708 The HISTORY Of the PURITANS. Chap. DC. K. Charles I. and that all the lands taken by this bill from deans and chapters, fhall be 164.1. put into the hands of feofee's, to be employed for the fupport of afit num- ber of preaching minifters for the fervice of every church, andfor the re- paration of the /aid churches, provton being made, that his majefty be no lofer in his rents, ftrft fruits, and other duties; and that a competent maintenance flail be made to thefeveral perfons concerned, if they appear not delinquents to this houfe. But none of thefe votes paired into a law; nor was there the leaf{ profpe& of their being confirm'd by the lords, as long as the bifhops were in that houle, who flood together like a wall agáind every attempt of the commons for alterations in the church, till by an unexpected providence, they were broken in pieces, and made way for their own ruin. Committee of The firmnefs of the bifhops againll all abatements or relaxations in accommoda- favour of the puritans, exafperated the people, and put an end to all t'°" profpelts of agreement A COMMITTEE OF ACCOMMODATION had Laud's!i been appointed by the houfe of lords March I. to confider of fuch HO. f his innovations in religion as were proper to be taken away, which by the troubles, p. plot of the court to bring up the army, and the lofs of the late bills 374' for reformation of the hierarchy, was now broken up. It confided of ten earls, ten bifhops, and ten barons. "This committee (fays arch- " bifhop Laud in his diary) will meddle with doctrine as well as cere " mony, and will call force divines to them to confider of the bufinefs, " as appears by a letter hereunto annexed, fent by the lord bifhop of " Lincoln to force divines to attend this fervice. Upon the whole, I " believe this committee will prove the national fynod of England, to " the great difhonour of the church, and what elfe may follow upon Thefab-com- ae it God knows." At their fird meeting they appointed a fub-com- smilee. mittee of bifhops, and divines of different perfuafions, to prepare mat- O tees for their debate ; the bifhop of Lincoln was chairman of both, and was ordered to call together the fub-committee with all convenient fpeed ; which he did, by a letter directed to each of them in the fol. lowing words : Am commanded by the lords of the committeefor innovations in " I matters of religion, to let you know, that their Laid lordfhips .. have affrgned and appointed you to attend them, as affilants in that. " committee; and to let you know in general, that their lordlbips in- " tend to examine all innovations in dottrine and difcipline introduced " into the church, without law, Pince the reformation ; and (if their a' lordfhips (hall find it behoveful for the good of the church and fiate) its to
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