II. 66 BOOK "the offender to be punished according to her highness' or "the lords' good pleasure, for an example to others. This, Anno 1586." added he, is in mine opinion a most ready mean, both to compose all things amongst us, and for the establishment " and continuance of good amity, concord, and agreement : "a thing most expedient for her majesty's service, and for "the good of us all." 66 66 The bishop went on in his letter concerning his own suffering by the deputy; "That for his own part, albeit among his companions of that board he had tasted his "part of my lord deputy's displeasure, (being, as he con"ceived, punished for another man's offence,) to his great charge and undoing, unless her majesty were good unto "him; yet so long as her majesty was pleased to continue "his lordship's government, he would with all reverence "both serve and obey him." And then further used these words: “And I protest before God, I would be as glad of testation for his lordship's good favour as the meanest subject of that kingdom. And for my lord chancellor, I undertake, upon "my credit with her majesty, that his lordship shall with "all humility seek my lord deputy's good favour, and a "second reconciliation; and afterwards as a faithful servitor "to her majesty, and a good friend to his lordship, shall firmly join with him in her majesty's service, and never "hereafter give his lordship just occasion of offence. And "humbly beseeching his good lordship in his behalf, at his His pro himself and lord chan- 66 cellor. 66 lordship's convenient opportunity, to move her majesty, "in consideration of his good services, to remit the offence, "which her highness had conceived against him; and "whereunto (adding this asseveration) in my conscience she The abili" is wrongfully incensed; knowing him both a most wise ties of that and grave counsellor of that state, best experienced in cellor of "that service, and best able to stand her majesty in good "stead. lord chan Ireland. "And lastly, he addressed to the lord treasurer in behalf "of them both, (whom the said lord deputy had somewhat "wrongfully represented to the queen, being both of them "chief bishops in that kingdom,) that for them both, he III. To be coun "beseeched his lordship to pardon him to make this pe- CHAP. "tition, that since in them and a few others the outward "show of God's church in that land did rest, where they Anno 1586. "were diligent and painful pastors, both in the execution tenanced as "of their functions, and in the furtherance of all her ma- they were bishops "jesty's good services, (their persons being hated even for there. "their religion,) his lordship would vouchsafe to defend "and protect them in their good causes, according to their "deserts. And so eftsones craving his lordship's pardon for "this his wonted boldness, and beseeching him to consider "hereof, he humbly took his leave, the 17th of February, 401 “1586. Subscribing, his lordship's most humbly at com"mandment, "Tho. Midensis." This sir John Perrot was the next year discharged of his office of lord deputy; and after some time sent for home, according to the advice of the bishop of Meath; and such articles laid to his charge, that he was found guilty of treason; and made a prisoner in the Tower. But the historian makes Camd. Eliz. spite and envy the chief grounds of his troubles, giving him P. 460. a great character for his services. But the letter above will give some further knowledge of the man, in falling out with those two right reverend fathers, as well as others of the council there. CHAP. IV. Sir John Perrot contends with the bishop of St. David's The BOOK Anno 1586, Contro tween sir J. the bishop of St. Da state of Geneva. Their dangerous condition. Their letters to the lord treasurer, to solicit the queen for aid. Beza's letters. AND as these Irish bishops met with hard usage from sir versy be- John Perrot, so about this year a controversy happened bePerrot and tween him and another bishop, viz. bishop of St. David's in Wales, in his claiming to be steward of that bishop's courts. The matter in variance was drawn up by the bishop himself, after this manner; and how he had proceeded in this matter of trouble and wrong. It was for the office of steward and authority to keep the bishop's courts in the lordships of Dewsland and Lawhaden in Pembrokeshire. vid's; For the office of steward. "Will. Barlow, bishop of St. David's, in the 33d year of "king Henry VIII. granted a patent to the right honour"able the earl of Worcester that now is, of the office of 402" stewardship of all his lands, to have and to hold unto the "said earl for the term of his life; after the death, surren"der, or forfeiture of the earl his father: who had a patent "of the same office granted before by one Robert, bishop "of St. David's. In both these patents a fee of 12. 6s. 8d. "by the year was granted for exercising the said office. "The authority granted to the said earls (by which they "were constituted stewards) was to keep sessions at Lawha"den aforesaid, de mense in mensem, and to keep courts "baron, 100 shil. and such inferior courts. "The authority to keep the said courts baron and inferior "courts was at that time of the said patents granted to the "earls, and ever afore that, in an officer, called constable, "and not steward, by patent of the bishop from time to "time, granted to such constables. "But if it were so that the office of stewardship granted "to the said carls did reach to give them authority to keep "the said courts baron and inferior courts; yet because "the said earls did never, either by themselves or by their "deputies, attend upon the keeping of the said courts “baron and the other inferior courts, the office by Non "user is forfeited. 66 "Sir John Perrot, notwithstanding, procured to himself CHAP. IV. a deputation of the said office of steward from the earl "about twelve years past; and was the first that ever, in Anno 1586. "the name of the earl, did enter upon the office of consta bleship, and to keep an hundred courts, courts baron and "inferior courts. Item, Sithence sir John entered to the "office by deputation, he hath by Abuser forfeited the office.' "I have already proved both the Non user and Abuser; " and have the depositions forth coming, exemplified under "the seal of her majesty's council in the marches of Wales. "Sir John, by the force of his deputation from the earl, "claimeth not only authority to keep the same courts, "but, in the said earl's name and behalf, vexeth and trou"bleth, by suit, the young earl of Essex and me, for his "said fee, and arrearages of the same for this 26 years. "This cometh to pass concerning the earl of Essex, because "the manor of Lanfey is distrainable for his fee: which "manor heretofore appertained to the bishop of St. David's; "and is so in the possession of the said earl. To procure quietness to me and my friends, and especially to Alban Stepneth, my collector and receiver, I offered sir John to "grant him a patent, and to give him authority to keep the "said courts in Dewsland and Lawhad aforesaid; to have ❝ unto him during his life. And then I and my successors "to appoint a deputy, or to have him during pleasure; and "then he to appoint his deputy himself." This was the case as drawn up by the bishop, and his fair offer to his adver 66 66 sary. of Meath's troubles for fruits. Before we leave sir John Perrot, a troubler of the bi- The bishop shops, we shall mention more particularly one occasion that he took to shew his ill-will to the bishop of Meath before his firstspoken of. This Irish bishop had by some neglect or omission in timely payment of his first-fruits, as it seems, made a forfeiture of double fruits; for which in Ireland he 403 could have no favour or redress, the deputy being his enemy; as he carried things there with a high hand also to others. But in other respects also was very hard to this bishop. Insomuch that he was fain to come over into England. And II. BOOK being here, his chief address was to the lord treasurer, the great asylum of the clergy. This was Thomas Jones, late Anno 1586. of Lancashire; the first chancellor, after dean of St. Patrick's; then consecrated bishop of Meath, an. 1584; and afterwards translated to Dublin. His requests now were, to be pardoned his double fruits; and to have some ease in the payment of his fruits. His cause will be more fully understood, and his hard dealing by the lord deputy, if we listen to his letter wrote to the said lord treasurer, while he was attending the court. Which was as followeth. His letter "It may please your lordship, since your weighty affairs to the lord of far greater moment do bar me from wished access unto "your lordship, I am most humbly to pray and beseech treasurer. To remit ure of double fruits. 66 you to vouchsafe the perusing of these few lines. I have "hitherto forborne to move my petition unto the lords, wanting your lordship's presence, (in whose honourable "favour my chiefest hope doth rest ;) both in conscience to "consider of my cause, and in your good favour to help 66 me with relief. "My first petition, for remittal of the forfeiture of douhis forfeit-ble fruits, I doubt not your lordship accounteth most "reasonable. For the manner of my relief therein, I be"seech your good lordship to weigh and consider, how just a cause of grief and utter discomfort it may be unto me, "seeking relief at her majesty's hands, (my last and only 66 66 refuge,) to my great and intolerable charges, to be re"turned back again with open disgrace, being referred to "his devotion; whose hatred towards me shews itself im 66 66 placable. And to whom six times privately with all sub"mission, and thrice publicly with all humility, I have been "a suitor in this behalf. I beseech your lordship favourably "to consider this one thing; that for my profession and religion sake, I stand in great hatred among the idolatrous 'people; having none other supportance in that country, "where I am a stranger, but her majesty's good countenance. Which if either it be withdrawn from me, or any way hidden, I look for nothing but the loss of my life. I "have vowed myself to her majesty's service there. Where 66 66 66 |