February. Of the Lord Bishop of Ghester per the

hands of D' Dove, Collected in the Parish

of Camberwell in the Arch-Deaconry

of Surrey » 11 7 5

Au dos :

«.Account of the first Brief for the French Protestants with Receits. » (Rawlinson mss. G. 984, fol. 4L Oxford.)

No LXI.

LETTRE CIRCULAIRE DE l'aRCHEVÊQ[JE DE CANTERBURY SANCROFT AUX ÉVÊQUES DE SA PROVINCE.

«Right Révérend Father in God, and my verygoodLord. The inclosed Pétition, directed to me, and ail the Bishops of this Province, was, not long since, presenled to me by some of the Ministers of the Reformed Ghurch of France, now hère, in behalf of themselves and their Brethren. The Case of those poor Exiles in gênerai is so sad that it needs no Aggravation; and indeed is scarce capable of any : But that of their Ministers is much more calamitous ; they being deprived, not only (as the Rest) of their Native Country, and ail the Gomforts and Supports which usually it brings with it; but even of the Exercise of that holy Calling to which they had dedicaled themselves, and the Advantages which ought to attend it. Their Request (Your Lordship sees) is modest and gênerai; that we would assist them in this their great Necessity, in such a way as we should think most suitable to their and our Condition. But when I put them in mind tliat their want of Language rendered them incapable of Employment in our Ghurch (if our own over-great Numbers of English Glergymen left any Room for them) and therfore prest them to be more particular in their Proposai, they desired that every Bishop in the Province might be moved to provide an annual Subsistence for one of them (which he should chuse out of the whole Number) by a Contribution to be made by the Dignifled and more

wealthy Glergy of each Diocèse, iu such proportions as lliey could by their own Examples aiid Persuasions procure Subscriptions for. To this Proposai I told tliem they could not expect I should give Answer^ till I had consulted ail my Brethren , who are concerned in it, and received their Opinions and Resolutions thereupon. Tis for this reason that I send Your Lordship this circular Lelter, to be by You communicated (with the Copy of the Pétition) to ail the Bishops in the Province ; together with my Désire that I may receive in writing their speedy Answer to the same. In Expectation whereof, and firm Hope that it will be such as becomes Us^ in Respect to their distressed and our more prospérons Condition ; I heartily bid Your Lordship Farewell ; and remain,

Lambeth H. Sept. 28, 1(383.

Your Lordship's affectionate Brother

W. Gant.»

{Rawlinson mus. G. 984, fol. 45. Oxford.)

No LXII.