732 The HISTORY of the PURITANS. Chap. IX. K. Charles I. Far be it from me to apologize for the furious preachers of thefe times; r64r though it will appear hereafter, that the complaints of the royali/Is are D ; dv' very much exaggerated. It was certainlya great difadvantage to tfie par- sages of the liament's caufe, that they could not get a fupply of learned and able parliamr p preachers, ' keys s of admifiion intoholy orders bein g at this time in the zv:rh eEt to mint - hands of the bifhops, who were very ftriét in their examination into the ters. political principles of thofe they ordained ; this reduced the committee to the neceflity of admitting force few who came well recommended from New-England or Scotland, and had been only ordained by prJby- ters ; and fuch young fludents, who producing their teftimonials from the univerfities, were allowed to preach for force time as candidates. They were under the like difadvantage as topreféntations or indu&ions, molt of them, being in the hands of the king and the bithops. irebbilhop The archbifhop of Canterbury continued to ordain clergymen of his Laudfn en own principles in the Tower ; whereupon the houfe of lords ordered [051. ded from his jurifdiEtion. 28.] that his jurifdi&ion fhould be fequeftered, and adminiftered by his inferior officers, till he fhould be acquitted of the charge of high treafon that was againft him. His grace often admitted fuch clergymen to livings as were obnoxious to the two houfes, infomuch that the lords found it neceffary to enjoin him to acquaint their houfe with the names of fuch perfons as he nominated to any ecclefiaftical benefice promotion or dig- nity within his difpofal, to be approved of firft by the houfe, before they were collated or .inítìtuted. On the other hand, when a minifter was chofen by the parifhioners, and recommended to his grace for admiffion,, if he did not like his principles and character, he would either except againft him, or fuffer the living to lapfe to the crown. This created him new enemies, and kept alive the refentments of the commons. At length the archbifhop acquaintainted the king with his cafe, who fent him a pe- remptory letter, requiring him 's that as often as any benefice, or other " fpiritual promotion, fhould become void within his gift, to difpofe of it only to fuch perlons as his majefty fhould nominate; and that ifeither " or both houles fhould command him otherwife, he fhould then let it fall " in lapfe to the crown." As loon as the houles were acquainted with this, they publifhed an order of their own, requiring the archbifhop to difpofe of no benefice or fpiritual promotion that fhall become voidat any time before his trial, without the leave and order of the two houfes at Wefiminfler. Such was the ftruggle between the king and parliament for the pulpits ! It being thought of great confequence on both fides, to 11H them with men of their own principles, who would be zealous in the caufe in which they were feverally engaged.. Aii
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