86 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 



trying whether they could intimidate the rest 

 from preaching on those subjects, the handling 

 of which still checked and stopped the growth 

 of Popery in the kingdom, resolved to proceed 

 against his lordship for disobeying, as it was 

 termed, the King's injunctions. To this end, 

 the Ecclesiastical Commission was opened in the 

 beginning of August, in the Council Chamber 

 at Whitehall, and the Bishop was cited thither, 

 and appeared on the 9th, and 15th, and 31st. 

 On the last of which days, the cause came to a 

 full hearing, and was brought to a sentence or 

 decree of suspension ; an account of which is 

 given in all the histories of King James's reign. 

 But for the reader's satisfaction, a large and 

 more particular abstract of the process on the 

 31st of August, than hath been hitherto pub- 

 lished, is inserted in the Appendix *. The com- 

 mission itself may be found in the third volume 

 of the Complete History of England, p. 454 ; where 

 likewise the pleas and answers delivered into 

 court in writing, by the Bishop, may be met 

 with, p. 458 and 459. 



To return to Dr. Sharp, who remained at 

 Norwich unmolested during the course of these 

 proceedings, and for some time after, till he 

 received information from his friends in London, 

 that if he would come up to town, he might 



* App. II. No. I. 



