"Charta, but many modern ftatutes have "denounced a curfe upon those that "break Magna Charta; a curfe like "the leprofy, that was entailed on the "Jews: for as that, so these curses have "and will cleave to the very stones of "those buildings that have been confe"crated to God; and the father's fin of "facrilege hath and will prove to be en"tailed on his fon and family. And now, "Madam, what account can be given "for the breach of this oath at the laft "great day, either by your Majesty, or by me, if it be wilfully or but negli"gently violated, I know not.

"And therefore, good Madam, let not "the late Lord's exceptions against the "failings of fome few clergymen prevail "with you to punish posterity for the er66 rors of this present age: let particular "men fuffer for their particular errors ; "but let God and his Church have their ❝inheritance: and though I pretend not "to prophesy, yet I beg pofterity to take "notice of what is already become visible "in many families; that Church-land,

"added

*added to an ancient and juft inherit"ance, hath proved like a moth fretting "a garment, and fecretly confumed both : "or like the eagle that stole a coal from "the altar, and thereby fet her neft on "fire, which confumed both her young "eagles, and herself that ftole it. And "though I fhall forbear to speak reproach"fully of your father, yet I beg you to "take notice, that a part of the Church's "rights, added to the vast treasure left "him by his father, hath been conceived "to bring an unavoidable confumption upon both, notwithstanding all his dili 66 gence to preserve them.

"And confider, that after the violation "of those laws, to which he had sworn "in Magna Charta, God did fo far deny "him his restraining grace, that as King "Saul, after he was forfaken of God, fell "from one fin to another; fo he, till at "laft he fell into greater fins than I am "willing to mention. Madam, religion "is the foundation and cement of human "focieties; and when they that serve at "God's altar fhall be expofed to poverty, "then

U 2

"then religion itself will be exposed to "fcorn, and become contemptible; as

66

you may already observe it to be in "too many poor vicarages in this nation. "And therefore, as you are by a late a& or acts of Parliament entrusted with a

great power to preserve or waste the "Church's lands; yet difpofe of them, "for Jefus' fake, as you have promised ❝to men, and vowed to God, that is, as "the donors intended: let neither falfe"hood nor flattery beguile you to do "otherwise; but put a stop to God's and "the Levites portion, I beseech you, and "to the approaching ruins of his Church, "as you expect comfort at the last great "day; for Kings must be judged. Par"don this affectionate plainnefs, my most "dear Sovereign, and let me beg to be " still continued in your favour; and the "Lord ftill continue you in his."

The Queen's patient hearing this affectionate speech, and her future care to preferve the Church's rights, which till then had been neglected, may appear a fair teftimony, that he made hers and the Church's

Church's good the chiefeft of his cares, and that she also thought fo. And of this there were fuch daily teftimonies given, as begot betwixt them fo mutual a joy and confidence, that they seemed born to believe and do good to each other; fhe not doubting his piety to be more than all his oppofers, which were many; nor doubting his prudence to be equal to the chiefeft of her council, who were then as remarkable for active wisdom, as those dangerous times did require, or this nation did ever enjoy. And in this condition he continued twenty years, in which time he faw fome flowings, but many more ebbings of her favour towards all men that had opposed him, especially the Earl of Leicefter: fo that God feemed ftill to keep him in her favour, that he might preferve the remaining Church-lands and immunities from facrilegious alienations. And this good man deferved all the honour and power with which the gratified and trufted him; for he was a pious man, and naturally of noble and grateful principles: he eased her of all her Church

future care and protection of them only in the Crown and amongst many that made a bad use of this power or trust of the Queen's, the Earl of Leicester was one; and the Bishop having, by his intereft with her Majesty, put a stop to the Earl's facrilegious defigns, they two fell to an open oppofition before her; after which they both quitted the room, not friends in appearance. But the Bishop made a fudden and a seasonable return to her Majefty, (for he found her alone,) and spake to her with great humility and reverence, to this purpose.

“I beseech your Majefty to hear me "with patience, and to believe that yours "and the Church's fafety are dearer to "me than my life, but my confcience "dearer than both and therefore give "me leave to do my duty, and tell you, "that Princes are deputed nurfing Fa"thers of the Church, and owe it a pro"tection; and therefore God forbid that

you fhould be fo much as paffive in her ❝ruin, when you may prevent it; or "that I fhould behold it without horror

"and