[From Manx Soc vols 25+28 - Blundell's History]

CHAPTER X.

OF YE CLERGY IN YE ISLE OF MAN, AND OF YE RELIGION NOW PRACTISED THERE.

THE religion now here practised is conformable to y^e Church of England ; for y^e natives of this island were alwayes, and are at this day, such obsequious observers and suitors of y^e kings of England and ye house of Darby as that they were never known at any time to murmur against either of them. They might exercise wt power they pleased, either in temporall or spirituall matters. As y^e kings of England or lords of Man were inclined soe were they. An Act of Parliam^t in England prevailed wth y^m as much as a Generall Councell in King Henry ye Eighth his reigne. They somewt unwillingly at first left y^e practise of y^e primitive church, yet at last they complyed to banish y^e Pope, but wth him most willingly they reteyned y^e old Six Articles. In King Edwd y^e 6 his reigne they admitted of y^e Book of Common Prayer. After, in Queen Marye’s reigne, they easily admitted of y^e mass and its concomitants, as being their ancient religion, w^ch they had but lately left off. All Queen Elizabeth’s reigne they became purely Protestants. King James not changing anything, they changed not ; but in y^e later end of King Charles his reigne Presbytery began (but as it were peeping up only). They now began to decline, neglecting to frequent y^e churches or y^e apostles’ and saints’ festivals, and admitted of preachings in private houses by strangers, whereof I was an eye-wittness, where they made their assemblyes and had their private meetings. Notwthstanding, I observed y^t y^e Manks men for y^e major part are generally very respective of their clergy, and although those of y^e clergy they are severe in their injoyning of tenants, and penaltyes w^ch they inflict upon delinquents, yet doe they punctually performe them wth all obedience and marvelous silence. Their tithes they willingly pay as soon as it is demanded ; if any fayle it is through want of means and not for want of will.

The ministers who are natives have alwaies y^e addition of Sir, unless they be parsons of y^e parishes, w^ch are but few, for most of y^e parishes are impropriat to y^e lord of y^e Isle or the byshop ; and then instead of Sir, they have the addition of parson, as Mr. Chaloner saith, 1. 3.

Their ministers truly are not unlearned. I did not converse wt any one (yet I discoursed with diverse), but y^t I found him both a schollar and discreet. I did not hear of any one y^t was taxed or debosh. All w^ch is confirmed by Mr. Chaloner. But y^e vulgar people I found to bee very ignorant for want. All y^e clergy there have very sufficient meanes to maintaine them. Mr. Rutter had at my being there a living w’ y^e Manksmen told mee was of fourscore pounds p. annum. I suppose it to bee y^e parsonage of Andrew, w’ Mr. Chaloner saith belongeth to y^e archdeacon, but now it seemeth there being no more archdeacons admitted, that title is wth ye byshops extinguished, and now a curate supplieth the place. Yet I was told that there were some ministers of y^e lower classis y^t have benefices of great^r vallue. y^e least y^t I did hear of was of threescore pounds p. annum, w^ch I admired ; but reflecting upon ye Earl of Darbye’s piety, it is no marvell their annuall stipends were augmented by soe bountifull an addition of y^e byshop’s, abbeys’ and priorys’ revenues devided amongst y^m

St. Patrick (ye apostle of Ireland) is by the islanders held to bee their apostle alsoe, for they acknowledge him to have first setled Christianity in their island. Him, therefore, they have in most veneration ; next to him they honour y^e memory of S. Maughald, whose feast they never faile to celebrate twice in y^e year, as I have before noted, 1. 3, ch. 3.