698 2'he HISTORY of the PúRI-TANS. Chap. IX. K. Charles L The PURITANShad always objeéted to the lordly titles and dignities 164r- of the bithops, but their votes in the houle of peers were now efteem'd as Bill againfi very great grievance, and an effeétual bar to the proceedings of parlia- the bps. votes ment. It was remembered that they had been always averle to reforma in parka tion; that they had voted unanimoufly againft the fupremrtcy in king ment. . Henry the VIIIth's reign ;, and againft the nt`t of uniformity in queen Eli- zabeth's. It was now obferved that theywere the creatures of the court, and a dead weight againft all reformation in church or hate ; twenty fix votes being fufficient at any time to turn the feale in that houle, whofe full number was not above an hundred; it was therefore moved, that a bill might be brought in to take away their feats in parliament, which ver. r. p. was readily agreed to. The bill (lays lord Clarendon) was drawn up a3h. 246, with great deliberation, and was entitled, an ad for reraining bops, and others of the clergy in holy orders, from intermeddling in fecular af- fairs. It confsfted of feveral branches, as, that no bifhopfhauld havea vote its parliament, nor any judicial power in the ./tar-chamber, nor be a privy-counfIlor, nor ajudge in any temporal courts; norfhould any clergy- man be in the commfon ofpeace. To make way for the paffing of this bill, it was alledged, that if this was granted the commons would be fatis- fied,, and little or nothing further attempted to the prejudice of the church. it therefore paf ed the houle of commons without oppoftion, 23:XLpa &3. and was fent up to the houfe of peers May r. Mr. Fuller Pays, that lord Kimbolton would have perfuaded the bifhops-to refign their votes in parli- ament, adding, that then the temporal lords would be obliged in honour to preferve their jurifdiflion and revenues. The earl of .Efex alto em- ployed fome body to treat privately with the bithops on the fame head ; but they rejeéted all overtures ofaccommodation, refolving to make their utmoft efforts, and to keep pof effion of their fiats till a fuperior ftrength fhould difpoffefs them; accordingly the bill^fnet with a vigorous oppo. fition in the upper houle, and after a fecond reading was thrown out; without fo much asbeingcommitted ; (a countenance frequently given to. Mills they never intend to pals) but the wholebench of bifhops voting for rhemfelves, it is no wonder it was loft by a confiderable majority. Mr. Fuller lays, it wouldhave been thrown out if the bithops had not voted at all ; for though the temporal lords were content toexclude them from all, fecular offices andemployments in the fiate,, they were in no difpofition to take away their fuffrages in the houleof peers. 4guments Many learned fpeeches were made in both houfes upon thisoccafion R{h Pí11 the reafons of the commons for patting the bill '. were thefe, (t.) Becaufe zS Nàlfon, their attendance on fecular affairs, not relating, to the church,, is a great g; z6o. hindrance to their fpiritual fan&ion. No man that warreth (faith St. Paul to. `Timothy); entangleth bimf f with the ofs rs.of this life. (z.),Be- caufe.
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