Chap: I. Z6eHISTORY ofth8PURITANS. 419 force godly minifters in Lancafbire; and Mr. Knewflubs defined the fameKingjamesI. favour for Come Suffolk minifters; which the bi(hops were going to oppofe, 16o3 but the king replied with a ftern countenance. " We have taken pains " here to conclude in a refolution for uniformity, and you will undo all " by prefering the credit of a few private men to the peace of the church ; " this is the Scots way, but I will have none of this arguing, therefore " let them conform, and that quickly too, or they Ball hear of it; the " bifhops will give them forne time, but if any are of an obflinate and turbulent fpirit, I will have them enforced to conformity." Thus ended this mock conference, for it deferves no better name, all Remarks up: things being previou1ly concluded between the king and the bifhops, on the wbole. before the puritans were brought upon the flage, to be made a fpeftacle to their enemies, and borne down, not with calm reafon and argument, but with the royal authority, I approve, or I dent; the king making himfelf both judge and party. No wonder therefore, if Dr. Raynolds fell below himfelf, and loft fume part of his efteem with the puritans, being over-awed by the place and company, and the arbitrary diftates of his fovereign opponent. The puritans refufed to he concluded by this con- ference, for the following reafons, becaufe r. " The minifters appointed to fpeak for them were not of their no- Chrif1iaot " ruination or choofing, nor of one judgment in the points of controverfy; and mode/t " for being deiïred by their brethren to argue againft the corruptions of the fe: {eauith " church as /imply evil, they replied, they were not fo perfuaded. Being theprelates, further defred to acquaint the king, that force of their brethren thought printedi6o6, " them Jsfùl, they refuted that alto. LaIlly, being defred to give their " reafons in writing, why they thought the ceremonies only indifèrent; " or to anfwer the reafons they had to offer to prove thernfanfùl, they would " do neither one or other. 2. " Becaufe the points in controverfy were not thoroughly deba.. .. ted, but nakedly propounded, and Tome not at all touched. Nei.. " 'ther was there any one argument to the purpofe purfued and fol- " lowed. 3. " Becaufe theprelates took the liberty of interrupting at their pleafure thole of the other fide, infomuch that they were checked for it by the " king himfelf." They objefted alto to the account of the conference by dean Barlow, as publifhed without the knowledge advice or confent of the other fide, and therefore deferving no credit ; theyPaid that Dr. Moreton had called force part of it in queftion, and reftified force fpeeches fathered on the king : Befides, that the prelates only were prefent at the Grit day's con- ference, when the principal matters were determined. H h h 2 " There-
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=