“Moreover, Wesley was making increasing numbers of concessions. In 1788, Mr. Clulow, his solicitor, advised him to license all the preaching-houses and traveling preachers under the Conventicle Act, not as dissenters but as “preachers of the gospel.” This decision, though thought to be politically necessary, was legally awkward, in the face of continuing protestation of loyalty to the Church, and therefore the licenses as dissenters were often not granted. Wesley protested one such confusing case to Dr. Tomline, Bishop of Lincoln, the following year: “The Methodists . . . desire a license to worship God after their own conscience. Your Lordship refuses it, and then punishes them for not having a license!” (JWL, 8:224).”