deration, provide for the peace of the church, in silencing both my defendants and challengers in this unkind and ill raised quarrel. Immediately before the publishing of this tractate (which did not a little aggravate the envy and suspicion) I was by his majesty raised to be Bishop of Exeter, having formerly (with much humble deprecation) refused the See of Gloucester, earnestly proffered unto me. How beyond all expectation, it pleased God to place me in that western charge; which (if the Duke of Buckingham's letters, he being then in France, had arrived some hours sooner) I had been defeated of; and by what strange means it pleased God to make up the competency of that provision, by the unthought of addition of the Rectory of St. Breock, within that diocess, if I should fully relate the circumstances, would force the confession of an extraordinary hand of God in the disposing of those events. I entered upon that place, not without much prejudice and suspicion on some hands; for some that sat at the stern of the church had me in great jealousy for too much favour of puritanism. I soon had intelligence who were set over me for espials; my ways were curiously observed and scanned. However, I took the resolution to follow those courses which might most conduce to the peace and happiness of my new and weighty charge. Finding, therefore, some factious spirits very busy in that dio

cess, I used all fair and gentle means to win them to good order, and therein so happily prevailed, that (saving two of that numerous clergy, who continuing in their refractoriness, fled away from censure) they were all perfectly reclaimed: so as I had not one minister professedly opposite to the anciently received orders (for I was never guilty of urging any new impositions) of the church in that large diocess. Thus we went on comfortably together till some persons of note in the clergy, being guilty of their own negligence 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 diocess, 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 mis

informers 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 that happy sense of that general unanimity and loving correspondence of my clergy, till in the last year of presiding there, after the synodical oath was set on foot (which yet I did never tender to any one minister of my diocess) 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 for 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 beforehand they had 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 by the

way and cheerfully welcomed with some hundreds. In no worse terms, I left that my once dear diocess, 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.

THE account which this distinguished and virtuous prelate gives of the HARD MEASURE dealt out to him by the Parliament, being a recital of some of the most extraordinary events of his time, may be subjoined to this Memoir of his early Life with great propriety. The relation embraces an interesting account of the persecution of the Bishops by the Parliament, and a very curious picture of the ungovernable fury of the Puritanic Iconoclasts.