Chap. VI. The HISTORY of the PURITANS., 63a °" fhould withdraw from the fynod or convocation, till the affairs they K." Charles t, " had in command from the king were perfefted and finifhed," 64 ° Upon this dubious foundation the convocation was continued, and a committee of twenty-fix appointed to prepare matters for the debate of the house ; but the mob being fo inflamed, as to threaten to pull down the convocation -houle, the king appointed them a guard of the militia of Middlejex, commanded by Endymion Porter, groom of the bed- Their pro chamber, a papift, under whole proteftion the fynod was continued till coednego. the canons were perfefted, and fix fubfidies granted by way of fupply for the exigence of his majefty's affairs ; to be collefted in fix years, after the rate of four (billings in the pound, amounting to about one hundred and twenty thoufand pounds; after which it wasdiflolved [May 2g.] by a fpecial mandate or writ from his majefty, after it had conti- nued twenty-five lemons. The canons having been approved by the privy- council, were fubfcribed by as many of both honks of convoca- tion as were prefent, and then tranfmitted to the provincinal fynod of York, by whom they were fubfcribed at once, without fo much as de- bating either matter or form. Dr. yohn TPilliams bithop of Lincoln, was in the Tower, and had no concern with the canons. Dr. Goodman bifhop of Gloceer, a concealed papift, was the only prelate who declined the fubfcription ; till the archbifhop threatening him with deprivation, and the reft of his brethren preding him to comply, he was perfuaded to put his name to the book; but feveral of the members of the lower houle avoided the tell, by withdrawing before the day of fubfcription p for of above one hundred and fixty, of which both houfes of convo- cation confided, there were not many more than one hundred names to the book. The unreafonablenefs of continuing the fynod after the diffolution ofRemark, . the parliament appears from hence, that the convocation confiding of bithops, deans, archdeacons, and clerks, the three former aft in their perfonal capacities only, and may give for themfelves what fubfidies they. pleafe; but the clerks being chofen for their refpeftive cathedrals and diocefes, legally to fit as long as the parliament continues, defift from being publick perfons as foon as it is diffolved, and lofe the charafter of reprefentatives ; they are then no more than private clergymen who, though they may give the king what films of money they pleafe for themfelves, cannot vote away the eftates of their brethren, nnlefs they are re-elefted. Befides it was contrary to all law and cuflom, both be- fore and fince the aft offubmi. ion of the clergy to king Henry VIII. ex- cept in the fingle inftance of queen Elizabeth. The canons of this fynod, confiding of feventeera articles, were pub- Hued dune 3o, and entitled, Confütutions and canons ecclaftical, treated upoiu
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