Letters, I had from above, I need not relate; Sure I am I had Peace, and comfort at home, in the happy fenfe of that generall unanimity, and loving correfpondence of my Clergy, till in the laft year of my prefiding there, after the Synodicall oath was fet on foot, (which yet I did never tender to any one Minifter of my Diocess) by the incitation of some bufie interlopes of the neighbour County, fome of them began to enter into an unkind contestation with me, about the election of Clerks of the convocation; whom they fecretly, without ever acquainting me with their defire or purpose (as driving to that end which we fee now accomplished ) would needs nominate and fet up in Competition to those, whom I had (after the ufuall form) recommended to them; That they had a right to free voices in that choice, I denyed not; only I had reason to take it unkindly, that they would work underhand without me, and against me; profeffing that if they had before hand made their defires known to me, I fhould willingly have gone along with them in their election; It came to the Poll; Those of my Nomination carried it, The Parliament begun; After fome hard tugging there, returning home upon a re cefs; I was met on the way, and cheerfully wellcom'd with fome hundreds: In no worfe terms, I left that my once dear Diocess when returning to Westminister, I was soon call'd by his Majefty (who was then in the North) to a remove to Norwich: F 2

but

but how I took the Tower in my way: and how I have been dealt with fince my repair hither, I could be Lavish in the fad report, ever defiring my Good God, to enlarge my heart in Thankfulness to him, for the fenfible experience I have had of his fatherly hand over me, in the deepest of all my Afflictions, and to strengthen me, for whatsoever other tryalls, he fhall be pleased to call me unto: That being found faithfull unto the Death, I may obtain that Crown of life, which he hath Ordained for all thofe that Overcome.

Bishop

Bishop HALL'S

HARD MEASURE.

N

Othing could be more plain, then that upon the Call of this Parliament, and before, there was a general Plot and Refolution of the Faction to alter the Government of the Church especially, the height and infolency of fome Church-governours, as was conceived, and the ungrounded impofition of fome Innovations upon the Churches both of Scotland and England gave a fit Hint to the Project: In the vacancy therefore before the Summons, and immediately after it, there was great working fecretly for the Defignation and Election as of Knights and Burgeffes, fo especially (beyond all former ufe) of the Clerks of Convo cation; when now the Clergy were stirred up to contest with, and oppose their Diocefans, for the choice of fuch men as were most inclined to the favour of an Alteration. The Parliament was no fooner fate, then many vehement Speeches were made against established Church-government, and enforcement of extirpation both root and branch. And because it was not fit to fet upon all at once,the refolution was to begin with those Bishops which had

fub.

fubfcribed to the Canons then lately published, upon the fhutting up of the former Parliament, whom they would first have had accused of Treafon; but that not appearing feifible, they thought beft to indite them of very high crimes and offences against the King, the Parliament, and Kingdom, which was profecuted with great earnestness by fome prime Lawyers in the House of Commons, and entertained with like fervency by fome zealous Lords in the House of Peers; every of thofe particular Canons being preffed to the most envious and dangerous height that was poffible. The Arch bishop of York (was defigned for the report) aggravating Mr. Maynards criminations to the utmost, not without fome Interfperfions of his own. The Counsel of the ac. cufed Bishops gave in fuch a demurring Answer as ftopt the mouth of that heinous Indictment: when this prevailed not, it was contrived to draw Petitions accufatory from many parts of the Kingdom against Epifcopal Government, and the Promoters of the petitions were entertained with great respects; whereas the many petitions of the oppofite part, though fubfcribed with many thoufand hands, were fleighted and difregarded. VVithall, the Rabble of London, after their petitions cunningly and upon other pretences procured, were firred up to come to the Houses perfonally to crave justice both against the Earl of Strafford firft, ard then against the Archbishop of Canterbury, and laftly against the whole

Order

Order of Bishops; which coming at first unarm'd were checked by fome well-willers, and eafily perfwaded to gird on their rufty Swords, and fo accoutred came by thousands to the Houses, filling all the outer rooms, offering foul abuses to the Bishops as they paffed, crying out No Bishops, No Bishops ; and at laft, after divers dayes affembling, grown to that height of fury, that many of them, whereof Sir Richard Wifeman profeffed (though to his coft) to be Captain, came with refolution of fome violent courses, in fo much that many Swords were drawn hereupon at Westminster, and the Rout did not stick openly to profess that they would pull the Bishops in pieces. Meffages were fent down to them from the Lords, they still held firm both to the place and their bloody refolutions. It now grew to be Torch-light, one of the Lords, the Marqueffe of Hartford came up to the Bishops Form, told us that we were in great danger, advised us to take fome course for our own fafety, & being defired to tell us what he thought was the best way, counselled us to continue in the Parliament House all that night; for (faith he) these people Vow they will watch you at your going out, and will search every Coach for you with Torches, fo as you cannot escape. Hereupon the House of Lords was moved for fome Order for the preventing their mutinous and riotous meetings; Meffages were fent down to the Houfe of Commons to this purpose more then once, nothing was effected; but for the

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