was found. Wherein the Lord is witness, I respected meerly the good of the Colledg, and had not so much as in my thoughts, the Case of any that was to pretend the next Election, but resolved, as every Statute came to be considered, to reduce it to such perfection, as there should be as little need as was possible to touch them afterward. I have seen, by experience, that the timely preferring of young Men, makes them insolent and idle; and the holding them a little longer in expectation of Preferment, doth them more good in one year, than two years before, or perhaps after. Wherefore I cannot herein repent me of that which was done. If Mr. Vice-Provost, and the Seniors, have in any other Point failed of their Duty, I desire your Grace, not only to excuse me in participation in it, but them also thus far, that as I hope, it proceedeth of Error, and not Malice. And of one thing I do assure my self, and have been bold to undertake so much to the Fellows, that your Grace, though it be in a sort necessary for you, and all Men of place, to give satisfaction in words to importune Suitors, will not take it ill that we discharge our Consciences, coming to do acts upon Oath, such as this is; otherwise, miserable were the condition of such places, and happy are they that are farthest from them. I understood further, by your Grace's said Letters, That you dislike not that the time of the Fellows should be ex∣tended to twelve years, though you would not have it mentioned upon this suddain, &c. Which made me send for the University-Statutes of Cambridg, to my Friend Mr. Ward, (having leisure this Winter to that purpose) to think of some Project, according to my last Letters to your Grace. And shortly it seems to me, that with one labour, the University might be brought into a more perfect Form, and yet without touching our Charter. At my being in Dublin, there came to me one Dr. de Lanne a Physician, bred in Immanuel Colledg: Who in speech with me, discovered their purpose to procure a Patent, like to that which the Colledg of Physicians hath in London. I noted the thing, and partly by that occasion, and partly also the desire of the Fellows, to extent their time of stay in the Colledg; I have drawn a Plot of my Thoughts in that behalf, which I send your Grace herewith. I have imparted the same generally to my Lord of Canterbury; who desireth that your Grace would seriously consider of it, and, to use his own words, That it may be weighed with Gold Weights; and if it be found fit, will concur thereto when time shall be. I could have wished to have been present with you at the survey of it, to have rendred the reason of some things, which will now perhaps be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; but your Wis∣dom, Experience, and Knowledg of the Place, will easily pierce through, and disperse all those Mists which perhaps overcloud my understanding; and howsoever I shall hereby, dare sapienti occasionem.
For my speedy return, which your Grace presseth; I confess to them, that I am ready to forethink that ever I came there, so conscious to my self of mine own weakness and unfitness for the place, as I fear rather to be burthen∣som than profitable to the Colledg: Which also made me desirous to retain (if I might lawfully) the Title to my Benefice, resigning the whole Profits and care to some able Man, to be nominated by the Patron, and approved by the Bishop of the Diocess; that I might have, upon just cause, whi∣ther to retire my self. I have not yet received your Grace's decision of this Case. I wrot also to the Society hereabout, who being conditores juris perpetui, are also interpretes: Neither have I understood what they conceive. Since my coming away, by occasion of my Lord Deputy his voluntary Offer, to confer upon me the Treasurership of St. Patricks; I entreated them to present a Petition to his Lordship, for the enjoying the 40 l. anci∣ently granted to the Colledg, for the enlarging the Provost's Maintenance, and upholding the Lecture at Christ's Church, whereof I was put in hope be∣fore my coming. They have not so much as vouchsafed me an Answer.