he people was his
only anchor, which could only be secured by the most popular measures. A
new sort of reformation was easy to execute. Cathedrals and collegiate
churches maintained by vast wealth, and the lands of the chapter, only
fed "fat, lazy, and unprofitable drones." The dissolution of the
foundations of deans and chapters would open an ample source to pay the
king's debts, and scatter the streams of patronage. "You would then
become the darling of the commonwealth;" I give the words as I find
them in Hacket. "If a crumb stick in the throat of any considerable man
that attempts an opposition, it will be easy to wash it down with
manors, woods, royalties, tythes, &c." It would be furnishing the wants
of a number of gentlemen; and he quoted a Greek proverb, "that when a
great oak falls, every neighbour may scuffle for a faggot."

Dr. Preston was willing to perform the part which Knox had acted in
Scotland! He might have been certain of a party to maintain this
national violation of property; for he who calls out "Plunder!" will
ever find a gang. These acts of national injustice, so much desired by
revolutionists, are never beneficial to the people; they never partake
of the spoliation, and the whole terminates in the gratification of
private rapacity.

It was not, however, easy to obtain such perpetual access to the
minister, and at the same time escape from the watchful. Archbishop
Williams, the lord keeper, got sufficient hints from the king; and in a
tedious conference with the duke, he wished to convince him that Preston
had only offered him "flitten milk, out of which he should churn
nothing!" The duke was, however, smitten by the new project, and made a
remarkable answer: "You lose yourself in generalities: make it out to
me, in particular, if you can, that the motion you pick at will find
repulse, and be baffled in the House of Commons. I know not how you
bishops may struggle, but I am much deluded if a great part of the
knights and burgesses would not be glad to see this alteration." We are
told on this, that Archbishop Williams took out a list of the members of
the House of Commons, and convinced the minister that an overwhelming
majority would oppose this projected revolution, and that in consequence
the duke gave it up.

But this anterior decision of the duke may be doubtful, since Preston
still retained the high favour of the minister, after the death of
James. When James died at Theobalds, where Dr.