House to answer the people, now, with a 'Nolumus mutare.'

"I see some are moved with a number of hands against the bishops;
which, I confess, rather inclines me to their defence; for I look
upon Episcopacy as a counterscarp, or outwork; which, if it be taken
by this assault of the people, and, withal, this mystery once
revealed, 'that we must deny them nothing when they ask it thus in
troops,' we may, in the next place, have as hard a task to defend
our property, as we have lately had to recover it from the
Prerogative. If, by multiplying hands and petitions, they prevail
for an equality in things ecclesiastical, the next demand perhaps
may be Lex Agraria, the like equality in things temporal.

"The Roman story tells us, that when the people began to flock about
the Senate, and were more curious to direct and know what was done,
than to obey, that Commonwealth soon came to ruin; their Legem
regare grew quickly to be a Legem ferre: and after, when their
legions had found that they could make a Dictator, they never
suffered the Senate to have a voice any more in such election.

"If these great innovations proceed, I shall expect a flat and level
in learning too, as well as in Church preferments: Hones alit
Artes. And though it be true, that grave and pious men do study for
learning-sake, and embrace virtue for itself; yet it is true, that
youth, which is the season when learning is gotten, is not without
ambition; nor will ever take pains to excel in anything, when there
is not some hope of excelling others in reward and dignity.

"There are two reasons chiefly alleged against our Church
government.