I Shall take the boldnesse to speak a word or two upon this subject, first as it is in it selfe, then as it is in the consequence: For the former I thinke hee is a great stranger in Antiquity, that is not well acquainted with that of their sitting here, they have done thus and in this manner, almost since the conquest, and by the same power and the same right the other Peeres did, and your Lordships now doe, and to be put from this their due, so much their due, by so many hundred yeeres strengthened and confirmed, [Page 2] and that without any offence, nay, pretence of any, seems to mee to be very severe; if it be jus, I dare boldly say it is summum. That this hinders their Ecclesiasticall vocation, an argument I heare much of, hath in my apprehension more of shadow then substance in it: if this be a reason, sure I am it might have been one six hundred yeers ago.

A Bishop, my Lords, is not so circumscribed with­in the circumference of his Diocesse, that his some­times absence can bee termed, no not in the most strict sense a neglect or hinderance of his duty, no more then that of a Lievtenant from his County, they both have their subordinate Ministers, upon which their influences fall, though the distance be remote.

Besides, my Lords, the lesser must yield to the greater good; to make wholsome and good Laws for the happy and well regulating of Church and Common-wealth, is certainly more advantagious to both, then the want of the personall execution of their office, and that but once in three yeers, and then peradventure but a moneth or two, can be pre­judiciall to either. I will go no further to prove this, which so long experience hath done so fully, so demonstratively.

And now my Lords, by your Lordships good leave, I shall speak to the consequence as it reflects both on your Lordships, and my Lords the Bishops. Dangers & inconveniences are ever best prevented è longinquo; this president comes neere to your Lordships, and such a one, that mutato nomine devo­bis. Pretences are never wanting, nay, sometimes [Page 3] the greatest evils appeare in the most faire and spe­cious outsides, witnesse the Shipmony, the most abominable, the most illegall thing that ever was, and yet this was painted over with colour of the Law; what Bench is secure, if to alleage, be to convince, and which of your Lordships can say then hee shall continue a member of this House, when at one blow twenty sixe are cut off. It then behoves the Neighbour to look about him cum pro­ximus ardet Vcalegon.

And for the Bishops, my Lords, in what condi­tion will you leave them? The House of Com­mons represents the meanest person, so did the Master his Slave, but they have none to doe so much for them, and what justice can tie them to the observation of those Laws, to whose constitu­tion they give no consent, the wisdome of former times gave proxies unto this House meerly upon this ground, that every one might have a hand in the making of that, which he had an Obligation to obey: This House could not represent, therefore proxies in room of persons were most justly allowed.

And now my Lords, before I conclude, I beseech your Lordships to cast your eyes upon the Church, which I know is most deare and tender to your Lordships, you will see her suffer in her most princi­pall members, and deprived of that honour which here and throughout all the Christian World ever since Christianity she constantly hath enjoyed; for what Nation or Kingdome is there in whose great and publike assemblies, and that from, her begin­ning, shee had not some of hers if I may not say as essentiall, I am sure I may say as in­tegrall, [Page 4] parts thereof, and truly my Lords, Christi­anitie cannot alone boast of this or challenge it on­ly as hers, even Heathenisme claimes an equall share.

I never read of any of them, Civill or Barba­rous, that gave not thus much to their Religion, so that it seems to me to have no other originall, to flow from no other spring than Nature it selfe.

But I have done, and will trouble your Lordships no longer, how it may stand with the honour and justice of this House to p [...]sse this Bill, I most hum­bly submit unto your Lordships, the most proper and only Judges of them both.