oryof f tae Puritans, examin'd. 26 5 How little this unhappy Genleman (fays Nal- ' fon, in the Place referred to, p. 248.) had con- ' fidered of this weighty Affair, and upon what (lender Conviaions either of his own Confcience, or the real Guilt of the Hierarchy,he employ'd his ' Parts and Eloquence, to perfuade the Abolition of Epifcopal Government ; we have reafon to be- ' lieve, not only from his own Confeffion here, ' that he had fcarce haftily perus'd the Bill, before he recommended it to the Houfe, but from the '. fad Cataftrophe of his Life, &c. Falling into the.disfavour of the FaEtion for fame After- ' Speeches, and endeavouring his own Vindication, he fo enrag'd the Party, that his Book ofSpeeches was order'd to be burnt by the Hands of the ' common Hangman ; and being expell'd the Houle, he was forced, to avoid Difcovery, and the Fury of thofe Zealots, whofe Caufe he had fo induftrioufly afferted, to fly in the Difguife and Habit ofa Priefl, and to read Prayers in a Church ; and not only fo, but became an earneft Suitor to his Majefty for the Deanery, [viz. that of Can- ' terbury ;j notwithffanding his bringing in this Bill againft Deans and Chapters, and his bitter Invec- tive upon no other ground but Report, as he ' then confefs'd ; but being by the King juftly de- flied this Preferment, he again turn'd Apoflate to his Royal Mafter, endeavour'd by mean Submif- ' Gons to reconcile himfeif to thofe whom he had ' call'd Rebels and Traitors ; but being by thein reje1ed alto, he not long after ended his Life in Grief and Contempt.' Neal, p. 452. A little before the King went to Scotland, it was carriedby a Majority of Thirty-one Voices, to read it [viz. the Bill againft Bithops, &c.] a fecond Time, and commit it to a Committee of the whole Houfe, in which Mr. Hyde [LordClarendon] was Chairman; who made tile of fo much Art and In- lujlry,
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