gave them fuch encouraging promifes, as raised in some of them very high expectations. When he came in, as he paffed thro' the city towards Weftminster, (May 29, 1660) the London minifters in their places attended him with acclamations, and by the hands of old Mr. Arthur Jackson, presented him with a richly-adorned Bible; which he received telling them "It "fhould be the rule of his actions."

§. III. Attempts for a Coalition. The Savoy Conference, and its fruitless Iffue.

WH

HEN the King was received with the general acclamations of his people, the expectations of men were various, according, to their several interefts. Some plain and moderate Epifcopalians thought of an union with the Prefbyterians. The more politic part of them knew that all their antient power, honour, and revenues would be restored, and none fuffered to fhare with them. But many of the Prefbyterians were in great hopes of favour. Befides promises from men in power, they had an affurance from K. Charles himself, in his declaration from Breda, April 4, 1660, in these words, "We do declare a liberty to tender confciences, and that no "man fhall be difquieted, or called in queftion, for differences "of opinion, which do not difturb the peace of the king"dom." To cherish their hopes, ten of them were made the King's chaplains in ordinary, tho' none of them ever preached, except Mr. Calamy, Dr. Reignolds, Mr. Baxter, Dr. Spurftow, and Mr. Woodbridge, each once. By this means, having eafy accefs to his majefty, they waited upon him with Lord Manchefter, recommending to his ferious confideration the union of his fubjects in religious matters, begging that only neceffary things might be the terms of it. The king declared himself highly pleafed with their inclinations to agreement, and refolved to do his part to promote it; but told them, "It could "not be expected but by abating fomething on both fides, and "meeting in the midway. He therefore defired them to "offer him fome proposals in order to an agreement about "church-government, this being the main difference, and to "fet down the moft that they could yield to." They also begged that their brethren on the other fide might do the fame. The king promised, they should.

After this, the minifters met from day to day at Sion College, to confult openly with any of their brethren that would join

with them, that none might fay they were excluded. Many of the city minifters came to them, and many country minifters, then in town, joined them, of whom Mr. Newcomen was the most conftant. In about three weeks they agreed to a paper of propofals, in which (after an humble addrefs to his majefty, and four preliminary requefts, viz. That ferious godliness might be countenanced, and a learned and pious minifter in each parish encouraged; that a perfonal public owning the baptifmal covenant might precede an admiffion to the Lord's Table; and that the Lord's Day might be strictly fanctified) they offer to allow of the true antient primitive prefidency in the church, with a due mixture of prefbyters, in order to the avoiding the evils which are incident to the administration of afingle perfon; and for reforming which they proposed, that Bp. Uber's "Reduction of epifcopacy into the form of synodical government received in the antient church," fhould be the ground-work of an accommodation; that fuffragans fhould be chofen by the refpective fynods; the affociations be of a moderate extent; the minifters be under no oaths, or promifes of obedience to their bithops; and that the bishops govern not by will and pleasure, but according to canons and conftitutions to be established by act of parliament. They owned the lawfulness of a prefcribed form of public worship; but defired, that fome learned, pious, and moderate divines, of both forts, might be employed either to compile a new liturgy, or to reform the old; adding fome other forms in fcripture phrafe, to be used at the minifter's choice.-As to the ceremonies, they humbly reprefented, that the worthip of God was perfect without them; that they had ever fince the reformation been matter of contention; that they were at beft but indifferent, and in their own nature mutable; and therefore they begged, that kneeling at the facrament might not be impofed; that the furplice, the cross in baptifm, and bowing at the name of Jefus, might be abolished; and that care might be taken to prevent future innovations contrary to law.

Quickly after the king's return, many hundreds of worthy minifters were displaced, because they were in fequeftrations where others had been caft out by the parliament. The minifters, waiting upon his majefty with their propofals, fignified their full fatisfaction that all fuch fhould be caft out as were in any benefice belonging formerly to one that was not grofsly infufficient or debauched; but humbly begged, that all who had fucceeded fcandalous perfons might hold their

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places; as alfo where the old incumbents were dead; and that his majesty would be pleased to publifh his pleasure that no oath or fubfcription, or renunciation of orders, might be required of any, till it was feen what was the iffue of the defired agreement. The king treated them very refpectfully, and renewed his profeffions of defiring an accommodation; told them he was well pleased that they were for a liturgy, and yielded to the effence of epifcopacy; and promised them that the places, where the old incumbents were dead, fhould be confirmed to the poffeffors, But it much difappointed them to find none of the divines on the other fide appear. After waiting fome time, they received a fevere answer, by way of reflection, on the propofals they had made to his majesty; in which they declare they do not perceive any neceflity for their preliminary requefts, As to church-government, they declare for the former hierarchy without any alteration. Bp. Usher's Reduction, &c. they reject, as being at beft but a heap of private conceptions. The liturgy they applaud as unexcep tionable, and think it cannot be faid to be too rigorously impofed, when ministers are not denied the exercife of their gifts in praying before and after fermon; which fort of praying, they declare however, is but the continuance of a custom of no great authority, and grown into common ufe by fufferance only. As for the ceremonies, they could not part with one; and conclude with faying, "Were any abatements made, "we are fatisfied, unquiet fpirits would but be thereby encouraged to make farther demands."

Shortly after, instead of the diocefans conceffions, the minifters were told, that the king would put all that he thought meet to grant them into the form of a declaration, and they fhould fee it before it was published, and have liberty to fignify what they difliked. A copy of the faid declaration was accordingly fent them by the lord chancellor. Having made fome remarks upon it, they drew up a petition to the king, and delivered it to the lord chancellor; but he never called them to present it, but defired the particulars of what altera tions they would infift on, They delivered him a breviate of thefe, which he took time to confider of, A day was appointed for his majefty to peruse the declaration as the lord chancellor had drawn it up, and determine on the particulars, upon the hearing of both fides. The king accordingly came to the lord chancellor's, with the dukes of Albemarle and Ormond, the earl of Manchester, &c. Dr. Sheldon, bishop

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of London, and several other bifhops and clergymen, on one fide: on the other, Dr. Reignolds, Mr. Calamy, Dr. Manton, Dr. Spurflow, Mr. Baxter, and others. As the lord chancellor read over the declaration, each party was to speak to what they difliked, and the king to determine how it should be. There were various altercations about prelacy, re-ordination, and other particulars. When the whole was perused, the lord chancellor drew out another paper, intimating that the king had also been petitioned by the Independents and Baptifts for liberty, and therefore he read an additional part of the declaration, to this purpose, "That others also be per"mitted to meet for religious worship, fo be it, they do it "not to the difturbance of the peace; and that no justice of "peace or officer difturb them." This being defigned to procure liberty to the Papifts, there was a general filence upon the reading it. At length, Mr. Baxter, fearing their filence might be misinterpreted, fpake to this purpose: "That they defired "not favour to themselves alone, and rigorous severity against "none; but as they humbly thanked his majefty for his de"clared indulgence to themselves, fo they diftinguished the "tolerable party from the intolerable: for the former, they "humbly craved juft lenity and favour; but for the latter, "(fuch as Dr. Gunning had before mentioned) Papifts and Soci"nians, they could not make their toleration their request," To which his majefty faid, "That there were laws fufficient "against the Papifts." Mr. Baxter replied, "They under"ftood the queftion to be, Whether thofe laws fhould be "executed or not?" Upon which the matter was dropped. But before the breaking up of the meeting, the king, having determined what he would have stand in the declaration as to the sense of it, named four divines to determine of any words in the alterations, if there were any difference, viz. Bp. Morley, Bp. Hinchman, Dr. Reignolds, and Mr. Calamy; and if they difagreed, the earl of Anglesea and the lord Hollis were to decide. At length it came out so amended, that it was fitted to be an inftrument of concord and peace, if fettled by law, and the liturgy altered as the declaration promifed. Several of the minifters were offered preferments: Mr. Calamy had the bishopric of Coventry and Litchfield offered him; Dr. Reignoids, that of Norwich; and Mr. Baxter, that of Hereford; Dr. Manton, the deanry of Rechefter; Dr. Bates, the deanry of Coventry and Litchfield; and Mr. Edward Bowles, the deanry of York: but all refused, (on account of the uncertainty of the continuance of

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the terms in the declaration) except Dr. Reignolds, who de clared when he accepted the bishopric of Norwich, that he did it upon the terms laid down in the declaration, and not as epifcopacy stood before in England; and that he would no longer hold or exercise it than he could do it on those terms.

In the declaration, dated October 25, 1660, the king expresses the highest opinion of the Presbyterian ministers, as perfons full of affection to him, of zeal for the peace of church and ftate, and neither enemies of epifcopacy nor liturgy; but modeftly defiring fuch alterations in both, as without shaking foundations, might beft allay the prefent diftempers, which the indifpofition of times, and the tenderness of fome men's confciences had contracted. At the fame time affuring them of his refolution to grant them all the indulgence they required, promifing that they should exercise their function, and enjoy the profits of their livings, without being obliged to thofe oaths and subscriptions to which they objected. Upon this an addrefs of thanks was drawn up, figned by many of the ministers in and about London; which was graciously received. But after all, this declaration had no effect, fave only a year's fufpenfion of the law that afterwards took place. At a diftance in the country some men were fo violent, that they indicted minifters at the affizes and feffions, notwithstanding the declaration, taking it for no fufpenfion of the law; tho' upon application to the king and lord chancellor, they were generally delivered. But as to the matter of church-government, none of the conceffions in the declaration were put in execution. However, a commiffion was at length granted to certain perfons nominated, to meet for the purpose of reviewing the liturgy. The commiffioners on one fide were, the Archbishop of York, the bishops of London, Durham, Rochester, Chichefter, Sarum, Worcefler, Lincoln, Peterborough, Chefter, Carlisle, and Exeter. Those on the other fide, Dr. Reignolds, Dr. Tuckney, Dr. Conant, Dr. Spurflow, Dr. Wallis, Dr. Manton, Mr. Calamy, Mr. Baxter, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Cafe, Mr. Clark, Mr. Newcomen. The affiftants on one fide were, Dr. Earle, Dr. Heylin, Dr. Hacket, Dr. Barwick, Dr. Gunning, Dr. Pierfon, Dr. Pierce, Dr. Sparrow, and Mr. Thorndike; and on the other fide, Dr. Horton, Dr. Jacomb, Dr. Bates, Mr. Rawlinfon, Mr. Cooper, Dr. Lightfoot, Dr. Collins, Mr. Woodbridge, and Dr. Drake.

The Savoy was appointed as the place of meeting. When they were met, the Bp. of London told the minifters, "That

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they,