68o The HISTORY of the PUILITANS. Chap. VIII. K. Charles I." interrupted, and petitions in an ill way given in, neither difputed nor 164o. "denied, againft the prefent eflablifbed government, in the names of di- " vers counties, with threatnings ágainft the bifhops, that theywill make " them but cyphers. Now I muff tell you, that I make a great differ- " between reformation and alteration of government ; though I am for " the firfi, I cannotgive way to the latter. 'If fome of them have over- " firetched their power, and encroached too much on their temporality, " I thall not be unwilling that thefe things fhould be redreffed and re- " formed ; nay further, if you can Phew nie, that the bifhops have fome " temporal authority inconvenient for the Elate, and not neceffary for the " government of the church and upholding epifcopal jurifdiciion, I (hall " not be unwilling to delire them to lay it down ; but this mull not be " underftood that I fhall any ways confent that their voices in parliament " fhould be taken away, for in all the times of my predeceffors, fence " the conquefi and before, they have enjoyed it as one of the funda- " mental conftitutions of the kingdom." This unhappy method of the king's coming to the houle, and declaring his refolutions before-hand, was certainly unparlimentary, and did the church no fervice ; nor was there any occafion for it at this time, the houle being in no difpofi- tion as yet, to order a bill to be brought in for fubverting the hie- rarchy. In the months of February and March, feveral days were appointed for the confideration of thefe petitions ; and when the bill for the utter extirpating the epifcopal order was brought into the houfe in the months of May and Tune, feveral warm fpeeches were made on both fides; I will let the chief of them before the reader atone view, though they were fpoken at different times. Speeches for Am ong thofe who was for Rcot and Branch, or the total extirpat- Root ch. ing of epifcopacy was Sir Henry Vane, who flood up and argued, that Sírfl.Vane's" lince the houle had voted epifcopal government a great impediment to fpeech. " the reformation and growth of religion, it ought to be taken away, for Nailon, " 'tis fo corrupt in the foundation (lays he) that if we pull it not down, P' 276' " it will fall about the ears of thofe that endeavour it within a few " years. This government was brought in by antichrift, and has let " in all kinds of fuperftition into the church It has been the inftru- " ment of difpiacing the molt godly and confcientious minifters, of vex- " ing, punifhing, and banilbing out of the kingdom, the moll religious " ofall forts and conditions, that would not comply with their fuper- " ftitious inventions and ceremonies. In a word, it has turned the edge " of the government againft the very life and power of godlinefs, and " the favour and proteftton of it, towards all prophane. fcandalous " and fuperftitious perlons that would uphold their party It has " divided
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