known in the learned world, appeared as a controversialist on behalf of his party. Some crown messengers, searching for a paper called "The Shift Shifted," discovered in the printing office a book intitled, "The Case of Schism in the Church of England truly Stated," by Howell, who was committed to Newgate for the offence. He naturally argued, that the complying Clergy were schismatics.[1] Redmayne, the printer, was indicted for printing the book, which was denominated a libel: and Dalton was fined, imprisoned, and sentenced to the pillory, for printing the Shift Shifted.[2] Howell was tried and convicted at the Old Bailey, being sentenced to a fine of £500, three years imprisonment, to be whipped, and to be degraded and stripped of his gown by the hands of the public executioner. He asked, "Who will whip a clergyman?" but the Court replied: "We pay no deference to your cloth, because you are a disgrace to it, and have no right to wear it: besides, we do not look upon you as a clergyman, in that you have produced no proof of your ordination, but from Dr. Hickes, under the denomination of the Bishop of Thetford: which is illegal and not according to the constitution of this kingdom, which has no such Bishop." The executioner was ordered to pull off his gown at the bar, which was accordingly done. The pamphlet was probably intended only for private sale or gratuitous distribution. All his papers were seized by order of the government, among which were his Letters of Orders from Dr. Hickes, dated 1712, and also The Form of Absolution and Reception of Converts. The Letters of Orders were thus expressed: "Tenore Præsentium, Nos Georgius
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