The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume I.Cibber, Theophilus
General
The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume I.
Cibber, Theophilus
Poets, English -- Biography -- Early works to 1800; Poets, Irish -- Biography -- Early works to 1800
knew any bounds to his generosity, when he happened to take a person
into his favour, he soon after that removed him from Exeter, and gave
him the higher bishoprick of Norwich; which he enjoyed not without
some allay to his happiness, for the civil wars soon breaking out,
he underwent the same severities which were exercised against other
prelates, of which he has given an account in a piece prefixed to his
works, called, Hall's hard Measure; and from this we shall extract the
most material circumstances.
The insolence of some churchmen, and the superiority they assumed in
the civil government, during the distractions of Charles I. provoked
the House of Commons to take some measures to prevent their growing
power, which that pious monarch was too much disposed to favour. In
consequence of this, the leading members of the opposition petitioned
the King to remove the bishops from their seats in Parliament, and
degrade them to the station at Commons, which was warmly opposed by
the high church lords, and the bishops themselves, who protested
against whatever steps were taken during their restraint from
Parliament, as illegal, upon this principle, that as they were part of
the legislature, no law could pass during their absence, at least
if that absence was produced by violence, which Clarendon has fully
represented.
The prejudice against the episcopal government gaining ground,
petitions to remove the bishops were poured in from all parts of the
kingdom, and as the earl of Strafford was then so obnoxious to the
popular resentment, his cause and that of the bishops was reckoned by
the vulgar, synonimous, and both felt the resentment of an enraged
populace. To such a fury were the common people wrought up, that they
came in bodies, to the two Houses of Parliament, to crave justice,
both against the earl of Strafford, and the archbishop of Canterbury,
and, in short, the whole bench of spiritual Peers; the mob besieged
the two Houses, and threatened vengeance upon the bishops, whenever
they came out. This fury excited some motion to be made in the House
of Peers, to prevent such tumults for the future, which were sent down
to the House of Commons. The bishops, for their safety, were obliged
to continue in the Parliament House the greatest part of the night,
and at last made their escape by bye-ways and stratagems. They were
then convinced that it was no longer safe for them to attend the
Parliament, 'till some measures were taken to repress the insolence
of the mob, and in consequence of this, they met at the house of the
archbishop of York, and drew up a protest, against whatever steps
should be taken during their absence, occasioned by violence. This
protest, the bishops intended should first be given to the Secretary
of State, and by him to the King, and that his Majesty should cause it
to be read in the House of Peers; but in place of this, the bishops
were accused of high treason, brought before the bar of the House of
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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