No. II . TWO LETTERS OF BISHOP BARNES . ( ) AS PROTESTANT BISHOP OF CARLISLE TO SIR WILLIAM CECIL. Carlisle , 27 October, 1570 .
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CONTRIBUTED
BY THE REV . J. H. POLLEN , S.J.
R.O. , Domestic, Elizabeth , lxxiv , 22 , Holograph.
Both these letters are printed here primarily because they give reports of Catholicism from an Anglican point of view in the two Northern dioceses, which are blanks in the survey of 1577. In regard to the first letter, the most important piece of news, historically speaking , is that which announces the revival of Catholicism after the excommunication of Elizabeth (25 February, 1570 ) . The bitter tone of this Bite-sheep is characteristic of the period ; his familiarity with the Vulgate is an indication of the recent date of his apostasy . Salutem per Christum Jesum , & c . , my moste bounden Dewtie and most hartie Comendacions unto your honor alwaies had . It had bene my parte I acknowledge, longe sythence to have , (at Leste wise by lřes where otherwise as yet I am not able by facte) declared my thankfull and myndefull good will for the greate bñfyts and plesures wch you have bothe pcured and wroughte for me , howbeit bothe cõsidringe your greatt and weightie affaires and traveil abrode, the grett Distaunce of place, and litle store of good matter, I have so long Driven of , untill now verie shame enforces me to write these fewe lynes to the same effecte , Beseching you for the loue of good not to impute or ascribe either anie unthankefulnes , Unmyndfullnes or wante of good will in me : but to accompte of ine and all that I have as whollie your owne. It is so, and so shalbe Duringe my lyfe , and for the love of god let me understand that you so thynke of me and so repute and take me , wch slalbe to my singular comforte. am for the tyme settled in this my charge , where I dowte not to worke greatt good to this people , and good švice to the queene my gracious Ladie : for of a trewthe I never came in place in this Land , where more attentife care was geuen to the Woorde, then here , and in tyme I truste good effecte will grow theruppon ; and if I may have in well Doinge good backynge and ayde Of the Quenes matie, my good L Keper and your honor dare promise as faythfull paynefull and if god will/ effectuall travell, as ever have for these x poore bisshoppe did 'forme wthin his cure. yeres bene exercised in these Northe parts and knowe the peoples Dispocion righte well , as I p'swade myselfe. And to say the trewthe fynd these Comberland and Westmorland commonaltie farre moore coformable , pliable and tractable in all matters of religion , then I founde in the better sorte in Yorkshire . All will most quietly and reverêtly heare, none will reclayme by word ,
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