139 - 5 Apr. To John Bramhall, bishop of Derry

Summary

Salutem in Christo.

My very good Lord

I receav’d your Lordships Letters of March 15 and I thanke you heartily for them. And particularly for the Relation, which you have given me at large, of the Conference betweene my Lord of Downe, and his Non-conformists. For the thing itselfe, I cannot discommend my Lord of Downe his good Intention, for that I think hee had, nor commend his Discretion, for that certaynly fail’d, to suffer that which was settled by publick Authoritye in the Church, to be publickly disputed agaynst, by refractory Spirits. But I doe not wonder, that those men should make a false, and an unworthy repetition of the Dayes worke. For never yet did I know any Conference held with them, private, or publick, that was afterwards set down by them according to truth. And therefore in that respect also, my Lord of Downe should have been a little more carefull, not to have enter’d upon the Conference. I think ‘twere not amisse, that my Lord of Downe was spoken withall, or if he be absent, written unto fayrely either by my Lord Deputie himselfe, or by the Archbishop under whom he is, to Advise him from holding any more Conferences, without Speciall Command by both Church, and State. And that will be best for my Lord himselfe; because then, if the report of the Conference come to the Kings Eare, I can the better make Answer how sensible both Church and State there have beene of this unwarrantable Proceedeing. And more then probable it is, if they have spread a Pamphlet, to cry up themselves, and their Cause, that hither it may come, and to the Kings knowledge.

Your other Busines is greater than this.7 And there hath in later tymes beene some strugling aboute it, here in England. And some Judges have inclyn’d too far, to your Chiefe Barons Opinion, and thought that the Courte Christian, after the Administration once granted, had noe more to doe. Which should it be true, the Adminstrator may goe away with all the Estate, and leave the rest of the Children, which sometymes are many, wholly to his mercye. Besides the Court Christian hath alwayes practised this Apportioning of Goods ever without interruption.