The Archbishop of Armagh to the most Beverend George Abbot, Archbishop of Canterbunj.\
My most Gracious Lord, — When I took my last leave of you at Lam- beth, I made bold to move your grace for the settlement of the provostship of our college here upon some worthy man, whensoever the place should be- come void. I then recommended unto you Mr Sibbes, the preacher of Gray's Inn, with whose learning, soundness of judgment, and uprightness of life I was very well acquainted ; and it pleased your grace to listen unto my motion, and give way to the coming over of the person named, when time required. The time, my lord, is now come, wherein we have at last wrought Sir William Temple to give up his place, if the other may be
* UsBher, xv. 365-6. t Ussher, letter cxxi. zv. 361-2.
MEMOIR OF KICHABD SIBBES, D.D. xlv
drawn over. And. therefore I most humbly entreat jonr grace to give unto Mr Sibbes that encouragement he deserveth ; in whose behalf I dare under- take that he shall be as observant of you, and as careful to put in execution all your directions, as any man whosoever. The matter is of so gi'eat im- portance for the good of this poor church, and j'our fatherly care, as well of the chui'ch in general, as our college in pai'ticular, so well known, that I shall not need to press you herein with many words. And therefore, leav- ing it wholly to your gi-ace's grave consideration, and beseeching Almighty God to bless you in the managing of your weighty employments, I humbly take my leave, and rest.
Your grace's in all duty, ready to be commanded,
J. A. Drogheda, January 10. 1626.
At the same time, the primate addressed a similar letter to the * Honourable Society of Gray's Inn,' to deprecate their putting any obstacles in the way of Sibbes's acceptance. By a slip of the pen, he inserts — ' Lincoln's' instead of ' Gray's ' Inn. As himself formerly 'preacher' in ' Lincoln's,' the mistake was natural : —
The Archbishop of Armagh to the Honourable Society of Gray s-Inn.'-f-
My most worthy Friends, — I cannot sufficiently express my thankful- ness unto you for the honour which you have done unto me, in vouchsafing to admit me into your society, and to make me a member of yoiu- own body. Yet so is it fallen out for the present, that I am enforced to dis- charge one piece of debt with entering into another. For thus doth the case stand with us. Sir William Temple, who hath governed om- college at Dublin these seventeen years, finding age and weakness now to increase upon him, hath resolved to ease himself of that burthen, and resign the same to some other. Now of all others whom we could think of, your worthy preacher Mr Sibbes is the man upon whom all our voices have here settled, as one that hath been well acquainted with an academical life, and singularly well quahfied for the undertaking of such a place of government. I am not ignorant what damage you are to sustain by the loss of such an able man, with whose ministry you have been so long acquainted ; but I consider withal, that you are at the well-head, where the defect may quickly be supplied ; and that it somewhat also tendeth to the honour of your Society, that out of all the king's dominions your house should be singled out for the place unto which the seminary of the whole Church in this king- dom should have recourse for help and succour in this case. And therefore my most earnest suit unto you is, that you would give leave unto Mr Sibbes to repair hither, at leastwise for a time, that he may see how the place will like him. For which great favour our whole Church shall be obhged unto you : and I, for my part, shall evermore profess myself to rest
Your own in all Christian service, Ready to be commanded,
J. A.
Drogheda, January 10. 1626.
Further : —
The Archbishop of Annar/h to the most Beverend George Abbot, Archbishop of Canterbury. \ My very good Lord, — I wrote unto your grace heretofore concerning * Usslier, letter cxx., xv. 363-4. t Ussher, letter cxxi., xy. 366.
Xlvi MEMOIR OF EICHAED SIBBES, D.D.
the substitution of Mr Sibbes into the place of Sir "WiUiam Temple. But having since considered with myself how some occasions may fall out that may hinder him from coming hither, and how many most unfit persons are now putting in for that place, I have further emboldened myself to signify- thus much more of my mind unto you, that in case Mr Sibbes do not come unto us, I cannot think of a more worthy man, and more fitted for the government of that college, than Mr Bedel, who hath heretofore remained with Sir Henry Wotton at Venice, and is now beneficed about Berry. If either he, or Dr Featly, or any other worthy man whom you shall think fit, can be induced to accept of the place ; and your grace will be pleased to advise the fellows of the college to elect him thereunto ; that poor house shall ever have cause to bless your memory for the settlement of it at such a time as this, where so many labour to make a prey of it.