[621] The well-known letter of Tillotson to Baxter is an interesting record of the result of their well-meant endeavours:—"I took the first opportunity," he says, "after you were with us, to speak to the Bishop of Salisbury, who promised to keep the matter private, and only to acquaint the Bishop of Chester with it in order to a meeting; but, upon some general discourse, I plainly perceived several things could not be obtained. However, he promised to appoint a time of meeting, but I have not heard from him since. I am unwilling my name should be used in this matter; not but that I do most heartily desire an accommodation, and shall always endeavour it, but I am sure it will be a prejudice to me, and signify nothing to the effecting of the thing, which as circumstances are, cannot pass in either House without the concurrence of a considerable part of the Bishops, and the countenance of His Majesty, which at present I see little reason to expect." Dated April 11, 1675. Baxter's Life and Times, iii. 157.
[622] Parl. Hist., iv. 741.
[623] State Papers, November 8.
[624] State Papers, 1676. Bowen to Williamson. February 21.
[625] State Papers, 1676, July 7, 10. The following is a specimen of the kind of stories which this man sent up to London:—"Last night the three informers that have put by our meetings here were amongst several of the passengers in a passage-boat going for Norwich, where they were no sooner placed but some of our Independents called out to the passengers and told them they had informing rogues amongst them, and surely they would not take such rascals with them; upon which the passengers began to leave the boat. So the boatmen, to keep their passengers, turned the informers out upon the key [quay]—where, when they were landed, they began to throw stones at them, but making their escape, they came to my house, upon which I went down to the key [quay], and there learned who some of them were, and gave the informers their names, who are since bound over to the sessions." State Papers, 1676, July 12.
[626] State Papers, October 9.
[627] Harl. Misc., viii. 7. Lives of the Norths, i. 316, et seq., see Notes. Knight's Popular Hist., iv. 326.
[628] Wood, iv. 226.
[629] Owen writes very guardedly in reply to Parker's doctrine of the magistrates' power.—Works, xxi. 209, et seq.
[630] Life and Times, iii. 42.