[From Manx Soc vol 1 Sacheverell's Survey c.1692]

TO THE RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD,
DR. THOMAS WILSON⁽⁸⁵⁾,
LORD BISHOP OF THE ISLE OF MAN.

MY LORD,-The honour you have done me in your friendship makes me hope the ensuing Essay will meet with, if not your acceptance, at least forgiveness; since the vast length of time has left me nothing to present your Lordship with but the names of so many saints and holy men, who have been your predecessors in the first fixed Bishopric of the British nations, which was planted by St. Patrick (even before Down Patrick, or Ardmagh), settled by St. German, confirmed by St. Maughauld, improved by Conanus, to be the most celebrated nursery of learning and religion in these Western nations. And if, by the barbarous ignorance of the eighth, or the destructive knowledge of the sixteenth century, this church has been sinking into a heap of ruins, yet, as Bishop Barrow ⁽⁸⁶⁾ first began to support it, so it seems designed by Providence for your Lordship to rebuild and beautify, and heal the breaches of so devouring a reformation. And, indeed, the advances you have made in fewer months than it was ages in declining, give us a specimen of that public spirit, that vivacity of genius, which shines through all your actions, and make us wish, at least, that you may be the happy instrument of completing so necessary a work.

These, my Lord, are the hopes and expectations of a poor people, who are not able to tell you themselves how much they reverence your person, and I doubt they have but an ill advocate in,

My Lord,

Your Lordship's most humble and obedient servant,

WILLIAM SACHEVERELL,