Chap. XL The HI STORY of the PURITANS. 779 them from difturbing the Rate, or eluding the laws, by trufts or o- LCharles I. " therwife, he ought to give his content to it. 1642. To the feventh, concerning thevotes of popifh lords, his majefty replied, tr`^- " That he was informed, thofe lords had prudently withdrawn from the " ° houfe of peers, but he did not conceive that a law againft the votes of C' any, where blood gave them their right, was fo proper, in regard of " the privilege of parliament ; however his majefty was content, that as " long as they did not conform to the dottrine and difcipline of the church " of England, they fhould not fit in the houfe of peers, but only vote by " proxy. As for a bill for the educating the children of papifts in the proteftant religion, he fhould be very glad of it, and would encou- " rage it. To the eighth propofition, touching reformation of church-government and liturgy, his majefty refers them to his declaration of December a. in which he had declared, " that he was willing to remove illegal innova.- " Lions`; that if his parliament advifed him to call afynod to examine in- " to filch ceremonies as gave offence, he would take it into confideration, and apply himfelf to give due fatisfattion therein ; but he was per- " Loaded in his confcience, that nochurch could be found upon earth, that " profeffed the true religion with more purity of doftrine than the church " of England; nor where the government and difcipline are more beau- " tified, and free from fuperftition, than as they are here eftablifhed by " law ; which his majefty is determined with conftancy to maintain, as " long as he lives, in their purity and glory, not only againft all innova- " tions of popery, but from the irreverenceof thofe many fchifmaticks " and feparatifts, wherewith of late this kingdom, and the city of Lon- " don abounds, for the fuppreffion of whom his majefty requires the af- " fiftance of his parliament. As for fuch matters in religion which were " in their own nature indifferent, his majefty refers them to his firft " declaration, printed by advice of his privy-council, in which he had declared, that he was willing, in tendernefs to any number of his loving " fubjects, to admit that force law might be made for the exemption of " tender confciences from punifhment or profecution for fuch ceremo- " nies; provided it be attempted and purfued with that modefly tern- ,' per and fubmifíion, that the peace and quiet of the kingdom be not " difturbed, the decency and comlinefs of God's fervice difcountenanced, " nor the pious lober devout actions of the firft reformers, fçandalized " and defamed. His majefty adds, that he had formerly referred the " compofing the prefent diftrattions about church - government and litur- gy to the wifdomof the parliament, but defired he might not beprefi " to anyJangle act on his part, till the whole be fo digeßed andfettled by " both houfes, that his majefy may clearlyfee what isfit to be left, as well 5 G -e as
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