70 THE LIFE OF 



CHAP. June the 21st he visited his London Clergy at St. Paul s; 

 where Dr. Walker, one of the Archdeacons, preached. 



Then was required of them generally a new subscription. 

 That which he discovered this visitation, among other things 

 that were faulty, and required correction, was the practice 

 Complains of the commutation of penance ; much practised in his dio- 

 tation of &quot; cese ^7 Chancellors, Commissaries, Officials, Registers, even 

 penance. t o t ne very Apparitor. And these commutations were so 

 many, and sometimes so strange, that he feared it would be 

 a means to let in all manner of vice; which like a flood 

 (unless prevented) was in danger to overspread the whole 

 realm ; especially the wealthier sort, who might be as bad 

 as they pleased, when they should think they might be 

 saved from punishment by their mammon. And this was 

 done notwithstanding a late Convocation had expressly or 

 dered, that there should be no commutation of penance with 

 out the Bishop of the diocese s privity. And in this abuse 

 even the highest courts ecclesiastical were not clear. 

 His advice Of all this the Bishop, being now at Hadham in Hert- 



for the re- / -i i / ...... N /&amp;gt; 11 -r 



forming lorashire, (as it seems in his visitation,) informed the Lord 

 thereof. Treasurer ; and, for the redressing of this evil, desired the 

 said Lord, together with the Council, to direct their letters 

 to the High Commissioners ecclesiastical: that where in 

 the last Convocation at the last Parliament order had been 

 taken by the Bishops of the realm then and there assembled, 

 that no commutation of penance should be made without 

 the Bishop should be made acquainted ; (which thing was 

 not at all observed,) therefore their Lordships pleasure was, 

 that the said Commissioners should examine all manner of 

 ecclesiastical officers, what and how many penances they had 

 commuted and changed within six or seven years past. The 

 benefit whereof, according as the Bishop propounded it, 

 might be, that these commutations being refunded, (which 

 he concluded to be very considerable,) should go towards 

 the reparation of the ruinous church of St. Paul s ; &quot; which 

 &quot; would well help to make good a good piece of it. And 

 &quot; besides, by this means all ecclesiastical officers would,&quot; as 

 he said, &quot; be more precise in bargaining for sin, and all sin- 



