[236] Ussher to Dr. Ward, 1633 (before September); to Laud, July 9, 1638, in his _Works_; Laud to Bramhall, August 11, 1638, in his _Works_, vi. 532--'the motion of the Provost's keeping the College, though he was a Bishop, proceeded originally from the Lord Deputy, and not from me'; to Wentworth, July 30, _ib._ vii. 43; to same, September 10, 1638, _ib._ vi. 535--'Methinks you might speak privately with the Primate, and so do what you would with him. As for the Bishop of Derry, I presume you can rule him; if not, you were better send the Provost fairly with honour to his bishopric, and think of as good a successor as you can for the college'; to same, December 29, 1638, _ib._ vi. 551. Chappell's metrical autobiography is in Peck's _Desiderata Curiosa_, Lib. xi. [237] Wentworth to Laud, August 23, 1634, _Strafford Letters._ Further details may be found in Stubbs's _Hist. of the Univ. of Dublin_, and in Dr. Mahaffy's _Epoch in Irish Hist._ CHAPTER XVI STRAFFORD'S GOVERNMENT, 1638-1640 [Sidenote: Wentworth's account of his stewardship, 1636.] [Sidenote: The Church.] [Sidenote: Finance.] [Sidenote: The army.] [Sidenote: Law reform.] [Sidenote: Trade.] Wentworth was in England from the beginning of June until late in November 1636, rooms being assigned to him at Hampton Court. Wandesford and the Chancellor were Lords Justices, and very careful to do nothing of themselves, so that the Lord Deputy found the situation unchanged at his return. His best work in Ireland was already done, and he was able to give a very good account of it. Thirty thousand pounds a year had been recovered for the Church, impropriations in the hands of the Crown having been all restored to the clergy. A High Commission Court had been erected, and measures taken to prevent improvident leases of Church lands. Some progress had been made in restoring the churches, most of which had been roofless ruins since the Desmond and Tyrone wars. Decency was re-established in service time, as to which it may be sufficient to say that Wentworth had found 'the communion table was sat upon as ordinary as any other place.' The English canons were put in force and the Thirty-nine Articles adopted, 'those of Ireland silenced and passed by.' He had found an excess of expenditure amounting to 24,000_l._ over income, and a debt of 94,000_l._ An equilibrium had now been established and the arrears cleared off; and a future surplus of 50,000_l._ might be secured if his plans were not thwarted by hasty grants. He had inspected every single man of the 2000 foot and 600 horse forming his army, 'the great peacemaker between the British and the natives, between the Protestant and the Papist'; whereas some former generals had been several years in Ireland without reviewing one company. The troops were properly clothed, armed, and paid, and discipline was so strict that the soldiers dared not take a chicken without paying 'at the owner's price.' The law had been assimilated