See also Letter concerning the Present State of Religion. Vol. v. 5.
[354] The following is another instance:—
"During the usurpation the Latin prayers were discontinued; but some of the members, John Fell, John Dolben Allestree, and others, afterwards men of eminence in the Church, performed the Common Prayer in the lodgings of the celebrated Dr. Willis, in Canterbury Quadrangle, and afterwards in his house, opposite Merton College Chapel, and the practice continued until the Restoration. Dr. Willis's house afterwards became an Independent meeting. In the museum of the Dolby family, in Northamptonshire, is a fine painting, by Sir Peter Lely, grounded on the above circumstance. A copy of this picture was presented to the society, and placed in the hall."—Chalmer's Oxford, vol. ii. 311.
[355] Evelyn's Diary, 1649, March 18th and 25th. 1652, December 25th.
[356] January 30th, 1653. January 28th, 1655. It appears from Patrick's Autobiography that all through the troubles he received the communion kneeling, p. 37.
April 15th, 1655. "Dr. Wild preached at St. Gregory's, the ruling powers conniving at the use of the Liturgy in that church alone."—Evelyn's Diary.
[357] Kennet says: "The prejudice Cromwell had against the Episcopal party was more for their being Royalists than for being of the good old Church," and the Bishop relates that the Protector said: "To disturb them is contrary to that liberty of conscience which he and his friends always acknowledged and defended."—Kennet, iii, 206.
[358] Quoted in Keble's Life of Wilson, Bishop of Sodor and Man, 407.
[359] I am indebted to Mr. Clarence Hopper, to whom the valuable manuscript volume belongs, for permission to make extracts from its pages.
[360] I do not see that a second lesson is any where mentioned. Perhaps the service is not complete.