LIFE OF RICHARD BAXTER. 177 of more festivals to the calendar, and more lessons out of the apoc- rypha; the bill for an act of uniformity was introduced into the house of commons, where, after several debates, it passed by a majority of only six votes. The lords, after proposing several amendments, which were the subject of a conference between the two houses, at last, on the 8th of May, 1662, concurred with the commons ; and, ten days afterwards, the bill received the royal assent, and became one of the laws of the land. The terms of uniformity now imposed on all the ministers were 1. Such as had not been ordained by abishop must be re-ordained. 2. They must all declare their "unfeigned assent and consent to all and every thing. prescribed and contained iln the book of com- mon prayer.)' . 3. They must swear obedience to their bishops and other ecclesiastical superiors. 4. They must most solemnly abjure and condemn the solemn league and covenant, as an oath unlawful in itself and unlawfully imposed. 5. They must profess in its broadest extent the doctrine of passive obedience, declaring and desired to consult those in the country. But afterwards Sir J. W. (who was one of them) arrests the captain for high treason. He was again released upon the earl of Bristol's procuring the king's privy seal ; and going down into the country, he prosecutes his prosecutors. But within six months, per- sons were suborned to swear against him, That he had spoken treasonable words against the king and government. For this he was tried at the assizes at Worcester before JudgeTwisden, and upon a full hearing was presently ac- quitted by the jury. And oneof the witnesses (whom he names) afterwards confessed he had 51 given him for being an evidence. " This feigned plot was on foot in Oxfordshire at the same time." " There was something of a like sham plot in Leicestershire and Yorkshire. See Conformist's 4th Plea for the Nonconf. pp. 30, 40. The great design aimed at bythese methods, was to possess the parliament, that it was absolutely neces- sary tomake a severe act against such a restlesssort of men, who, not content- ed with the king's pardon, were always plotting to disturb the government. And they reached their end. These plots and stirs in several counties of the land, were in October and November, 1661. And on the 20th of November, the king, appearing in the house after an adjournment, made a speech wherein are these words'I am sorry to find that the general temper and affections of the nation are not so well composed as I hoped they would have been, after so signal blessings of God Almighty upon us all, and after so great indulgence and condescensions from me towards all interests : there are many wicked in- struments still as active as ever, who labor night and day to disturb the public peace, and to make people jealous of each other. It may be worthy your care and vigilance to provide proper remedies fordiseases of thatkind ; and if you find new diseases, you most find new remedies, &c.' When thehouse of com- mons, after this speech, came to their debates, úp stands J. P., one of the knights for Worcestershire, and with open mouth informs them ofa dangerous Presbyterianplot on foot; and that'manyof the chief conspirators were now in prison at Worcester. The like information was given by some members who served for Oxfordshire, Herefordshire, Staffordshire, and other places. Nay, this was the general cry; this all the pamphlets printed at that time ran upon. And it was in this very sessions that thisbill of uniformity passed the house. And that the general cryoccasioned by these sham plots much promoted it, will easily be judged by any one; that will but be at the pains to peruse Yarring- ton's Narrative, to which the reader is referred for satisfaction." VOL. I. 23
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