So That The Whole Militia Of London, Exclusive
Of Westminster And Southwark, Amount To Near Ten Thousand Men.
London, like other cities of the kingdom, is, or ought to be,
governed by its bishop in spirituals, though his authority is very
little regarded at present.
The justices of peace at their sessions
may empower any man to preach and administer the sacraments, let his
occupation or qualifications be never so mean; nor do they ever
refuse it to a person who is able to raise the small sum of - pence
being less a great deal than is paid for licensing a common
alehouse. A clergyman indeed cannot be entitled to a benefice
without being, in some measure, subject to his diocesan; but he may
throw off his gown, and assemble a congregation that shall be much
more beneficial to him, and propagate what doctrines he sees fit (as
is evident in the case of orator Henley): but to proceed.
The diocese of London is in the province of Canterbury, and
comprehends the counties of Middlesex and Essex, and part of
Hertfordshire; the British plantations in America are also subject
to this bishop. To the cathedral of St. Paul belongs a dean, three
residentiaries, a treasurer, chancellor, precentor, and thirty
prebendaries. The Bishop of London takes place next to the
Archbishops of Canterbury and York, but his revenues are not equal
to those of Durham or Winchester. The deanery of St. Paul's is said
to be worth a thousand pounds per annum, and each of the
residentiaries about three hundred pounds per annum.
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