Votivæ Angliæ, Englands complaint to their king:, or, The humble desires of all the zealous and true-hearted Protestants in this kingdome, for a speedy and happy reformation of abuses in church government, being the onely meanes to remove these distractions, and to avert the judgement of God from us. : As they were expressed in sundry petitions, remonstrances and letters, lately presented from them to the king, upon sundry occasions. / Collected by a wel-wisher to reformation.

YOu may bee pleased, that my Lord Bishop had lately made me Comissarie Generall up∣on this occasion, the Earle of Cleaveland had built a sumptuous Chappell and intreated the Bishop to consecrate the same and it pleased their Lordships to give me notice of the day, so I did attend the Bishop, and the next day he did it with great state and solemnitie accompanied with the Earle, and Knights, and Ladies, and a multitude of his Clergie; there was a learned Sermon and the holy Sacrament administred, and other rites

and Ceremonies performed, so that it was three a clock before they came out of the Chappell, and then my Lord Bishop was pleased to que∣stion me before the Earle of Cleveland, in this manner: Master Spencer, what will they say to you now, that have been at the consecration of a Chappell, received the Sacrament at the hands of a Bishop in his Babylonish garment? I an∣swered; If they have nothing else to say to me, this may very well be answered: But he said un∣to me, Master Spencer, what shall I do for you now, I know if I should make you my Vicar-Ge∣nerall, you will dislike of that, because it is a Popish title: but Ile tell you what I will do for you▪ I will make you my Commissarie-Generall; and that he thought would please me better, for I had prosecuted his Comissarie Smith, and charged him with suspition of Treason against the Kings royall person: well I thanked his LO••P. & shortly after made more use of my Office then he would have had me: for one Mr. wilson a cun∣ning Musition having contrived a curious Co∣modie, and plotted it so, that he must needs have it acted upon the Sunday night, for he was to go the next day toward the Court; the Bishop put it off till nine of the clock at night: a whi••e after, the Commissarie, Doctor Morrison, kept a Court at Huntington, and I came thither and went into the seat with the Commissarie, and put on my hat: the Doctors and Divines stood with hats off, and gave their attendance; then some offered their presentment, but I told Master Commissarie, that I had a presentment, and that must be the first,

and so he took it, and read it, the tennour was thus:

We do here present Iohn Lord Bishop of Lin∣colne, for having a Comedie acted in his house up∣on the Sunday, it began about nine of the clock at night, and continued till two or three of the clock the next morning. We do present also Sir Sidney Mountacute, and his Lady, for leaving their Parish Church to come to hear this Comedie. We here present Sir Thomas Headly, and his Lady for the like. We do present Master Wilson, and o∣ther Acters of the same.

So when Master Commissarie had read it, he was somewhat amazed at it, and asked of me who wasthe Commissarie Generall, I bad him ask my Lord of Lincolne who was Commissary Generall.

And this presentment we do make, Ex officio, Commissarie Generall,

Iohn Spencer.

So when this was registered, I took my leave of Master Commissarie and came away, for feare I should hear something else: And after∣wards, because the Bishop did not appear, I cen∣sured him for his fault to build a Schole-house at Eaton, and to endue it with twenty pounds a yeer for the maintenance of the Schole-Master. Sir Sidney Mountacute to give five pounds and five coats to five poor women, and his Lady five gowns and five pounds for five poor widdows: and this censure stands still unrepealed.