I confess, I do not remember to have observed any body of men acting with so little concert, as our clergy have done, in a point, where their opinions appeared to be unanimous; a point, wherein their whole temporal support was concerned, as well as their power of serving God and his church, in their spiritual functions. This has been imputed to their fear of disobliging, or hopes of farther favours upon compliance; because it was observed, that some who appeared at first with the greatest zeal, thought fit suddenly to absent themselves from the usual meetings: yet we know what expert solicitors the quakers, the dissenters, and even the papists have sometimes found, to drive a point of advantage, or prevent an impending evil.
I have not seen any extract from the two bills introduced by the bishops into the privy council; where the clergy, upon some failure, in favour, or through the timorousness of many among their brethren, were refused to be heard by the council. It seems, these bills were both returned, agreed to by the king and council in England, and the house of lords has with great expedition passed them both; and it is said, they are immediately to be sent down to the commons for their consent.
The particulars, as they have been imperfectly reported to me, are as follow:
By one of the bills, the bishops have power to oblige the country clergy to build a mansion house, upon whatever part of their glebes, their lordships shall command; and if the living be above 50l. a year, the minister is bound to build, after three years, a house that shall cost one years and a half's rent of his income. For instance, if a clergyman
