PART II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 299 Clare did freely tell me, that if I would conform to the Orders and Ceremonies of the Church, and preach Conformity to the People and labour to fer them. right , there was no Man in England 16ht tobe there ; for no Man could more effeétually do it : but if I would not, there was no Man fo unfit for the place ; for noMan could more hinder it. § ¡f4. I delved it as thegreateft favour of theirs, that if they intended not my being there, they would plainly tell me fo, that I might trouble them and my lelf no more about it : But that was a favour too greatto be expected : I had continual , encouragement by Promifes, till I was almo[t tired in waiting on them. At laft, meeting Sir Ralph Clare in the Bifhop's Chamber, I delired him before the Bifhop to tell me to my face, if he had anything again(} me, which might caule all this ado. Hetold me that I would give the Sacrament to none kneeling, and that of Eighteen hundred Communicants, there was not pail Six hundred that were for me, and the yell wererather for the Vicar. I anfwerd, That I was very glad that thefe words fell outto be fpoken in the Bifhop'shearing. To the firft Accufation, i told him,That he himfelf knew that I invited him to theSacrament,andoffered ithint kneeling, and under my hand in that writing ; and openly in his hearing in the Pulpit, I had promifed and told both him and all the reit, that I never load, nor neverwould put any Man from the Sacrament on the account of kneeling, but leave every one to the Pollute which they should choofe : And that the reafon why I nevergave it to any kneeling, was,becaufe all that came would fit or ftand, and thofe that were for kneeling only followed him, who would not come, uniefs I would adminifter it to him and his Party on a day by themfeives, when the relt were not prefent : and I had no mind to be the Author of Inch a Schifn, and make as it were two Churches of one : But efpecially the confioufne(s of notori- ous Scandal, which they knew they mull be accountable for, did make many knee- lers flay away. Andall this he could not deny. And as to the fecond Charge there was a Witnefs ready to fay as he : for the truth is, among good and bad; I knew but one Man in the Townagainit me ; whichwas a Stranger newly come, one Gandonen an Attorney, Steward to the Lord of Abergeveny (a Papift) who was Lord of the Mannor): and this one Manwas the Profecutor,and witneffed how ma- ny were agaipfl my Return. I craved of the Bifhop that I might fendby thenext Poll to know their Minds, and if that were fo, I would take it for a favour to be keptfrom thence. When the People heard this at Kidderminfter, in a days rime they gathered the hands of Sixteen hundred of the Eighteen hundred Communi- cants, and the reft were fuch as were from home : And within four or five days I happened to find Sir RalphClare with the Bifhop again, and 'hewed him the hands of Sixteen hundred Communicants, with an offer of more, if they might have time, all very earmeft for myReturn. Sir Ralph was filenced as to that point : but he and the Bifhop appeared (o much the more againít my Return. § Ipq. The Letter whichthe Lord Chancellour ( upon his own offer) wrote for me toSir Ralph Clare, he gaveat my requelt, unfealed : and fo I took a Copy of it before I fent it away, as thinking thechiefnie would be to keep it and com- pare it with their Dealings ; and it was as followeth. To my noble Friend Sir Ralph Clare, Theft. slit, I Am a little out ofCountenaftce, that after the ¿ifevety of finch a deftre in bra Majefiy, 1 that Mr. Baxter ßtould befitted at üidderminller, as he was heretofore, andmy pro- mile to you by the King's Dire5tion, that Mr. Dance fhauld very punítually receive a Re- compense byway of a Rent, upon his oryour Bills charged here upon my Steward ; Mr.Bax- ter bath yet' no fruit of ebbe his Majefty's good intention towards him : fo that be bath tes much reafon to believe that he is not fo frankly dealt with in this particular as he defer*, to be. Ido again tell you, that it will be very acceptable to the King, if you can perfwade °+lgl4r. Dance to furrender that Charge to Mr. Baxter : and in the mean time, and till heei preferred to as profitable an Imployment, whatever Agreement youJima make with himfor anAnnual Rent, it(hall be paid Quarterlyupon a Bill from you charged upon my Steward Mr. Clutterhucke ; andfor the exati performance ofthis , you may fecurely pawn your full Credit. I do matt earnefily intrear you, that you will with all (heed inform me what wemay dependupon in tbia particular, that we may not keep Mr, Baxter ice fuff enfe, who Q q z barb
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