Williams, Bishop of Lincoln, and Dean of Westminster, became convener of this committee of divines, and he presided over all the meetings. Though possessed of considerable knowledge and ability, and of an active turn of mind, this remarkable person had not the qualities necessary for ecclesiastical statesmanship in troubled times such as those in which his lot was thrown. His whole history supports the opinion that selfish policy formed the guiding star of his life; and there is little doubt that a key to such of his proceedings as favoured Puritanism may be found in his remark that "the Puritans were many, and strong sticklers; and if his Majesty would but give private orders to his ministers to connive a little at their party, and shew them some indulgence, it might, perhaps, mollify them a little, and make them more pliant, though he did not promise that they would be trusty long to any government."[152] Williams cannot be honoured for any high moral or religious principle; he was very much of a time-server, and fondly loved popularity; indeed his whole history is in keeping with the keen and cunning expression of his handsome countenance seen in that portrait of him, with black hat and close ruff, which hangs in the dining-room of the Westminster Deanery. [Sidenote: _Lords' Committee on Innovations._] We can believe what his biographer says respecting his management of the Committee:-- "The Bishop had undertaken a draught for regulating the government ecclesiastical, but had not finished it. The sudden and quiet dispatch of all that was done already was attributed to the Chairman's dexterity, who could play his prize at all weapons, dally with crooked humours, and pluck them straight; bring all stragglers into his own pound, and never drive them in; foresee a tempest of contradiction the best that ever I knew, and scatter it before it could rise; and won all his adversaries insensibly into a compliance before they were aware. To this day they of the Nonconformists that survive, and were present, will tell you that they admired two things in him, in their phrase--his courtesy and his cunning."[153] The members met for a week in the Jerusalem Chamber, and were daily entertained by the hospitable Dean. This circumstance Fuller could not record without the witticism, that it was "the last course of all public episcopal treatments--whose guests may now even put up their knives, seeing soon after the voider was called for, which took away all bishops' lands, and most of English hospitality."[154] Just as Williams was summoning the divines to meet together to enquire into innovations since the Reformation, and to "examine the degrees and perfections of the Reformation itself," Laud wrote down in his diary, "This Committee will meddle with doctrine as well as ceremonies, and will prove the national synod of England to the great dishonour of the Church, and what else may follow upon it, God knows."[155] [Sidenote: 1641, March.]