Page:The History of the Church & Manor of Wigan part 2.djvu/231

410 in Scotland both of armes and other necessaryes for warre; and that this can have noe other end then to invade or annoy this his Maties kingdome of England, ffor his Matie, haveing a good while since most gratiously yeilded to theire demandes for securing the religion by law established amongst them, hath made it appeare to the world that it is not religion but sedition that stirres in them and fills them with this most irreligious disobedience, wch at last breakes forth into a high degree of treason against theire lawfull Soveraigne. In this case of soe great danger both to the State and Church of England your Lorp, I doubt not, and your clergy under you, will not only be vigilant agaynst the close working of any pretenders in that kinde, but very free alsoe, to your power and proportion of meanes left to the church, to contribute towards the raising of such an army as, by God's blessing and his Maties care, may secure this church and kingdome from all intended violence. And, according to the order sent unto mee by the Lords (a copy whereof you shall herewith receive), these are to pray your Lorp to give a good example in your owne person, and with all convenient speed to call your clergy (as well those which are in peculiars as others) and excite them, by yourselfe or such commissioners as you will answere for, to contribute to this great and necessary service, in wch if they give not a good example they will be much to blame. But you are to call noe poor curates, nor such as have scarce wherewith all to live, but such as in other legall wayes of payment have been and are by order of law bound to pay. The proportion I know not well how to prescribe you, but I hope they of your clergy whom God hath blessed with better estates then ordinary will give freely, and thereby helpe the want of meanes in others. And I hope alsoe your Lorship will soe order it as that every man will at the least give after the proportion of three shillings ten pence in the pound of the valuation of his living or other preferment. And this I thought fit to let you further knowe that if any men have double benefices, or a benefice and a prebend, or the like, in divers dioceses, yet your Lorp must call upon them onely for such preferments as they have within your diocesse, and leave them to pay for any other wch they hold to that Bishop in whose diocesse theire other preferments are. As for the time, your Lorp must use all the diligence you can, and send up the moneys, if it be possible, by the first of May next. And for your indemnity the Lord Treasurer is comanded to give you such