38

THE LIFE OF

" of all the Bishops who are alive, and their several Ages, are as well" known at Rome , as in England ; and both the Papist and Presbyterianv " value themselves very much, upon computing in how few Years the

" Church of England must expire.- 1 have the King’s Commands to

“ write very earnestly to you, to speak with the Bishop of Salijbury , and by" his Advice to press any of the other Bishops in his Majesty’s Name, to con-“ fecrate those Persons which are design’d by his Majesty, who is most con-" fident, that the Bishop of Ely will give all the Assistance and Advice," which his Restraint will permit him to do.

Hyde.

P. 453.

SIR,

Bruf)'els, Odloher 17 , 1659 .

I Do beseech you, present my humble Service to my Lord of Ely, whoseBenediction, I do hope to live to receive at his own Feet.

Hyde.

SIR,

Brujfeh , Nov. 21 , 1659 .

p. 460.

" X D° assure you the King is not more fix’d in any Principle than in the" X Belief, that the Church can never be restor’d and repair'd by any Ex-" pedient, but the Learning, Virtue, and Reputation of the Churchmen;• { and he will be so careful in making that Provision, that I have heard him" often say, that he would abhor that Churchman, who would give the least" Sum of Money for the greatest Preferment, and turn away that Servant," who would endeavour to get Money that Way; and I think him as unliketc to swerve from that Resolution, as ever Prince was. God fend our good" sick Friend perfect Health, [supposed to be Dr. ‘Juxton, Bishop of London ,]“ and preserve it to my Lord of Ely, that he may live to help in the Repair-" ing of the Ruins that are made.

Hyde.

p. 462.

SIR, Brujj'els, Nov. 28 , 1659 .

" X Can fay no more with Reference to the Church, but that if there be“ X nothing hinders it but the Winter, it will be quickly over, whilst Pre-" parations are making ; and yet God knows, it will be almost a Miracle, if“ the Winter doth not take away half the Bishops that are left alive ; and I" must still lament, that some Way is not found, that the Bishop of Ely may" be at Liberty ; which would carry on this Work more than any Expedient“ I can think of. Concerning any Assurance we have, of any Consent from" the Persons named, to undergo the Charge design’d to them, I can give" no Satisfaction ; not knowing that any one of them hath been communi-" cated with to that Purpose; and I have always been of the Opinion, that“ the Method you fay was obscrv’d by Bilhop Andrews, and the Bissiop“ of Ely, is the right, and if I could help it, if the King were at White-" hall To-morrow, he ssiould never prefer any Man in the Church, who" sought it ; and I think I have Reason to believe, the King is of that« Mind,

Hyde.

SIR,