ligence and disorderly courses, began to envy our success ; and, finding me ever ready to encourage those whom I found conscionably forward and painful in their places, and willingly giving way to orthodox and peaceable Lectures in several parts of my Diocese, opened their mouths against me, both obliquely in the Pulpit and directly at the Court; complaining of my too much indulgence to persons disaffected, and my too much liberty of frequent Lecturings within my charge. The billows went so high, that I was three several times upon my knee to his Majesty, to answer these great criminations: and what contestation I had with some great Lords concerning these particulars, it would be too long to report: only this; under how dark a cloud I was hereupon I was so sensible, that I plainly told the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, that rather than I would be obnoxious to those slanderous tongues of his misinformers, I would cast up my rochet. I knew I went right ways, and would not endure to live under undeserved suspicions.

What messages of caution I had from some of my wary brethren, and what expostulatory letters I had from above, I need not relate. Sure I am, I had peace and comfort at home, in the happy sense of that general unanimity and loving correspondence of my Clergy, till, in the last year of my presiding there, after the synodical oath was set on foot, (which yet I did never tender to any one Minister of my Diocese) by the incitation of some busy interlopers of the neighbour county, some of them began to enter into an unkind contestation with me, about the election of Clerks of the Convocation; whom they secretly, without ever acquainting me with their desire or purpose, as driving to that end which we see now accomplished, would needs nominate and set up in competition to those, whom I had, after the usual form, recommended to them. That they had a right to free voices in that choice, I denied not: only, I had reason to take it unkindly, that they would work underhand, without me, and against me; professing, that if they had beforehand made their desires known to

: me, I should willingly have gone along with them in their election. It came to the poll. Those of my nomination carried it.

The Parliament begun. After some hard tugging there, returning home upon a recess, I was met on the way, and cheerfully welcomed with some hundreds.

In no worse terms, I left that my once dear Diocese: when, returning to Westminster, I was soon called by his Majesty, who was then in the north, to a remove to Norwich.

But how I took the Tower in my way, and how I have been dealt with since my repair hither, I could be lavish in the sad report; ever desiring my Good God, to enlarge my heart in thankfulness to him for the sensible experience I have had of his Fatherly hand over me in the deepest of all my afflictions, and to strengthen me for whatsoever other trials he shall be pleased to call me unto; that, being found faithful unto the death, I may obtain that crown of life, which he hath ordained for all those that overcome.

A

LETTER

SENT FROM THE TOWER,

ΤΟ Δ

PRIVATE FRIEND:

AND BY HIM THOUGHT FIT TO BE PUBLISHED.

TO MY MUCH RESPECTED good friend,

MR. H. S.

WORTHY SIR :

You think it strange, that I should salute you from hence. How can you choose, when I do yet still wonder to see myself here? My intentions and this place are such strangers, that I cannot enough marvel how they met.

But, howsoever, I do in all humility kiss the rod, wherewith I smart; as well knowing whose hand it is, that wields it. To that Infinite Justice who can be innocent? but to my King and Country never heart was or can be more clear; and I shall beshrew my hand, if it shall have, against my thoughts, justly offended either: and if either say so, I reply not; as having learned not to contest with those, that can command legions.

In the mean time, it is a kind, but a cold compliment, that you pity me; an affection well placed, where a man

deserves to be miserable: for me, I am not conscious of such merit.

You tell me in what fair terms I stood, not long since, with the world; how large room I had in the hearts of the best men : but can you tell me how I lost it ? Truly, I have, in the presence of my God, narrowly searched my own bosom. I have unpartially ransacked this fag-end of my life, and curiously examined every step of my ways; and I cannot, by the most exact scrutiny of my saddest thoughts, find what it is, that I have done to forfeit that good estimation, wherewith, you say, I was once blessed.

I can secretly arraign and condemn myself of infinite. transgressions, before the tribunal of heaven. Who, that dwells in a house of clay, can be pure in his sight, that charged his angels with folly? O God, when I look upon the reckonings betwixt thee and my soul, and find my shameful arrears, I can be most vile in my own sight, because I have deserved to be so in thine: yet, even then, in thy most pure eyes, give me leave, the while, not to abdicate my sincerity. Thou knowest my heart desires to be right with thee, whatever my failings may have been; and I know what value thou puttest upon those sincere desires, notwithstanding all the intermixtures of our miserable infirmities. These I can penitently bewail to thee: but, in the mean time, what have I done to men? Let them not spare to shame me, with the late sinful declinations of my age ; and fetch blushes, if they can, from a wrinkled face,

Let mine enemies (for such I perceive I have, and those are the surest monitors) say what I have offended. For their better irritation, my clear conscience bids me boldly to take up the challenge of good Samuel, Behold, here I am! Witness against me before the Lord, and before his Anointed: whose or have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed 2 or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.

Can they say, that I bore up the reins of government too hard; and exercised my jurisdiction in a rigorous and

tyrannical way, insolently lording it over my charge? Malice itself, perhaps, would, but dare not speak it; or, if it should, the attestation of so grave and numerous a Clergy would choak such impudence. Let them witness, whether they were not still entertained by me with an equal return of reverence, as if they had been all Bishops with me, or I only a Presbyter with them; according to the old rule of Egbert, Archbishop of York, Intra domum Episcopus collegam se Presbyterorum esse cognoscat. Let them say, whether ought here looked like despotical; or sounded rather of imperious commands, than of brotherly complying whether I have not rather, from some beholders, undergone the censure of a too humble remiss ness; as, perhaps, stooping too low beneath the eminence of Episcopal dignity: whether I have not suffered as much in some opinions, for the winning mildness of my administration, as some others for a rough severity.

Can they say, for this aspersion is likewise common, that I barred the free course of religious exercises, by the suppression of painful and peaceable preachers? If shame will suffer any man to object it, let me challenge him to instance but in one name. Nay, the contrary is so famously known in the western parts, that every mouth will herein justify me. What free admission and encouragement have I always given to all the sous of peace, that came with God's message in their mouths! What missuggestions have I waved! What blows have I borne off, in the behalf of some of them, from some gainsayers! How have I often and publicly professed, that, as well. might we complain of too many stars in the sky, as too many orthodox preachers in the Church!

Can they complain, that I fretted the necks of my Clergy with the uneasy yoke of new and illegal impositions? Let them, whom I have thus hurt, blazon my unjust severity, and write their wrongs in marble; but if, disliking all novel devices, I have held close to those ancient rules which limited the audience of our godly predecessors; if I have grated upon no man's conscience by d