66 a jealousy that some of the Bishops hindered "the meeting of a Convocation in the last Parliament, and therefore would the more "earneftly prefs upon us now. And I begged them, therefore, fince the Duke of Ormond "was daily expected, to come to an immediate determination; left otherwife we fhould be driven to that which we ought "to make our own choice. Two of the "Archbishops laboured to put off this matter, "and feemed to fhew fome uneafinefs at "the motion. But the question being preffed, and the current running ftrong for a Convocation, we all at laft declared for one. If there fhould be any coolnefs in this matter "hereafter, all poffible care fhall be taken "to put a new warmth into them." I have alfo this poft gotten a letter from Dr. S.* to the Primate of Ireland †, preffing him very earnestly to infift with the Lord Lieutenant for a Convocation, and telling him now what the expectations of his friends on this fide the water are; and how much they think depends on his moving vigorously in the matter. It is a very large letter, and extremely well writ; and I doubt not but Q. Who was this? Dr. Narciffus Marth. 7 that that that word, and the other means used will have a good effect. He hath put me under fuch folemn reftrictions, that I cannot fend your Lordship a copy of it. I am your Lordship's most dutiful humble fervant, FR. ATTERBURY, I LETTER XXXVI. To Bp. TRELAWN Y. Chelfea, Aug. 3, 703, MAY IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP, HAVE acquainted Mr. Butler with what you were pleased to write to me. He likes what he hath done fo much the better, because he finds it is fo grateful to your Lordship, and to all the true friends of the Church and University, whose thanks he hath received on this occafion. It appears now, that there was a mystery of iniquity in the management of that mat ter ter. The fellows of Mr. Braithwait's * fide were of opinion, that the registers of the College would afford them an inftance, or inftances, where a fingle fellow had determined the choice of the warden by voting for himself. They preffed to fee the regifters: but Trimnell's + party, who had them in poffeffion, would not let them be feen. Their advocate, Dr. Waller, at Farnham, affirmed with all the affurance in the world, that they had fearched the registers for 300 years past, and there was no inftance of any one who had ever been fo vain and ridiculous as to vote for himfelf. When the point was turned for Mr. Braithwait, and the registers confequently came into his power, upon infpecting them, this paffage was found there, in the very terms wherein I have transcribed it for your Lordship on the other fide of the paper. It was fent me from Oxford on Saturday last, taken out of the original register by a faithful hand. Had this been known at firft, there could not have been any poffible difpute between Trimnell and Braithwait; and *Thomas, LL.D. elected Warden of New College, Oxford, 1703. Charles, D. D. Archdeacon of Norfolk. Trimnell's people therefore honeftly kept it a fecret. I am your Lordship's most dutiful and most humble fervant, FR. ATTERBURY. "Et prædictus Robertus Pynke, in Artibus Magister *-prædicti Collegii Socius, in feipfum, viz. prædictum Robertum Pynke, &c. emifit vocem fuam, & confenfit, feipfumque in dicti collegii cuftodem nominavit & elegit." The piece I mentioned to your Lordship as newly printed is, I find, nothing but the speech which Bishop Stillingfleet made in the House of Lords, when your Lordfhip's cause about Exeter College was there debated. * Afterwards M. B. and D. D. He was elected Warden July 17, 1617; and died Nov. 3, 1647. LET LETTER XXXVII. To Bp. TRELAWNY. Chelsea, Aug. 14, 1703. MAY IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP, HAVE nothing new to fend your Lord ship concerning the Irish Convocation only, by all I can learn, they are like not to have one, at least not as matter of right, but of grace only, and upon previous articles. It is certain the clause in the Bishop's writs is to be fuppreffed, the Chancellor (Sir Richard Cox) having inftructions to follow the two last precedents in that case set by the worthy Mr. Methwen. The Bishop of Killaloo is now fo far fatisfied that no good is meant them, that he thinks the sheet of paper I proffered him to put out near two months ago neceffary, and is earneft for it when, I fear, it is too late to think of doing any thing by fuch means * Dr. Thomas Lindfay. See p. 104. My |