Page viii.  “If the parliament did not think they had a plenitude of power in this matter, they would not have damned all the canons of 1640.”  What doth he mean?  A grave divine could not answer all his playhouse and Alsatia[13] cant, &c.  He hath read Hudibras, and many plays.

[Footnote 13:  Or Whitefriars, then a place of asylum, and frequented by sharpers, of whose gibberish there are several specimens in Shadwell’s comedy, “The Squire of Alsatia.” [T.  S.]]

Ibid.  “If the parliament can annul ecclesiastical laws, they must be able to make them.”  Distinguish, and shew the silliness, &c.

Ibid.  All that he saith against the discipline, he might say the same against the doctrine, nay, against the belief of a God, viz.  That the legislature might forbid it.  The Church formeth and contriveth canons; and the civil power, which is compulsive, confirms them.

Page ix.  “There were no laws enacted but by the great council of the kingdom.”  And that was very often, chiefly, only bishops.

Ibid.  “Laws settled by parliament to punish the clergy.”  What laws were those?

Page x.  “The people are bound to no laws but of their own choosing.”  It is fraudulent; for they may consent to what others choose, and so people often do.

Page xiv. paragraph 6.  “The clergy are not supposed to have any divine legislature, because that must be superior to all worldly power; and then the clergy might as well forbid the parliament to meet but when and where they please, &c.”  No such consequence at all.  They have a power exclusive from all others.  Ordained to act as clergy, but not govern in civil affairs; nor act without leave of the civil power.

Page xxv.  “The parliament suspected the love of power natural to churchmen.”  Truly, so is the love of pudding, and most other things desirable in this life; and in that they are like the laity, as in all other things that are not good.  And, therefore, they are held not in esteem for what they are like in, but for their virtues.  The true way to abuse them with effect, is to tell us some faults of theirs, that other men have not, or not so much of as they, &c.  Might not any man speak full as bad of senates, diets, and parliaments, as he can do about councils; and as bad of princes, as he does of bishops?

Page xxxi.  “They might as well have made Cardinals Campegi and de Chinuchii, Bishops of Salisbury and Worcester, as have enacted that their several sees and bishoprics were utterly void.”  No.  The legislature might determine who should not be a bishop there, but not make a bishop.

Ibid.  “Were not a great number deprived by parliament upon the Restoration?” Does he mean presbyters?  What signifies that?

Ibid.  “Have they not trusted this power with our princes?” Why, aye.  But that argueth not right, but power.  Have they not cut off a king’s head, &c.  The Church must do the best they can, if not what they would.