28$ The HISTORY of the PURITANS. Chap. VII. Queen they are within the ftatute of prcemunire. 5. That he had condemned EGtabeth, racking for grievous offenders, as contrary to law, and the liberty of the 154 fubje& and advifed thofe in the marches of Wales, that execute tor- ture by virtue of inftruaions under her majefty's hands, to look to, it, that their doings are well warranted ; but the court would not proiècute upon this charge. Conference at All that the puritans could obtain, was a kind of conference between Lambeth, the archbop of Canterbury and the bifhop of Winche/ler on the one part, and Dr. Sparke and Mr. Travers on the other, . in the pretence of the right honourable the earl of Leicelier, the lord Gray, and Sir FrancisWal- fingham. The conference was at Lambeth, concerning things needful to be reformed in the book of CommonPrayer. The archbop opened it with declaring, " That my lord of Leiceer, " having requefted for his fatisfatlion, to hear what the minifters could " reprove, and how their objections were to be anfwered, he had granted " my lord to procure fuch to come for that purpofe, as might Teem " belt to his lordfhip and now I perceive, laid he, you are the " men, of whom one 1 never taw or knew before [Dr. Sparke]; the other 1 know well. Let us hear what things in the book ofCommon " Prayer, you think ought to be mended : You appear not now jùdi- " daily before me, nor as called in queftion by authority for thefe things, " but by wayof conference; for which caute it (hall he free for you " (Speaking in duty), to charge the book with fuch matters as you fup- pofe to be blame- worthy in it." Dr. Sparke replied ; " We give molt humble and hearty thanks to al- " mighty God, and to this honourable prefence, that after fo many years, "-wherein our caute could never be admitted to an indifferent hearing, " it bath pleated God of his gracious goodnefs fo to difpofe things, that " we have now that equity and favour (hewed us, that before fuch ho- nourable perfonages, as may be a worthy means to her molt excellent " majefty for reformation of fuch things as are to be redreffed, it is now " ° lawful for us to declare with freedom, what points ought to be re- " viewed and reformed, which our endeavours, becaufe it concerns the " fervice of God, and the fatisfaotion of fuch as are in authority ; and " and for that the good iffue depends on the favour of God, I ,4efire, " that before we enter any further, we may firft Leek for the gracious « dire6tion and bleßïng of God by prayer." At which words, framing himfeif tobegin to práy, the archbilhop interrupted him faying, he fhouid make no prayers there, nor turn that place into a conventicle. Mr. Traversjoined with Dr. Sparke, and defired that it might be law- ful for them to pray before they proceeded any further; butthe archbifhop not yielding thereunto, terming it a conventicle if any fuch prayer fhould be
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