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Intelligences for her Majesty's services in the Province of Leinster in Ireland (Author: Hugh Collier(?))

paragraph 23

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Also seeinge the nomber of preachers in all Ireland cannot make of that countrey birth 8 knowne able persons, and of the Englishe not 16 (beinge noe proportionable nomber of workemen for the Lords vyneyard in so greate a harvest,) And that countrey hath stoare of competent {MS folio 15v} livinges vsurped either by knowne massinge preistes or meere Laycall persones. And in Englande there are manie aswell of highest degree in the Churche as inferriors which longe haue reaped ecclesiasticall proffittes from thence, makinge noe conscience howe manie livinges they maie also gett in Englande and here doe remayne without anie purpose of retorninge thither or to surrender to suche as would willinglie goe from the vniuersities and other places of Englande for want of maintenaunce (not able to make suche vse as they should and would of their learninges and guiftes for the worshipp of god, and the good of their prince countrey and them selves). It is therefore the more wished in godds behalfe her Majesty's and Subiectes of both Realmes, that yt might be ordered from her highnes, that all suche persons as will not repayre within some convenient tyme to be prefixed vnto Irelande there to discharge their dueties of their pasturall charge, att least, to be resident (as in safety they may) in some of the walled Townes of garrysonned, That then the same livinges in Irelande they shalbe made to resigne in Englande to be bestowed on suche as shalbe willinge to goe over for their resigned livinges, and there discharge their dueties to god and their Prince, accordinge to their guiftes. And likewise that euerie corporacion there may be compelled to mainteyne one Preacher of their common contribucion as every garrison or regiment over a thowsande maie an another by a daies pay of every one in the yeare (as in former tymes hath ben don) which will arryse to a compotent stipend and yet nothinge hurte the common soldyor, to be therein contynued vntill peace maie be setled in the countrey. And that livinges maye be otherwise provyded for them more certen and perpetuall, By whose diligent travells in preaching and instructinge of the ignoraunt vulger sorte, that haue not vnderstanding guiftes alike to discerne betwene truth and falsehood beinge of nature inclyned to doe anie evell (especyally wherevnto they are camaunded by aucthoritie of the Churche of Rome), they wilbe sooner reduced to their wonted conformities, especyally beinge brought to hearinge (as thereby halfe won) And the Romish wolves finding their courses and passages so stopped by such english Bandogges, or more godly and learned Preachers then they are able to contradicte or reprehend for sinceritie of liefe and doctrine, ayded by the aucthoritie of the State, and her Majesty's garresons att hande readye to take holde of them and their favorittes, and supporters, they will soone abandon those places, And suche as by the halter and sworde shall not be cutt of, will hasten as fast to their Nursseries in Rome and Rhemes, as ever they flocked thether to seeke the subvercion of that goverment, and to transferre yt to others.