348, The HISTORY 6f -the PuRITAÑs. Chap; VII. i$ Y r But great numbers ofthebeft qualified for preaching, and of the great- 1 86 eft induftry and application to their fpiritual funftions, are not fuffered c v 1 " quietly to difcharge their duties, but are followed with innumerable " vexations, notwithftanding they are neither hereticks nor fchiínaticks, " but keep within the pale of the church, and perfuade others to do fo, " who would otherwife have departed from ir. They faft and pray for the. " queen and the church, though they have been rebuked for ir, and diver- " fly punifhed by officers both civil and ecclefiaftical. They are fufpended " and deprived of their miniftry, and the fruits of their livings are feque- " ftered for the payment offuch a chaplain, as their fuperiors think fit to " employ : This has continued for many months and years, notwithflan- " ding the interceffion of their people, of their friends, and fometimes of " great perfonages for their releafe. Laft ofall, Many of them are corn- " mitted to prifon, whereoffome have been chained with irons, and con- " tinued inhard durance for long time. " To bring about thefe feverities, they [the bithops] tender to the fuf- " pedted perfons, an oath ex officio, to anfwer all interrogatories that fhall be put to them, though it be to accule themfelves ; and when they have " gotten a confef ion, they proceed upon it to punifh themwith all rigour, " contrary to the laws ofGod and ofthis land, and ofall - nations in chriften- dom, except it be in Spain by the inquftion. Thofe who have refufed " the oath have been caft into prifon, and commanded there to lie without bail till they yield to it. " The grounds of thefe troubles are, not impiety, immorality, want of " learning or diligence in their minifterial work, but for not being fatisfied " in the ufe ofcertain ceremonies and orders of the church of Rome, and " for not being able to declare, that every thing in the Commonprayer book is agreeable to the wordofGod. Alas! that for thefe thingsgood prea- -" chers fhould be fo molefted, and the people deprived of thefood of their " fouls, and that byfathers of the fame faith with our felves. M. S. " We therefore molt humbly, and for the lord's fake, crave of this P. 672. " high and honourable court of parliament, that it may pleafe you to hear " and read this our fupplication, and take fuch order for it as to your god- " ly wifdom fhall be thought neceffary. Nov. 1586." Grievances The grievances annexed to this fupplication were thefe, annexed. (1.) The abfolute power ofthe bifhop to give and take away licences to preach at his pleafure. (z.) The proceedings of the ecclefiaftical commit lonersaccording to their own diftretions, without regard to law. (3.) The fmall number ofcommiffioners (viz.) THREE, whomay de- cide the molt weighty caufes. (q.) The
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