after both the Bishop himself and all his Cler gy had agreed to them. But the oppofition that was given him by the Dean, and both his sense of that matter, and his carriage in it, will appear from the following Letter, which he writ concerning it to the Primate; which though it be long and particular, yet it seemed to me too important to be either ftifled or abridged.

Most reverend Father, my honourable good Lord,

I

Cannot easily express what contentment“ Í received at my late being with your Grace Termonfeckin. There had nothing happened to me, I will not fay, fince I came into Ireland, but, as far as I can call to remembrance, in my whole life, which did fo much affect me in this kind, as the hazzard of your good opinion. For, loving and honouring you in Truth (for the truth's fake, which is in us, and fall abide with us for ever) without any private Intereft, and receiving fo unlook'd-for a blow from your own Hand, which I expected fhould have tenderly apply'd fome remedy to me, being fmitten by others) I had not prefent the defences of Reason and Grace. And although I knew it to be a fault in my felf, fince in the performance of our Duties, the Judgment of our Mafter, even alone, ought to fuffice us; yet I could not be fo much Master of mine Affections, as to caft out this weakness. But blessed be God, who (as I began to fay) at my being with you refreshed

my

my Spirit by your kind renewing and confirming your love to me and all humble thanks to you, that gave me place to make my Defence, and took upon you the cognisance of mine innocency. And as for mine Accufer (whofe hatred I have incurred only by not giving way to his covetous defire of heaping Living upon Living, to the evident damage, not only of other Souls committed to bim, but of his own) truly I am glad, and do give God Thanks that this malignity, which a while masked it felf in the pretence of friendship, bath at last discovered it felf by publick oppofition. It hath not, and I hope it fball not be in his power to hurt me at all; he bath rather foamed himself: And, although his high heart cannot give his Tongue leave to acknowledge his folly, his Understanding is not fo weak and blind as not to fee it. Whom I could be very well content to leave to taste the Fruit of it also, without being further troublesome to your Grace, fave that I do not despair, but your Grace's Authority will pull him out of the fnare of Satan, whofe Inftrument he hath been to cross the Work of God, and give me more occafion of joy by his amendment, than I had grief by his perverfion and oppofition.

Tour Grace's Letters of Aug. 23. were not delivered to me till the 29th. In the mean space what effect thofe that accompanied them had with Mr. Dean you shall perceive by the inclof ed which were fent me the 28th. the Evening before our Communion. I answered them the next Morning, as is here annexed. As I was at the Lord's Table, beginning the fervice of the

Gom

Communion before Sermon, be came in, and after the Sermon was done, thofe that communicated not being departed, he stood forth, and spake to this purpose:

That whereas the Book of Common Prayer requires, That before the Lord's Supper, if there be any variance or breach of charity,there fhould be reconciliation; this was much more requifite between Minifters: And because they all knew that there had been fome difference between me and him, he did profefs, that he bare me no malice nor hatred, and if he had offended me in any thing, he was forry. I answer ed, That he had good reason to be forry, confidering how he had behaved himself. For my part I bare him no malice, and if it were in my power, would not make fo much as his Finger ake, Grieved I had been that he, in whom I knew there were many good Parts,would become an inftrument to oppofe the Work of God, which I was affured he had called me to. This was all that palled. He offered himself to the Lord's Board, and I gave him the Communion. After Dinner he preached out of 1 Joh. 4. 10. And this Commandment have we from him, that he that loveth God, Sc. When we came out of the Church, Dr. Sheriden delivered me your Grace's Letters. And thus Mr. Dean thinks be bath healed all, as you may perceive by his next Letters of Auguft 30. Only he labours about Kildromfarten. Whereabouts I purposed to have spoken with your Grace at my being with you; but I know not how it came not to my mind, whether it be that the Soul, as well as the Body, after fome travel easily falleth to

reft;

reft; or else God would have it referved per baps to a more feafanable time.

It is now above a Twelvemonth (the Day in many respects I may well wish that it may not be reckoned with the days of the year) that your Grace, as it were, delivered to me with your own Hands, Mr. Crian, a converted Fry er. To whom I offered my felf as largely as my Ability would extend unto: though I had alrea dy at your Grace's commendation received Mr. Dunsterville to be in my Houfe, with the allow ance of Twenty Pound per annum. The next Day before my departing, Mr. Hilton made a motion to me, That where he had in his Hands fufficient to make the Benefice of Kildromfarten void, if I would bestow it upon Mr. Dean he would do fo; otherwife it fhould remain in statu. I answered with profeffion of my love and good opinion of Mr. Dean, whereof Ifbewed the rea fans. I added, I did not know the place nor the people, but if they were mere Irish, I did not fee bow Mr. Dean fhould discharge the duty of a Minifter to them. This motion was feconded by your Grace: But fo as I easily conceiv'd, that being follicited by your old Servant, you could do no less than you did; and notwithstanding the Lecture he promised your Grace fhould be read to me in the matter of Collations, would not be difpleafed, if I did as became me, according to my Confcience, and in Conformity to your former motion for Mr. Crian. Mr. Dean after preßed me, that, if without my concurrence your Grace would confer that Living upon him, I would not be against it; which I promised,

but

but heard no more of it till about April laft:In the mean while the Benefice next unto that which Mr. Dunfterville was already possessed of, falling void: Mr. Crian not coming to me, nor purposing to do fo till after Christmas, and whenfoever he should come, my House, as I found, not affording room for him and Mr. Dunfterville both, whofe former Benefice was unable, he faid, to maintain him, chiefly be promifing Refidence, and taking of me for that pur pofe an Oath, abfolutely without any exception of Difpenfation, I united it to his former, and difmiffed him to go to his Cure; wherein how carelefly he hath behaved himself, I forbear to relate. To return to Mr. Dean. About midApril he brought me a Prefentation to Kildromfarten under the broad Seal. I could do no lefs but fignifie to the Incumbent, who came to me and maintained his Title, requiring me not to admit. Whereupon I returned the Prefentation, indorfing the reason of my refufal; and being then occafioned to write to the Lords Juftices, I fignified what I thought of these Pluralities, in a time when we are so far overmatch'd in number by the adverse part. This passed on till the Vifitation, wherein Mr. Dean fbewed himself in his Colours. When the Vicar of Kildromfarten was called, he faid, he was Vicar; but would exhibit no Title. After, the Curate, Mr. Smith fignified to me, that his Stipend was unpaid, and he feared it would be fill in the contention of two Incumbents. Upon thefe and other Reafons, I fequeftred the Profits, which Ihave heard by a Simoniacal compact betwist

them