92 The HISTORY of the PuRITANs. VoL. II. K. Charles I." my part, I am refolved to employ the utmoft of my power given to 16 44· 1 " me by the ordinance, for procuring a general· reformation in all the ~ " alfociated counties, expeCting your forwardnefs, and heartily jr)ining_ " with me herein,'! I rift, &c. Their method When a clergyman was corrviCled according to the inftruClions above– of proceeding. mentioned, report was made to the earl, who direCted a warrant to the– ~uff. Cler. church- wardens of the parifh, to eject him out of his parfonage, ancl' p. 11 9· all the profits thereof;. and another to receive the tithes, and all the benefi ts into their own hands, and to keep them in fafe cuftody till they !hould receive further order from himfelf. At the fame time he direCt– ed the parifhioners to choofe a proper minifl:er for the vacant plnce, and• upon their prefentation his lordlhip fent him to the qffembly if divines at Weftminjter, with an accoun-rof his character, for their trial and exami– Bation. And upon a certificate from the alf~mbly, that they approved of him as an orthodox divine, and qualified to officiate in the pallora~ function, his lordfhip ilfued out his !aft warrant, fetting forth that •·• fuch an on~ having been approved by the aifembly, &c. he did there– " fore authorife and appoint him the faid ---, to officiate as miniiler, " to preach, teach, and cathechize in fuch a pariih during his (the earl's) " pleqfure, and then empower him to take polleilion of the church, " parfonage houfes, glebe lands, and to receive the tithes and profits, " and enjoy ~he fame, until his lordfi1ip lhould take further order. " concerning the fame, requiring all officers to aid and ailift him for that " pu rpofe ." R emarks. If the committees obf~rved thefe aiticles there could be no reafonable ground of complaint, except of the jixth, which may be con– ftmed as giving to much encouragement to informers; but the me– thods of conviction were unexceptionable. The perfons to be cal– led before the commiilioners were fcandalous, or enemies to the parliament;. the depofitions were upon oath; a copy of them allow– ed the defendant,. with time to give in his anfl";er in wntmg; then a day appointed to make his defence in prefence of the wit– netTes, to whom he might take exceptions; and after all, the final judgment not left with the commiffioners, but with the earl. The filling the vacant benefice was no lefs prudent;. the pariOJioners were to choofe their own minifrer, who was to produce tell:i– monials of his fobriety and virtue; the atTembly were then to ex– :.mine into his learning and minifl:erial qualifications ; and after all, the
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