t8 T'he HIS T 0 R Y of the PuRITANs. VoL. II. K.Cba•les I. When the bi£hops lands were feized for the fervice of the war, which ~ was called helium epifcopale or the bijhops •war, it was not poilible to {hew favour to any under that character; and though the two houfes voted very confiderable. peniions to fome of the biihops, in lieu of their lands that were fequefl:ered, due care was not taken of the p-1yment ; nor would feveral of their lordihips fo hlr countenance the votes of the hou– fes as to apply for it. Committees In order to account for thefe things, it will be necetfary to fet hefiJre for religion. the reader the proceedings of the fev.:ral committees of religion from Walker's the beginning of the prefent parliament. It has been remtmbered, that A ttempt. a grand committee, confifl:ing of the whole houfe of commons, was app. 6 3· pointed Novemb. 6th. I 640. to enquire into theJcandalous immoralities qf the clergy, of which the famous Mr. White, member of padiament for Southwark, a good lawyer, and, according to Mr. Whitlook, an ho– neft learned and faithful fervant of the public, was chairman. Great numbers of petitions with aiticles~of milliehaviour were brought before them, relating to fnperftition, herefy, or the immorality of their minifl:ers, infomuch that the houfe was forced to branch the committee into feveral fub-divifions, for the quicker ditlpatch of bufinefs. Nov. '9· 1640. afub· Committee committee was appointed " to confider how there may be preaching mi– forfca11dalous " nijters {et up where there are none; how they may be maintained where mwijlm. " there is no maintenance, and all other things of that nature ; alfo to en- " quire into the true grounds and caufes of the great fcarcity of preach– " ing minifl:ers throughout the kingdom, and to confider of fome way . , of removing fcandalous mini"fters, and putting others in their places." -For which purpofes the knights of ihires and burgetfes of the feveral corpo• rations were ordered to bring informations within fix weeks, of the il:ate of religion in their refpecrive counties. This fub-corbrbittee confifl:ed of fixty-one members, together with the knights and burgetfes of Nor– thumberland, Wales, Lancajhire, Cumber/and, and the burgetfes of Can– terbury. M e. White was chairman of this, as well as of the grand com– mittee; they had their regular meetings in the court qf wards, anp from ·the powers abovemei1tioned, were fometimes called the committee for preaching mimfters. They had the infpection of all hofpitals and free– fcbool s, and were authorized to confider of the expediency of fending corn" millions into the feveral counties, to examine fuch clergymen as were ·walker's Attempt. P· 6s. accufed, and could not with convenience be brought up ro London. But prefentments againft the clergy came in fo fall, that for the dif– patch of bufinefs they were obliged to divide again into feveral fmaller committees, whici1 from the names of the gentlemen in the refpective chairs, were called Mr. White's, Corbet's, Sir R obert Harlow's, and Sir Edward Deering's committees, &c. Within a fhort fpace, above two thoufand petitions were brought before them, of which Mr. Corbel's com– mittee
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