| Title: | Copy Letter In Hand ?, John Dury To The Bishop Of Exeter |
|---|---|
| Dating: | 12 March 1640 |
| Ref: | 5/12/1A-2B |
[5/12/1A]
Right Reverend father in God
I purpose not to speacke allwayes as a stranger unto your Lordship therefore I macke use of my mothers tongue to beginne to condole the miseries of my mother church at this time. Shall then our blessed peace which so many yeares hath made us happie above all our neighbours bee now at an end? Shall we consume our selfes, who are the onely remnant of protestants able to support the rest et help their weacke condition? O that God would heare the prayers of those that stand in the gappe and labour to heale the breaches! alas our sinnes are multiplied, et I feare me, so ripe for a iudgment that if wee bee not a little chastised, our evill will bee past remedie. yet wee know that God doth in iudgment remember mercie: let us therefore not give over our hopes of redresse. as for me these extremities of disorders breacking forth in all places, macke mee more earnest in the worcke of peace. for I conceive that when matters are come to the hight, then they will beginn to settle againe: therefore in the meane tyme [catchword: I]
[5/12/1B]
I thinck it not unseasonable to sue for the preparations of peace: neither hath my labour beene of late in vaine, God bee praised, towards these of Brunswic and Luneburg, who have embraced the motions which I have made unto them with such zeale of affection that I have not found any of our owne side more earnest or better inclined then they have shewed themselfes to bee: in so much that I am afraid they will macke us guilty of lesse willingnesse to compose our differences, then they are, or at least of lesse abilitie to concurre then hitherto wee have seemed to have. I have desired my friend Mr Harlieb to send unto your Lordship the Declarations, which of late were given unto mee et the narrative of my last proceedings that your Prudencie may iudge what a foundation is laid for future conjunction, if God bee pleased to lett us bee in such a posture at home, whereby to bee considerable amongst our neighbours. my thanckfull affection and respect due unto your Lordship for former favours et assistance in my businesse, doe bind mee to offer this information unto your consi- [catchword de-]
[5/12/2A]
deration, that if it please God in his mercy to passe by the sinnes of the remnant of his people et macke our clergie fitt to procure the long sought for unitie amongst protestants; your gracious spirit et eminent gifts may have matter et occasion to cooperate et concurre as in former times your pious affection hath moved you to doe. The Lord who stilleth the raging of the sea, et setteth a bound for the waves thereof that they shall not passe over, compose et quiet the mindes of his people et blesse the labours of all those that seecke the way of peace. His grace bee upon your Lordship and direct all your meditations to his glorie.
I tacke my leafe, et rest
your Lordships
Hamburg this 12. March most affectionat et humble
Anno 1640. servant
Iohn Durye
