45S LIVES OF THE PURITANS: meekness. At length they obtained the use of North°lin chapel, where they remained some years, enduring the scoffs and frowns of their enemies. In this situation Mr. Grantham and his brethren had many seals to their ministry, among whom was Mr. John Watts, a person of great repute, who had been educated at the university ; but who could not conform to the national establishment, and therefore became pastor of a baptist church which assem- bled in his own house. Soon -after the restoration of Charles II. Mr. Grantham experienced the revival of persecution. lie was appre- hended and carried before a magistrate, who bound him over to the assizes held at Lincoln ; and others of the bap- tists were cruelly harassed, being constrained to pay fines of twenty pounds a month, for not going to the established church. Under these barbarities, Mr. Grantham and his people resolved to presentspetition to his majesty, humbly imploring his favour, and 'to be relieved from these cruel oppressions. Agreeably to this resolution, Mr. Grantham and Mr. Joseph Wright were chosen the two messengers ; who, in the year 1661, were admitted into the king's pre- sence, when they declared 'their grievances- to him, and delivered into his hands, " Their brief confession, or declaration of faith, set forth by the baptized churches, to inform all men of their innocent belief and practice." The king received their petition and the declaration of their faith, treated them very courteously, protested against the cruelty of their adversaries, and promised them their liberties. Accordingly, he set forth his declaration in their favour, December 26th following ; when they who had been indicted for religion, were, at the next sessions or assizes,,acquitted in open court, to the shame and vexation oftheir persecutors, who were then sitting on the bench. Upon the passing of the ,4 Conventicle Act," another persecutionwas raised against these pious christians, and soldiers were sent to disarm them, on account of their separation from the established el; urch. Though they could not find any arms in their possession, they rifled their houses, took away their goods, and forces Mr. Grantham, Mr. John Gree, and several others, from their wives and families, making them run along like lackeys by the sides of their horses ; nor would they tell them whither they designed to lead them, nor whether they should be pro- secuted by law, or punished by force of arms. They were constrained, however, to gowhere the soldiers pleased, who
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