulielmus Howardus de Naworth, Thomse Norfolci- ensis duels filius. Duo alia apud Oxonienses vidi, in Bodleiana unura, in coUegu Corporis Christi bibliotheca alterura : quorura utrumque praeter proeemia integrura li brura secundura habuit, qui a primo aberat. " Initio Cottoniani codicis verba ista prefixa inveni. Meum nomen ut dignum, Chronica chronicarum ; cum prae illis servo verba evangelistarum ; nulla enira chronica conservat diera raensis Solaris resurrectionis Christi juxta historiam EvangeUi nisi ista sola.'' Sequebantur deinde, tanquam ipsius Mariani, tabellae illae chronologicae quas in apographi mei principio descriptas vides : quae commo dius, ni fallor, ad calcem operis essent rejiciendae. Ea rum aliquot in Bodleiano quoque habentur codice (qui a consulum indiculo incipit) et in altero collegii Corporis Christi plures ; Roraanorura episcoporum catalogo usque ad Eugenium III. perducto, cui alia adscripti erant manu ann. 8. mens. 4. di. 20. quod arguraento est Eugenii LETTERS. 557 terapore exemplar illud fuisse exaratum. Ut autera in telligas quibus in locis Cottonianum libri primi et tertii chronicon a vulgato diiferat : Florentiura Wigorniensem nunc ad te mitto, quem Francisci Quarlesii opera, qui mihi tum erat ab epistolis (vir ob sacratiorem poesin apud Anglos suos non incelebris) cum illo conferendum curavi ad annura usque Dora. DCCCC. Dionysianura, a quo qua ternio prius missus initium duxit. Ubi quae lineis subtus ductis sunt notata, a Cottoniano exemplari absunt, et ex Florentii annalibus a Wigorniensi de quo dixi monacho sunt hie intexta, Mitto simul et epitomen a Roberto Lotharingo, Here- fordensi episcopo, eodem quo Marianus mortera obiit anno concinnatara; cujus in quarto de pontificibus libro Gulielmus Malmesburiensis ita meminit. " Erat tunc tem poris monachus Marianus apud Magontiam inclusus, qui longo solitudinis otio chronographos scrutatus, dissonan- tiam cyclorum Dionysii Exigui contra evangelicam veri- tatera vel primus vel solus animadvertit, Itaque ab initio saeculi annos singulos recensens, 22, annos, qui circulo deerant, superaddit, magnam et diflfusissimam chronicam facere adorsus. Eum librura Robertus miratus unice, aemu- latus mirifice, Angliae invehendum curavit. Denique captus Mariani ingenio, quicquid ille largius dixerat, in arctura contrahens defloravit ; adeo splendide, ut raagis valere defloratio videatur, quara ingentis illus voluminis diflFusio." Ad calcem hujus epitomes, in Cottoniano codice, ap pendix adjecta ab altero Bodleianae bibUothecae aberat : quam vel eo nomine negUgendam non putabam, quod raagnae illius periodi Julianae, cujus usura raagno Scaligero acceptura referrimus, prima vestigia in ea deprehenderim. De magnis cyclis appendicem non dissimilem ad finera libri primi ipsius Mariani in collegii Corporis Christi MS. appositam inveni, quam hie inclusam mitto ; alia quoque de Mariani patria et variis editionibus collectanea rais- surus similiter si ad editionis tuae ornatum aliquid inde accessurum a te intellexero. Deus laboribus tuis bene dicat; et omnia tua studia in honorem gratiae suae, Ec- 558 LETTERS. clesiae bonum atque reipublicae Christianae vertat erao- luraentum. Vale, vir clarissime, et siquse sunt alia, ex latore harura Hterarum D. Freyo fusius inteUige. DubUni anno MDCXXXII. quarto idus Junias. Tui studiosissimus, JA. ARMACH. LETTERS. 659 LETTER CLXXXVI. THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH TO DR. WARD, Good Doctor, As soon as I came to DubUn, after the receipt of your last letters, I dealt with those whom you thought to have some knowledge in Sir John Brereton's estate, but got nothing from them which I could conceive any way advantageous to your college. He that knew most was Patrick Cossin, whom I then caused to write unto you, for Geifrey Welsh pretended that he understood no thing in that matter, I received a very kind letter from Mr. Vossius for my history of Gotteschalcus. A copy of your writings touching the efficacy of baptism, and the ; questions with the Remonstrants I much desire, for Dr, / Twisse I see (as you feared) hath followed the rigid part ; \ Mr. Burnet will pay for the transcribing, as he did for Ig natius, the copy whereof was well taken out, and serveth me to singular good use. I have gotten since also a good large fragment of the beginning of Clement's genuine epistle to the Corinthians. I send you herewith a toy lately published by me, while I remained about other occasions at Dublin. The 19th epistle you raay raake up out of your Cambridge copies of Claudius Scotus in Bennett, Pembroke, and Emanuel college libraries. The 30th of Gillebertus I did transcribe in your own house, out of the MS. of the public library, which I would wish at your leisure you did compare with the other copy of Bennet college. I will trouble you no further at the pre sent : but, with reraembrance of my kindest salutations 560 LETTERS. unto your virtuous yoke, corarait you to God's blessing, and rest, Your own raost assured, JA. ARMACHANUS. Armagh, Aug. 9th. 1C32. LETTERS. 561 LETTER CLXXXVII. THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH TO MR. JOSEPH MEDE. Worthy Sir, I RECEIVED long since your most accurate expUcation of the principal chapters of the Revelation, together with your learned conjectures upon the succes sion of the Babylonian kings recorded in the fragments of Berosus and Megasthenes. I cannot sufficiently commend either the one or the other ; but acknowledge myself to have here learned from you in both what otherwise would never have come into my mind. I am now in hand with a treatise De Britannicarum ecclesiarum primordiis, setting down as much as may be found in the manuscripts that remain of our nation touching the argument. I have en tered also upon the determination of the controversies which concern the chronology of the Sacred Scripture ; wherein I shall in many places need your help. I desire to hear from you of the state of things there : and so re commending all your godly studies and endeavours unto the blessing of our good God, evermore rest Your most assured loving friend JA. ARMACHANUS. Armagh, August 10, 1632. VOL, XV. O O 502 LETTERS, LETTER CLXXXVIII. ADMODUM REVERENDO IN CHRISTO FRATRI, D. LUDOVICO DE DIEU, ECCLESI.I; LUGDUNO-BATAV.5; PASTORl DIGNISSIMO. LEYDAM. Salutem in Christo Jesu, Consilium tuura de Syriacis Ephraemi in lucem profe- rendis valde mihi probatur. Ad editionem illam ador- nandara tres codices per Hubnerura nostrum ad te defe- rendas euro, manu satis eleganti descriptos. In ipso primivestibulo occurrunt, qui in publica vestra biblio theca asservantur, de humilitate et de resipiscentia trac tatus : in ejusdem quoque libri fine repetiti, adjecto initio sermonis in festura Palmarum quem vos habetis integrum. In eodem volumine hymnus de raonachis et eremitis extat, qui in publica : nee non De Gog et Magog, atque alter de araore doctrinae tractatus, qui in privata D. Golii habetur bibliotheca. IUa vero de amore doctrinae paraenesis ordine conscripta est alphabetico: (quod in GoUano apographo non videtur a librario fuisse animadversura, qui a voce rsoi eara est exorsus) ac jam pridem habetur edita, non Latine solum, in Ephraemo Gerardi Vossii ; sed Syriace etiam, in Isaaci Sciadrensis Rudimento Syriaco quod Romae anno 1618. ex Maronitarum collegio prodiit, in quo et hoc, et aliud Ephraemi canticum legitur, cujus initium ; Lux quae orta est justis. Tabulae chronologicae Thesauro secretorura insertae Graecorum supputationem et ipsae sequuntur: sed anno- tata simul Hebraeorum diversa numerandi ratione. Aliae autem sunt a canone illo chron ographico, qui Syriaco Pen- tateucho subnexus est : in quo notatio ilia, quae authori tatem rwv ifidopyfKovTa Hebraicae praefert veritati, a Grae- LETTERS. 5G3. cae potius quam Latinae Ecclesiae addicto monacho pro- fecta fuisse videatur. Verum de hac annorum irmSoirodag patriarcharum SiatjxDvtq, in chronologicis nostris, Deo favente, plenius disserendi aliquando dabitur occasio. Ad Gottescalchura vero nostrura quod attinet : novara illius editionem tantisper diflferendam censeo, dum subsidia ad eam locupletandam ex Gallia raihi promissa accepero. Doctissiraura Salmasium sedem inter vos fixisse gaudeo. Scripsisse eum adversus Joh. Morini exercitationes. Uteris superiore Februario Lutetia ad me datis significatum est. Sed neque illius, si qua edita, neque ipsius Simeonis de Muys responsionum adhuc videre contigit : quanquam de- siderii nostri irapatientiam aliquantum hie lenierint erudi- tissimae tuae in aliquot Samaritani Pentateuchi loca obser vationes; atque illud in Genes, cap. X. ver. 19. inprimis. Ubi Dositheum haeresiarcham, Hebraicae lectionis apud Samaritas corruptorem, non id solum fefeUit, quod angus- tam Cananaeorura acceptionem a latiore, sed etiam quod terrae Israeliticae% a Cananaeis olim insessae, terminos ab imperii Israelitici finibus nesciverit distinguere. Propria enim Israelitarum patria erat Cananaea ilia latior'', in qua tribus quaeque sedem suam sortito obtinuit, pulsis inde septem Cananaeorura nationibus" : universi vero populi Is raelitici iraperiura, suorum arrais deinceps propagandum, hinc usque ad ingressum .^gypti, inde usque ad Eu- phratera protendebatur, quos amplissimos iraperii hujus limites*, 1 Reg. cap. IV. ver. 21. invenimus designates: ubi in omnia regna, a fluvio usque ad limitem Mgypti, iraperiura Saloraon habuisse dicitur, fluvio nimirum Eu- phrate, Syriae Zobaeae limite, quera pater illius David sub- jugaverat". Adraodum placuit quoque tua vocabuli bSinS ex Eph raemo interpretatio; non minus placitura et nD3 ilia altera, » Confer, distinct. Deut. cap. 20. ver, 10, 11, 16. 17. ^ Augustin, distinguitur a Giliade. i. e, Parsea, Josu. cap. 22. ver. 9. 32. ¦^ Act, cap. 13. ver. 19. '' Jos. cap. 24. ver, 11. 12. cum Exit. cap. 23. ver. 21. et Deut. cap. 7. ver. 1.20. '2 Sam. cap. 8. ver. 3. 10. 1! O O 2 564 LETTERS, si firraa aliqua ratione ostendi posset, ante Syro-Macedo- nura terapora Hebraeos vel interluniorura, vel novilunio- rum, vel pleniluniorum ullam omnino in mensibus suis rationera habuisse. Gratissiraa raihi fuit a te raissa de Janne et Jarabre dissertatio ; ut et praeclari illius Lexici, unde ea excerpta est, speciraen apud vos impressum, cha ractere et ordine tali operi convenientissirao, Deus Opt. Max. egregiis tuis conatibus adsit, et labo ribus benedicat. JA. U. AR. Dublinii^ Idibus Juniis ann. MDCXXXIir. LETTERS. 565 LETTER CLXXXIX. THE LEARNED JOHN BUXTORF TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. Viro reverendissime et amplissimo D, Jacobo Usserio archiepiscopo Arma- chano dignissimo, &c. Domino meo plurimum colendo et observando. Vir Reverendissime, Quod ego tenuissiraae, et infimae condi- tionis homuncio, ex ultimis Gerraaniae oris, te in floren tissimo Hiberniae regno, virura priraariura, in surama ecclesiasticae dignitatis sede constitutura, Uteris raeis corapellare, ac in tanta talique negotiorura mole intertur- bare audeo, id ne meae vel temeritati vel arabitioni a Rev. T. D. attribuatur, ut decet, observanter peto ; quamvis enim jam ante aliquos annos insignis tuae pietatis et eru ditionis, maximae etiam in Unguis orientalibus peritiae faraa apud nos percrebuerit, et ad aures raeas pervenerit, ita ut vel hinc stimulus mihi ad ambitiunculara aliquara favoris tui quaerendi dari potuerit : taraen, quia raeo me novi metiri modulo, facile agnovi, longe et aetate, et eru- ditioue et conditione inferiorem me esse, quam ut tanto- rura heroura liraina salutare, vel araicitiara solUcitare debeam. Quadriennium est, ex quo D. Matthias Pasor, Oxoniae tura Uteras Syriacas et Arabicas docens, in suis ad rae Uteris T. D. araplissiraara mentionem fecit ; et de loco quodam in Bibliis Hebraicis a patre meo editis, a R. T. ill libro quodam Anglicano ceiisoria virgula notato monuit, petens ut ad id respon^i aliquid sibi subrainistrem ; operam se daturum, ut D. T. id innotescat. Respondi equidem D. Pasori : sed nescio an aliquid de eo ad T, D. 660 LETTERS. perlatum fuerit. BibUothecae tuae instructissimae, et libris orientaUbus quoque refertissimae publicura encoraiura legi in coramentario quatuor EvangeUorum Ludovici de Dieu, amici raei singularis, quod et ipsura in admirationem et araorera tui rae abripuit. Nihil taraen horura eo me impel- lere potuisset, quo nunc progressus sura, nisi a doctissimo et praestantissirao populari raeo D. Jacobo Frey, proregis vestri filii illustrissimi ephoro et moderatore cum per Uteras tum ore tenus nunc ad id faciendum instigatus fuissem. Is enim de T. D. erga parentem raeura defunc- tum, et erga me superstitem amico affectu, candidoque de laboribus nostris publicis judicio, tara prolixe retulit, ut firmiter tandem mihi persuaserim, non ingratum tibi fore, si ipsemet per Uteras studiorum partim praeteritorum, par tira praesentiura rationem reddam, et de quibus R. T. cer tior nostro nomine fieri cupit ex me ipso intelUgat. Intellexi ex D. Passore et D. Frey R. T. in Bibliis pa rentis p. ra. id desiderare, quod castrata et a censoribus Romanis expurgata exemplaria, posteriores sciUcet edi tiones Venetas, sit secutus, atque id raonere in libro suo Anglicano, ex occasione loci ex Aben Esra, Gen. cap. XXXVII. ver. 35. Hoc quod attinet, sciat velim T. R. exemplar illud, ex quo in nostris BibUis Basileensibus expressa sunt commentaria Rabbinorum, fuisse tertiam editionem Venetam, non quod illud prae caeteris eUgeretur, sed quia ita se forte obtulit et prioribus editionibus emen- datius esse credebatur. Deinde quod ilia quae contra Christianos faciunt non fuerint restituta, factum esse, partira raandato et voluntate raagistratus nostri qui ea lege perraisit editionera illam, ut ne quid vel in Christum blas- phemi, vel in Christianos et Christianara religionem male- dici et contumeliosi in iis relinqueretur. Et qui novit persecutiones et odia gravissiraa, quae occasione Bibliorum istorum in hac ipsa urbe contra se excitavit pater raeus, non mirabitur, ipsum sibi ab istius raodi Judaeorura cavillis exprimendis cavisse. Ad haec, coUegerat ilia loca crania pater meus, et in praefatione, quam illis praefigere volebat proponere voluit. Quia autem post absolutam editionem aliud consiUura ceperat, de tripUci coramentario addendo, LETTERS. 567 Masorethico scilicet Chaldaico, et Hebraeo, in comraenta rium Hebraicum ista reservabat, vel in peculiarem tracta- tatum quam parabat de blasphemiis Judfeorum contra Chris tianos. Masorethicura coraraentarium edidit. Coraraen- tarium Chaldaicum, qui notas continet criticas in univer sura Targura, confectura penes rae habeo edendum, quara priraura meliora his studiis affulserint tempora. Com raentarium Hebraicura, in quo de lingua Hebraica, et Hebraeorum codicum puritate agere volebat, inchoavit, et jam aliquo usque perduxit, sed non absolvit. In hoc quoque cogitabat prolixe et speciatim agere, de Keri uketif, Tikkun Sopherim, de punctorum vocalium origine, aliisque rebus ad hanc materiam spectantibus. Cogitabat etiara his subnectere tractatura de lectione Rabbinorum. Sed partira alii labores, partira Parcae iniquae ea nobis invide- runt. Locuraautera AbenEzraGen.cap. XXXVII.ver.35. Q''37inb D3~irH2n ita quoque expressura invenio in nostra editione. Sed in tertia editione Veneta vox Q"'J?inb est oraissa. Sirailis locus est Gen. cap. XVIII. ab initio in eodem, "naN ni"l "^VMI errantes spiritu dicunt, hoc est, Christiani : pro quo in Bib. Bas. ex tertia editione Veneta substitutum r^Sp nan. Num. cap. XXIV. ver. 19. R. Sal. ad l"ij?J3 T~IE7 T^Sm in Veneta secunda editione est "lai-i s'^m cms hw nnwnn -T'sa. Zach.cap. XIII.ver.7. Ad verba nyin riN "fn percute pastorem, R. Sal. glossa, nytZJnn Qns ^ba nw videri potest etiam in Kimchio Obad. 1. Jes. cap. XXXIV. ver. 1. et Jes. cap. XXXI. ver. 1. ab initio. R. Sal. Jer. cap. XXXI. ver. 40. imi3 bv T'S'^a bw invitis haereticis. Jes. cap. IX. ver. 6. roic^nb Q''3''a edit, in Veneta, pro quo in Bas. Cpbinn. Talia loca et alibi reperiuntur, quae raajore ex parte in lexico rabbinico sparsim reperies. TaUa etiam sunt in paraphrase Chal daica. Thren. cap. V. ver. II. priores editiones Venetae ''WaTl ia 1S''35?nN posteriores et Bas. '>Nn313 ia. Num. cap. XXIV. ver. 19. in libris antiquis legitur, ut et Elias ad- ducit, ''ai-i s-'m S3''n «5i3 ia "iTitz^n na ba n'' ^str'^v Jesa. cap. .LIV, snaTI'' "'ail i3na Bas, sn^TI'' N313 "I33B Videri potest etiara Mich. cap. VII. ver. 8. et ibid. R. Solomon, sic et ver. 10. Psal, CVIII. ver, 11, Thren, 668 LETTERS, cap. IV. ver. 22. 1 Sara. cap. II. ver. 5. Jesa. cap. XXXIV. &c, Haecet alia loca in coraraentario Chaldaico parentis diligenter sunt annotata, et ex antiquis exerapla- ribus restituta. De punctorura apud Hebraeos origine pater meus con stanter in ea sententia permansit, antiquius inventura esse Masorethis, et eo seraper colliraaverit, ut illorura antiqui talem ad Esrara referret, sicque tanto certius divinam quoque authoritatem illis assereret. Nam si ita est, ut Lutherus alicubi graramaticos monet, ut lectionem, ubi grammatica id patitur, audaciter contra Judaeos corri- gamus et emenderaus, et, quod Mercerus vir doctissimus vult, non adstricti esse debearaus ad lectionera vocalium, audactos judices et eraendatores passira reperiemus. Ad librum ilium, qui sub Erpenii nomine prodiit, consulto noluit respondere pater raeus. Existiraabat adhuc ad plenariura quaestionis illus tractationem authores quos dam esse a Judaeis ex quibus uti ipse ad Capellum scripsit, antiquiora quaedam speravit. In Tiberiade non ex professo illam quaestionem tractavit, tantum Masore- thas illos Tiberienses Elianos indagare voluit, et num qui tum super vocales scripserint iidem fuerint et vocalium inventores. Quod non obscure se deraonstrasse autu- raavit. Sane a nonnulUs pontificiis ipsis id eo usque obti nuit, ut in ejus concesserint sententiara, prout literae ex ipsa urbe Roraa ad eum scriptae, quas adservo, id testan tur. Pluriraa habuit, quae ad illara tractandam surarao studio a longis annis coUegerat, quae, si per vitam loiigiorem saepius optavit, licuisset ei dirigere et publice proponere, Capello et aliis viris doctis novos scrupulos injecissent et forte eos in aliara sententiam pertraxissent. Author ipse erat Capello, ut diutius suum tractatura pre- raeret, neque adhuc juris publici faceret. Nara habuiraus et legimus eum antequain irapriraeretur. Sed aliter visum esc ei et D. Erpenio p. m. sine tamen ulla ejus offensione. Magis euim soUicitus erat pater meus ingravescente prae- seilim aetate de lexico suo absolvendo, in quo tot anno- tain improbos labores jara exaiitlarat. Et divina assis- tiiiite giatia omnes jiteias absolvit, sed confuse admodum, LETTERS. 509 ita ut necesse fuerit omnia de novo digerere, et descri- bere, qui meus fuit labor hoc biennio, a quo concordan tias Hebraeas absolutas dedi, ut nunc nihil aliud restat, nisi typographus promptus et Mecaenates, quorum favore et auxilio in lucem edatur. Viginti quatuor nunc sunt anni ex quo prima fundamenta jecit, sed spero in plures annos victurura et duraturum. Editionera jara remoran- tur calamitosa haec tempora, quibus et typographi ne gratis quidera libros impriraendos suscipiant, tantum abest ut aequo pro laboribus pretio illos velint redimere, et patroni viris doctis desunt, qui alacritatem ipsorura exci- tent et foveant. Providebit autera Deus. Ego sane nihil non agara ut quarapriraum fieri potest, lucem aspiciat. Volebam ad has nundinas titulum ejus iraprirai curare, sed certo consilio id distuli. Ut interim R. T, D. gustum aliquem totius operis accipiat, delineationem quandam tituli hie adjungo. Quantitate, ni fallor, superabit lexi con Schindleri : sed longe alia ratione est conscriptum. Porro monuit me etiam D, Freyus in suis ad me Uteris D. T. judicare me operam non perditurura, si pari ratione, qua in transferendo More Nevochira incepi, authores etiara nonnullos historicos transferendos susceperim, ut 1''DnV ~13D et CDbl37 TID"* quod ab eo tempore nil simile ten- tari causa fuit quod hactenus in parentis laboribus eden- dis et absolvendis detentus fuerim, et adhuc detinear, Videbo autem, ut inposterum ostendara rae T, R, judi cium magni-fecisse. Haud difficile illud erit, si otiura ad ea suppet et, et '[''Dn")'' "iBD habeo ; sed alterum non, Invenio in adversariis meis, me antea in academia Archipalatina eum vidisse, sed ubi nunc sit, novit Deus ; ubi impressus sit, ignore. Inquirara autera ; saepe citatur in Juchasin. Quod si tranquilliora essent terapora, varia baberem, quae juris publici facerem. Comraunicavi nuper cura D, Con- stantinol'Empereur Sepher Hizzachon manuscriptura, quera ni fallor transferendum et refutandura suscipit. Sed ex- cedo modura epistolae, Haec visum est ad ea quae T, R. D. nomine mihi proposita fuerunt respondere. Ea ut aequi bonique consulat, meque illustri suo favore et patrocinio dignetur, humiUime rogo, Deura Opt. Max. aiiimitus orans 570 LETTERS. ut R. T. D. quam diutissime Ecclesiae suo bono sospitaie veUt. Dab. BasU. anno 1033. d. 26, Aug, Reverendiss. dignit. T. addictissimus JOHANNES BUXTORFIUS. Linguae sanctae in academia Basileensi professor. LETTERS. 57 I LETTER CXC. THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH TO THE MOST REV. WILLIAM LAUD, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. My MOST GRACIOUS LoRD, When I took pen to write, the first thing that presented itself to my thoughts, was that saying in the Scripture : " Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house ?" For me thought I could not but be much blamed for coming thus late to congratulate both his Ma jesty's safe return, and your own advancement (joined therewith) unto the highest place of Church-preferment, that is within his Highness's dominions. Wherein I may truly say thus rauch for myself, (to begin withal) ; that since the time I received the letter you wrote unto me the day before you began your journey for Scotland, no day hath passed hitherto, wherein I have not made particular mention of you in my prayers unto Alraighty God ; who hath graciously heard my request, and granted [therein] as much as my heart could desire. But thus in the mean time did the case stand with me : upon the arrival of the Lord Deputy, I found him very honourably affected toward me, and very ready to further me, as in other things that concerned the Church, so particularly in that which did concern the settlement of the lands belonging to the arch bishoprick of Arraagh. Wherefore, not being willing to let slip so fair an opportunity, I presently obtained a com mission for raaking an inquiry of all the lands that re mained in my quiet possession : and took my journey (though in an unseasonable time of the year) into the 572 LETTERS. northern parts of the kingdora. Where besides the speed ing of the offices that were taken in the three several counties of Arraagh, Tyrone, and Londonderry, there was offered the opportunity of soleranizing the translation of the bishop of Raphoe, and a consecration of the bishop of Ardagh, in the cathedral church of Armagh ; where no such act had been before performed within the meraory of any raan living. And much about this tirae had we the news of your grace's election into that high dignity which his Majesty hath called you unto : for which, as this poor Church in general, so none raore than rayself in particular have great cause to rejoice. God having, no doubt, given you such high favour in our master's eyes, that you might be enabled thereby to do the more good unto his Church; and especially to put a happy end to that great work (which hitherto hath received so many impediraents) of settling the reversion of the impropriations of this king dom upon the several incumbents. Whereunto I assure myself your grace will easily work with my lord deputy, who every day showeth himself so zealous for the recover ing of the dissipated patrimony of the Church, that mine eyes never yet beheld his match in that kind. By the death of your predecessor our university of Dublin was left to seek a new chancellor ; whom 1 advised to pitch upon no other but yourself: which they did with all readiness and alacrity. If your grace will deign to re ceive that poor society under the shadow of your wings, you shall put a further tie of observance, not upon that only, but upon me also, who had my whole breeding there, and obtained the honour of being the first proctor that ever was there. I am further intreated by our lord treasurer, the earl of Cork, to certify my knovi'ledge touching the placing of his monument in the cathedral church of St. Patrick's, in the suburbs of Dublin. The place wherein it is erected was an ancient passage into a chapel within that church ; which hath, tirae out of raind, been stopped up with a partition made of boards and lime. I remember 1 was present when the earl concluded with the dean to allow thirty LETTERS. 573 pounds for the raising of another partition, betwixt this new monuraent and the choir, wherein the ten command ments might be fairly written : which if it were put up, I see not what oifence could be taken at the monument ; which otherwise cannot be denied to be a very great orna ment to the church. I have nothing at hand to present your grace withal, but this sraall treatise written unto Pope Calixtus II. by one of your predecessors, touching the ancient dignity of the see of Canterbury, which I beseech you to accept at the hands of Your Grace's raost devoted servant, J. A. 574 LETTERS LETTER CXCI. ANOTHER LETTER TO THE SAME, MAy IT PLEASE YOUR GraCE, Upon my return from my northern journey I wrote unto you by Sir Francis Cook ; declaring the cause of ray long silence, together with the extraordi nary zeal of our noble lord deputy ; I raay justly term him a new Zerubbabel raised by God, for the making up of the ruins of this decayed Church ; who, upon an occasion, openly declared himself an opposite to the greatest of those that have devoured our holy things, and made the patrimony of the Church the inheritance of their sons and daughters. I likewise made bold to intreat your lordship (in the same letter) to accept our poor university of Dublin into your gracious protection. I caused the draught of two other letters to be made, in the name of the society, unto your grace ; the one penned by the Provost, the other by Dr. Hoyle, the divinity professor there. But the fellows of the house were so factious, that nothing could please them which carae from their superiors ; and so idle, that they would not take pains to do the like themselves. So that now I have the more cause to implore your grace's aid afresh, and to present you with a new supplication of " miserere domus labentis." Wherein that I may conceal nothing from your grace, the very truth is this : the Pro vost, albeit he be a very honest man, and one that mindeth the good of the house, yet is of too soft and gentle a dis position to rule so heady a company. The lord bishop of Kilraore, while he was provost there, composed statutes LETTERS. 575 for the good of the house, conformable to those of Emma nuel-College in Cambridge, where he himself in former tirae lived. But there is so little power given to the Pro vost for redressing of things that are amiss, without the consent of the greater part of the senior fellows, that they, finding thereby their own strength, perpetually join toge ther in crossing whatsoever the Provost attempteth for re formation, either of themselves or of the scholars ; being sure never to give their consent that any punishment shall be inflicted upon themselves, either for absenting them selves from the church, or lying out of the house, or fre quenting of taverns, or other such enormities. So that the Provost, by their perverse deaUng, being now made weary of his place, it were to be wished that sorae other preferraent might be found for him ; and one of a raore rigid teraper, and stouter disposition, placed in his room ; for such a wedge, for the breaking of so evil a knot, must necessarUy be used. The earl fearing that my former letter might not have come unto your hands, hath earnestly entreated rae to write thus rauch again ; which as I could not well deny unto hira, being but the bearing of a testiraony to the very truth, so do I wholly submit the same unto your graver judgment. Your Grace's most devoted servant, J. A, 576 LETTERS, LETTER CXCII, CONSTANTINUS L'EMPEREUR AB OPPICH TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. Illustrissimo Prsesuli D. Jacobo Usserio Archiepiscopo Armachano, Hibernias Primati. Su. S. V. S. P. a D. Jesu. Illustrissime Praesul, Non sum is qui rem nihili censeat, viros magnos morari in seriis negotiis quibus assidue distinentur : novi quanti sit Ecclesiae vel uni praeesse, nedum tot ac tantis, quae terapus vacuura praeterfluere non sinunt, ut alias lucubrationes praetereara quibus et absentes ac pos- teritatera doces. Nihilo secius, opportunitatem commo- dissiraara ab iis nactus, qui singularera illustris dignitatis tuae benignitatem et comitatera raihi depraedicarunt, in ipsa fiduciam concepi, non ingratum fore, si cujus compel- landi causa vel longura iter susciperem, eundem epistolari alloquio in tanta Uteras deferentium coraraoditate affiarer. Adjungerera etiara quaedara opuscula raea, nisi jam satis diu edita essent, adeoque nuUus dubitarem quin in in- structissiraum penu illata sint. Sed olim (de quo mihi ad modum gratulor) manuscriptum codicera accepi satis carle attritura, quo a Judaeo quodam congestum est, quicquid adversus religionem Christianara aiferre atque objicere Judaei possunt, quod quidem alicujus sit momenti. Hunc Rabbinicum codicera ubi in Latinura serraonera convertero (id enim ago) et objectionibus respondere : faciam Deo dante ut illustrissima tua dignitas exemplar quamprimum habeat. Et quandoquidera intellexi, et antiquis et raris letters, 577 manuscriptis illustrissimam tuara dignitatem percipere magnam venustatem, reticere nequeo, quin et de alio ma nuscripto (cujus me compotem fecit D, Buxtorfius) men- tionera injiciara : nomen est Nizahon. virulentum scriptum contra Christianos. Vertere etiam coepi, ut eodera raodo edam, atque transraittara. Porro cum in D. tuae instruc- tissiraa bibliotheca Syriacura in Biblia comraentarium esse intellexerim sive thesaurura secretarium ; atque ab iis qui Vetus Testamentum transferunt in linguara Belgicam roga- tus sim, ut observationes ad loca diflBcUiora porro suppe- ditera : si optare Uceret, istius Syriaci in Hagiographa et prophetas posteriores commentarii usum ad terapus con- cedi exoptarera. Nara Pentateuchura et reliquos historicos quod concernit, istos jam exarainarunt revisores (ut vo cant) atque ad Hagiographa pergunt. In locis dubiis Abrabanielera meum (omniura coraraentatorum coryphae- ura) consulere soleo : sed ne is quidera per omnia satisfacit. Attaraen ne vel minimum quidera hac raea petitione D. tuae coramodis obesse velim : neque coraraittendum censeo ut liber adeo rarus cum discrimine et amittendi periculo in incertum mittatur ; verura suo loco relinquendura, si tuta raittendi ratio desit, existirao. De Chronico Saraari- tanorura Arabico, cum coUega D. Golio egi : quod D. tuae votum esse cognoseerem ut ex Arabico in Latinura verte- retur. Sed tot jam negotiis se iraplicitum queritur, ut hoc tempore id praestare nequeat : ita enim praeter stata negotia undique solUcitari, ut suus non sit. Cyclum de nique Paschalera V. M. (de quo D. T. ad Dorainum Frey perscripserat) in nostra bibliotheca nondum invenire potui. Hactenus curas tuas interpellari, boni quffiso consulas : tua facilitate fretus, id feci, qui mea oflBcia oflfero. lUustrissimae dignitati tu^, cujus cliens audire gestio CONSTANTINUS L'EMPEREUR Ab Oppych. Lugd-Bat. 16. Kal, Deo. An. 1633. partse salutis, VOL, XV. P P 578 LETTERS, LETTER CXCIII. THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH TO DR, WARD, Salutem in Christo Jesu. The gentlewoman with whom I got acquainted at Had- hara, being to go directly unto Cambridge, I could not but salute you in a word or two, for methinks it is some what long since we have written one to another ; the fault whereof I acknowledge doth principally lie on my part. I have little to certify you from hence, but that the good bishop of Derry, Dr. Downhara, departed this life the 17th of this present, and your Dr. Bramhall is like to succeed him in that bishoprick, which is absolutely the best in this whole kingdom. We have a parliaraent to be sumraoned here very shortly, upon the good success whereof the whole settlement of this kingdora dependeth. I must still renew my former motion made unto you for the copy of your lectures touching the eucharist, and my lord of Salisbury's, and yours also touching the Arminian controversies : for, as I declared my mind unto you therein heretofore, I would not have them hazarded in one copy. I guess that he who wrote the animadversions upon your Latin sermon, De gratia discrirainante, is our' dean of Cashel, who purposeth very shortly to visit you in Eng land. There coraeth little else to my raind to mention at this time : and therefore, with reraembrance of ray thank ful and hearty aff'ection to yourself and your good wife, I corarait you to God's blessing, and rest. Your own most assured, JA. ARMACHANUS, Dublin, April 30. 1634, LETTERS. 579 LETTER CXCIV. DR. WARD TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. Most Rev. and my very good Lord, I received your grace's letter of the 30th of April, for which I humbly thank your lordship, and crave pardon withal of my long silence. I am right sorry to hear of the late decease of the worthy bishop of Derry; boni deficiunt, raali proficiunt. I heard, before the receipt of your lordship's letter, of it at London. I heard also there, that Dr. Bramhall of our college was likely to succeed him: I pray God he may succeed him, as in place, so in all his virtues and virtuous actions. I pray God to be assistant to the parliaraent of state with you, and to bless all the proceedings therein, and to give an happy success to that honourable meeting, in all their important affairs. For my lectures of the eucharist, I have as yet no leisure to transcribe them, nor others touching the remonstrants. As for my lord of Sarum his readings, I will see if I can get Mr. Burnet to procure them to be transcribed. As for an answer to the Animadversions you mention, I will (God willing) ere long send your lordship a copy of them. The author of the Animadversions is now with us. We have had some doings here of late about one of Pembroke-Hall, who preaching in St. Mary's, about the beginning of Lent, upon that text, James, chap. II. ver. 22. seemed to avouch the insufficiency of faith to jus tification, and to impugn the doctrine of our 11th article T p2 580 LETTERS. of justification by faith only; for which he was convented by the vice-chancellor, who was willing to accept of an easy acknowledgment : but the same party preaching his Latin serraon, pro gradu, the last week, upon Rom. chap. III. ver. 28, he said, he came not, palinodiara canere, sed eandem cantilenara canere ; which moved our vice-chan cellor, Dr, Love, to call for his sermon; which he refused to deliver. Whereupon, upon Wednesday last, being Barnaby day, the day appointed for the adraission of the bachelors of divinity, and the choice of the bachelors of divinity, which raust answer die comitiorura ; he was stayed by the major part ofthe suffrages ofthe doctors of the faculty. And though sundry doctors did favour him, and would have had him to be the man that should answer die Coraitiorum, yet he is put by, and one Mr, Flatkers of our college chosen to answer. Whose first question is, ], Sola fides justificat, 2. Realis praesentia Christi in eucharistia non ponit transubstantiationem. The truth is, there are some heads among us, that are great abettors of Mr, Tourney, the party above-mentioned, who no doubt are backed by others, I pray God we may persist in the doctrine qf our Church, contained in our Articles and Homilies, Innovators are too rauch favoured now a_-days. Our vice-chancellor hath carried business for raatter of religion, both stoutly and discreetly, Dr, Lane died on Sunday last, and was buried in the night upon Tuesday, in St, John's college. It may be you are willing to hear of our university affairs. I may truly say, I never knew them in worse con dition since I was a member thereof, which is almost forty- six years. Not but that I hope the greater part is ortho dox ; but that new heads are brought in, and they are backed in maintaining novelties, and thera which broach new opinions, as I doubt not but you hear ; others are disgraced and checked when they corae above, as myself was by my lord of York the last Lent, for favouring Puri- LETTERS. 581 tans in consistory ; and all from false informations from hence, which are believed without any examination. At that time also I entreated my lord of Canterbury to speak to the dean of Wells that now is, who had sundry times excepted against me for not residing three months per annum, as I should by charter, which I nothing doubt but it was by his instigation, he proraised me then he would; but not having done it yet, I repaired again to my lord's grace about it in Noveraber. But now he cannot, for that his Majesty hath given him in charge to take account of the bishops in his province, how residence is kept. I told him my case was not every man's case ; and that I had a benefice, at which I desired to be in the vacation time ; but nothing would prevail. And yet, as I told him, I am every year at Wells, soraetiraes a raonth or six weeks. I think they would have rae out of ray professor's place, and I could wish the same, if I could have one to succeed ac cording to my raind, for then 1 should have leisure to transcribe things. Well, howsoever, God's will be done, and he teach us humility and patience, I heard also of some doings with you. The Lord of heaven direct you and us, and teach us to submit to him in all things, I have not yet sent my answer to Mr, Ch. but intend ere long. I have not finished yet one point, to show the Arminian opinions were condemned in the synods which condemned the Pelagian heresy. At Mr. Burnet's importunity, who could not get a good scrivener to transcribe my lord of Sarum's readings, De praedestinatione, et morte Christi ; I gave way that he should send it to you ; which I intreat your lordship, if you have received it, to return it rae, as soon and as safely as you conveniently can. The tractate De prffidestinatianis, in defence of your lordship, (I know not your adversary, nor his name) is Dr. Twiss's ; it may be he hath sent your lordship a copy of it. He is a deserving man. We have a vice-chancellor that fa- voureth novelties, both in rites and doctrines, I could write more, sed manum de tabula : the greatest part of this was inclosed in the letter your lordship had sent 582 LETTERS. January 14. I made now a few additions. And so I rest. Your Grace's in all observance, SAMUEL WARD. Dr. Baden, a dean with you in Ireland, answereth the act, In Vesperis coraitiorum. His questions are, 1. Justificatio non suscipit magis et minus. 2. Non dantur consilia perfectionis supra legem. Sidn. Coll, Jun, 14. 1634. LETTERS. 583 LETTER CXCV, THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH TO DR, WARD, Good Doctor, I RECEIVED with your last letter the Penitential Canons of Maimonides, for which I heartUy thank you. In lieu whereof, I hereby send you the His tory of Gotteschalcus, the first Latin book, I suppose, that ever was printed in Ireland ; I have directed it (as you see) to Mr. Vossius ; but upon your advertiseraent, forbore to corarait the publication of it unto him. For the Arrainian questions, I desire never to read any more than my lord of Salisbury's lectures touching predestination and Christ's death ; and yours concerning grace and free-will ; together with the deterraination of the question of perse verance, which you showed unto me. The book of Scotus in Bennet college I guess to be the same with a manuscript which I have myself, without the author's name, beginning thus : " Quod status Praelatorura, viz. pastorura Ecclesiae presupponit statum alium, probatur sic." I had thought the other had been written by Johannes Erigena, or else I had not much desired it : but now I discern it carae from Johannes Duns, I do not much esteem it. If I be not deceived, being once in talk of Scaliger at your table, Mr. Mede made mention of some mistake of his in the fragments of Abydenus or Berosus, which he hath published at the end of his book De emendatione temporum, but what it was I cannot call to remerabrance : if you have a better memory, I pray you help mine ; or else inquire of Mr. Mede hiraself when you shall next see him. I received a very kind letter from Mr. Vossius, for 584 LETTERS. my History of Gotteschalcus. A copy of your writings, touching the efficacy of baptisra, and the questions with the remonstrants, I rauch desire. Dr. Twisse I see (as you feared) hath foUowed the rigid part. I have gotten a good large fragraent of the beginning of Clement's genuine epistle to the Corinthians. Your own raost assured, JA. ARMACHANUS. LETTERS. LETTER CXCVI, CONSTANTINUS L EMPEREUR AB OPPYCH TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. Illustrissimo Primati D. Jacobo Usserio Archiepiscopo Armachano, Hiberniae Primati. I. V. S. P. Vir Reverende, Est quod raihi adraodura gratuler, qui, cum antea viro illustri nonnisi de nomine innotuissem, et tamen quod in votis habebam audacter petiissem, tantam e vestigio nactus sim benevolentiam, ut illustris tua dignitas expetitum comraentariorum in sacras Uteras volumen Syriacum transmittere gravata non fuerit. Dabitur, Deo favente, opera ut fideliter in Hiberniam transmittatur, ubi usus fuero. In Veteri Testaraento spei meae non respondet: licet subinde notatu digna aniraadvertam. Ad textum Syriacum commentaria accommodata sunt ; non vero (quod aKpijiEia suadebat) consultus fuit Ebraicus, Irao quantura adhuc videre possura, Syriacus, quo usus fuit, contextus e Graeco expressus fuit : ideoque saepe aliter legit author quam in Ebraeo extat, Aliquando etiam verba de indus tria secus coUocat, quam invenit. Graecae linguae peritiara prae se fert: et in Syriaca nirais anxie, quae ad vocales spectant, persequitur. Occidentalem Syrum fuisse, id est, viciniorem mari Mediterraneo, ostendit quod sect. 28. Usa. annotat. Tandem hoc observe, (ut omnia conglome- rem, quae e lectione in mentem veniunt) non satis ad mes- sara applicare, quae ad ipsum passim directa fuere. Nihi lominus pro usu istius libri gratias habeo raaximas : in- 586 LETTERS. prirais cura praeclara annotentur in Testaraentum Novum. Quae in caput priraura Matthaei observata sunt evolvi; pla- centad modum. Caeterum, est in illustris D,T, bibliotheca, uti intelligo, versio Syriaca duplex V. T. patruus autem meus D. Antonius Thysius paratum habet comraentariura in duo priora capita Geneseos ubi historiara creationis illustrat, cui praeraittere statuit versiones priraarias : ideoque summa diligentia e varus autoribus, Symraachi, Theodotionis, Aquilffi, &c. interpretamenta ita coUegit, ut continuum contextum reddant. Itaque valde sibi gratum fore dicit, si versionem Syriacara ab amanuensi aliquo descriptam obtinere in 2. cap. Gen, posset. Hoc vix a rae irapetro, utsubjungara: verum fortassis post libri editionera, istius consilii se non factura certiorera, D. tua aegre ferret : ut cui hoc unura cordi sit, prodesse publico. Hie subsisto, et Patri D. nostri I, Christi coraraendo, lUustrem tuara dignitatera, Cujus permanere gestio cliens humillimus CONSTANTINUS L'EMPEREUR Ab Oppych. Lug. Bat. 3. Kal. Jul. ann, partse salutis, 1634. letters. 587 LETTER CXCVII. DR. WARD TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. Most Rev. and my very good Lord, Our comraenceraent is now over, where dean Baden, now Dr. Baden, did well perform his part, who answered the act vesperis coraitiorum. And so did the bachelor of divinity, die coraitiorum, being one of the fellows of our college. The vice-chancellor. Dr. Love, did well perform his part, especially in encountering with one Franciscus de S. Clara, (but his true narae is Daven port) who in a book set forth at Doway, would reconcile (si diis placet) our articles of religion with the definitions of the council of Trent. But we have dismissed the audi tors this year, with much more content than they were the year before. Our stirs we had a little before the com raenceraent, are pretty well over. There is a little book intituled Brevis Disquisitio, which I suppose your lordship hath seen : it containeth in it sundry, both Socinian and Pelagian points ; as also that the body which shall be raised in the resurrection, is not idera numero; also souls do not live till the resurrection; besides sundry other points: it is printed Eleutheropoli: it is said it cometh out of Eton College, and that Alesius should be the au thor, who was at Dort with us. I am sorry such a book should come thence. In my last letters from ray lord of KUraore, he was inquisitive of the ancient codes of canons, as being desirous to inquire into the ancient discipline of the Church, Your lordship could direct hira for books. If he would undertake it, he would do it to some purpose. 588 LETTERS. And there are not many books necessary to know the sub stance of it ; as Codex canonum universalis Ecclesiae, et Codex Aphricanus ; with Zonarus and Balsamon upon thera, and the TruUan Canons, and Codex Roraanus re printed, which obtained in the western Church. At bet ter leisure I will write to him more at large. In the mean tirae, I told him your lordship could show them all the fore-named. Thus in some haste, I beseech God to bless you, and your parliaraent in all their weighty affairs ; and so intreat your prayers for us. And so with ray salutations to you, ray much honoured lord, I commend you to the gracious protection of the highest Majesty, resting, Your Lordship's in all Affectionate observance, SAMUEL WARD. Cambridge, July 7. 1634. LETTERS. 589 LETTER CXCVIII. CONSTANTINUS l'eMPEREUR AB OPPYCH TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH, D. 1. v. S. P. Pr^sul Venerande, Tu denuo eum qui humanitatem tuam, ipsa fretus. Uteris fatigare non erubescit: quas fideliter datas sperare non desino, donee secus intelligam. Pos- trerais raeis scripta quaedam a me publici juris facta trans misi: ubi inter caetera, quae de septuaginta septimanis Prophetae Danielis mea sit sententia vel conjectura plene exposui : quemadmodura in transraissis ad Danielem notis videre licet. Memini etiam quura de Gregorio Syro, cu jus sunt istae Syriacae notae raanuscriptae in V. et N. T. quura inquara de ipso agerem, me in hac fuisse sententia, eura usura fuisse Syra versione e LXX. concinnata : quod in Isaia eam alicubi cura Ebraeo, quam cum Graeco contex- tu magis convenire deprehendissem. Verura postea in isto scriptore amplius evolvendo sententiam mutavi: comraen- tatur enim ad versionem ex Ebraeo confectam ; licet non usquequaque cum eo concordantem, sed aliquando ad Grfficos interpretes deflectentem. Ipse taraen initio com raentariorum in Genesin, ubi se usura ilia versione profite- tur, cum originali textum (quem tamen non intellexit) exactissime facere arbitratur. Caeterum, reverendissime domine, est apud nos vir nobilis et doctissimus, qui om nium reformatarum ecclesiarum confessiones editurus, aliquoties me solUcitavit, ne dignitatem tuam percunctari gravarer, num extet propria Hibernicarum ecclesiarum confessio. Existimat vir doctus et pius, non exiguam se 590 LETTERS, reportaturum gratiam, si consensu coramunissirao ortho- doxiara confirmatum iret. Denique hic una mitto Clavem Talmudicara nuper a rae editara : quorsum et cui bono, docebit dissertatio ad lectorera. Hoc levidense munuscu lum aequi bonique facias quaeso : utpote ab eo profectura, qui tua merita deosculans, aniraura gratura, si posset, aliquo signo ostendere anniteretur. Vale, antistes venerande, Deura veneror ut tuos conatus et labores prosperet. Dignitatis tuae cultor hurailUmus CONSTANTINUS L'EMPEREUR Ab Oppych. Dabam Lugd. Bat. 21. Dec. an, partae salutis, 1634. END OF VOL. XV. 3 9002 00708 8355