f 36o ] was really pofl'efl'ed ; any one, that confiders the State of the Town of Nottingham, will applaud the Proceedings of the high Cómmiflion. ` By this ' Time (lays Mr. Strype) it came to pals, that the People of Nottingham were violent againti one another, and the whole Town divided as they ' Good affe&ed. The Pulpits rang of nothing but Devils and Witches ; and Men, Women and Children were fo affrighted, that they durtt not ' ftir in the Night; nor fo much as a Servant, al- ' moll, go into his Matter's Cellar, about his Bu- ' u nets, without Company. Few happened to be tick, or ill at Eafe, but (trait they were damned to be poffeffed." 'Twashigh Time to put a Stop to this Pra&ice of dilpoíleffing, whether the Au- thors were Knaves, Enthutiatts, or both, Mr. N. is at Liberty to continue thefe Pra&itioners in the Litt of Puritans, which this Inftance plainly thews, he is detrous to encrealè with all Clergymen that were punithed, whatever was the Reafon of it. Mr. Allen beforementioned is an In(lance of another Sort ; this Gentleman, by the Maliceand Revenge of one ofhis Parithioners, happened to fall under an unreafonable Profecution. Mr. Allen, Mr. N himfelf allows, was a good Preacher, had fub- fcribed, was well liked by the Bijhop, and conform- able in his Affections. How comes this Gentle- man to be a Puritan, or why is he mentioned as fuch, except to fwell their Number ? With what Propriety could Mr. N. after fuch Profecutions, cry out, Thus the Puritan Clergy were put upon the Level with Rogues and Felons. Darrell, and his Affociates, may be Puritans, if their 1-liftorian pleafes; but fure, a fubfcribing Minitter, conform- able in his Afèdions, ought not to be added to that Lift. The Reader, from thofe few Obfervations that have been laid before him, will be able to judge, what fort of a Hiftory of the Puritans has been offered to the World. He is likewife defired to obferve, that the chief Deign of thefe Papers is to fupply the Defects, and corre& fome Miftakes in that
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