Page:The History of the Church & Manor of Wigan part 2.djvu/194

Rh Derbie hath presented a man of good note for that Archdeaconry. The Bishop useth also to have a Vicar Generall, one of ye ministers beneficed in the Isle: wch place is of small value, not worth the having.

The most of ye Benefices are so in Lay men's hands that they yield small meanes to them yt serve ye cures. The best of them, wch are but two or three, £40 per annum, others £20, and 20 marks, and yegreater number of them under £10. By reason whereof the clergie there for ye most part are unable and illiterate men, natives of the Island.

Their Divine service is according to ye Booke of Common Prayer of ye church of England, read in some places in English, and in some places in ye language of ye natives; into wch ye late Bishop translated our Common Prayer Booke; but how faithfully I know not; & how much for ye good of yt people I leave to your majestie's better judgement. Under correccion I am of opinion it were well ye all your majestie's subjects of that Isle, & other places, might be brought to ye use of ye English Tongue.

There is neither Deane nor Chapter, nor Cathedrall, or Collegiate church; neither doe I understand ye there is any schoole to breed their children in pietie, or literature, or civilitie; yet I am jnformed ye there is not a Papist in ye Island.

If it shall please your majestie to geve me leave I will in your majestie's name sollicite ye Earle of Derby & his sonne, the Lord Strange, to procure & settle in this Island some things ye may further the exercise of pietie, ye increase of literature, and ye education of youth in civilitie and the use of ye English Tongue.
 * I trust your sacred majestie will pardon this boldnes
 * of your majestie's most humble
 * servant and chaplen


 * Januarie 1633."

The negligent conduct of the Warden and fellows of Manchester college referred to in the foregoing certificate seems to