naturally refused to do; whereupon Sir Thomas went all through the diocese trying to hunt up matter against him, in order that the commission might be proceeded with.[1]
In a letter written on 2nd February, 1632-3, to his friend Lord Wentworth, then in Ireland as Lord Deputy, the bishop tells him that the sum which he had shewn to the commissioners as having been spent by him in charitable works did not include an alms-house which he had begun that year, nor a chapel which he had almost finished for men that dwelt eight miles from their parish church.[2] He had never got one penny to his purse by the high commission, and, for his ordinary jurisdiction, he had not a farthing in his estate which he had received and not expended in pious uses. No external thing, he writes, ever went so near his heart as the apprehension of his Majesty's suspicion that he should be so impious, and if he had not found some gracious evidence of his goodness to him in the tender respect of his reputation by this private way of examination, it would ere this have sent his gray head with sorrow to the grave, for what, he continues, can be more grievous to a loyal-hearted subject than to be suspected by his sovereign of so foul a sin? He speaks of his debt of gratitude to the late King James, "now a blessed saint," to whom, under God, he owes all that he has, and adds that, so far from withholding from the King what is his by law, he would not only lay his own personal estate at his feet if his Majesty's private occasions should need it, but would give his very life if the King's service should require it of him. He feels sure, however, that the King's justice, wisdom and goodness "will not suffer that the wants and projects of other men should screwe out any part of his estate to their owne ends."[3]
To a man, such as he was known to be, of scrupulous honour
- ↑ Family Evidences (private letters and copies of official correspondence).
- ↑ This was doubtless the little chapel at Great Lever, which is fully eight miles from the parish church at Middleton. It was consecrated by bishop Bridgeman a few years later, and was used for many years as a chapel of ease.
- ↑ Copy of original letter among Family Evidences.
