people began to talk of Bishops being cast out of the House."[1] It is evident, that but for the clergy the Church would have been in jeopardy. "The new Privy Council," says Evelyn, "have a republican spirit, manifestly undermining all future succession to the throne, and property of the Church of England, which yet I hope they will not be able to accomplish so soon as they expect, though they get into all places of trust and profit."[2] At length the Commons became sensible, that the Church was in some danger; and, therefore, they petitioned the King for a Convocation, at which Burnet and others were angry, but which they could not prevent. Burnet said, that a Convocation would "be the utter ruin of the Comprehension Scheme."[3] He proved a true prophet: for the Convocation was true to the principles of the Church, and the Scheme of Comprehension was dropped—a scheme, which would not have satisfied Dissenters, but which must have disgusted many of the best friends of the Church.
