so reasonably, and so firmly, that it is not without great injury to
his name that his speech, which was as follows, has been hitherto
omitted in his works:

"There is no doubt but the sense of what this nation had suffered
from the present bishops hath produced these complaints; and the
apprehensions men have of suffering the like, in time to come, make
so many desire the taking away of Episcopacy: but I conceive it is
possible that we may not, now, take a right measure of the minds of
the people by their petitions; for, when they subscribed them, the
bishops were armed with a dangerous commission of making new canons,
imposing new oaths, and the like; but now we have disarmed them of
that power. These petitioners lately did look upon Episcopacy as a
beast armed with horns and claws; but now that we have cut and pared
them (and may, if we see cause, yet reduce it into narrower bounds),
it may, perhaps, be more agreeable. Howsoever, if they be still in
passion, it becomes us soberly to consider the right use and
antiquity thereof; and not to comply further with a general desire,
than may stand with a general good.

"We have already showed that Episcopacy and the evils thereof are
mingled like water and oil; we have also, in part, severed them; but
I believe you will find, that our laws and the present government of
the Church are mingled like wine and water; so inseparable, that the
abrogation of, at least, a hundred of our laws is desired in these
petitions. I have often heard a noble answer of the Lords,
commended in this House, to a proposition of like nature, but of
less consequence; they gave no other reason of their refusal but
this, 'Nolumus mutare Leges Angliae:' it was the bishops who so
answered them; and it would become the dignity and wisdom of this