64 PAPER8, ETC. 



three horses ; in addition to which, Mr. Curll submlts a 

 Charge " for two years rent for a field to provide hay for my 

 horses from Saturday night to Monday raorning, at which 

 time I usually lay at my own house." 



The connection that subsisted between the parochial 

 clergy and their patroas, most of them Royalists, and the 

 influence which they possessed over their parishioners, 

 added to the natural bias of their minds in favor of the 

 discipline and forniularies of the church, rendered them 

 peculiarly obnoxious to the Parliament, who, under pre- 

 tence of correcting abuses, spared no efforts to supplant 

 them by ministers subservient to their own views. 



As far back as the beginning of the year 1641, commis- 

 sioners were ordered, by the House of Commons, to visit 

 the various couuties in England, and investigate certain 

 alleged abuses and innovations. Amongst other complaints 

 which reached the House, by means of these coramissioners, 

 was one of the refusal of many incumbents to preach a 

 sermon themselves every Ijord's day, or to admit another 

 minister to their pulpits, although the parishioners were 

 willing to maintain him. The House of Commons did 

 not fail to seize this opportunlty of declai'ing that the 

 parishioners were justified, under such circumstances, in 

 procuring a preacher, and a committee, called " The Com- 

 mittee of Preaching Ministers, " was appointed to send 

 ministers where they were required, and to provide for 

 their maintenance. 



So long however, as the incumbents retained their 

 livlngs and authorlty, it was impossible entirely to counter- 

 act their influence ; and petitions having been presented, 

 and no doiibt prccured, from all parts of the country, com- 

 plaining loudly of the idleness and lax manners 

 of the country clergy, another committee of the House, 



