Chap, X. e HISTORY of the PURITANS, 745 court, bilhops, and thecorrupt part of the clergy. (3.) On fuch corrupt K Charles I, counfellors and courtiers as for private ends had engaged themfelves in the 16L intereft of Tome foreign princes, to the prejudice of the king and Bate. Thefe miners are Paid to carry on their defigns, (I.) By fuppreffing the power and purity of religion, and of fuch perfons as were belt affected to it. (2.) By cherifhing the arminian party in thofe points wherein they agree with the papifis, in order to widen the différence between the com- mon proteftants and thole calledpuritans; and by introducing fuch opinions and ceremonies as tend to an accommodation with popery. (2.) By fomenting differences and difcontents between the king and his parlia- ment, and by putting him upon arbitrary and illegal methods of railing fupplies. I omit the grievances of thefiate ; thole which related to the church were fach as follow : I. The fufpenfions, excommunications, deprivations, and degra- Grievoncesef dations of divers painful learned and pious minifters of the gofpel, by religian the bi/hops ; and the grievous oppreßion of great numbers of his rnajefty's faithful fubjeéts. 2. The fharpnefs and feverity of the high comma ion, of lifted by the council-table, not much lets grievous than the romilh inquifition. 3. The rigour of the bifhops courts in the country, whereby great . numbers of the meaner tradefmen have been impoverifhed, and driven out of the kingdom to Holland and New-England, The advancing thofe to ecclefiaftical preferments who were molt' officious in promot- ing fuperftition, and moll virulent in railing againft godlinefs and ho- nefty. 4. The defign of reconciling the church of England with Rome, and impofing upon the church of Scotland fach popilh fuperflitions and inno- vations, as might difpofe them to join with England in the intended recon- ciliation. 5. The late canons and oath impofed upon the clergy under the fevereft penalties ; and the continuance of the convocationby a new commif lion, af- ter the diffolution ofthe parliament, wherein they railed taxes upon the fubject for the maintenance of what was called helium epifiopale. The rooting out of the kingdom by force, or driving away by fear, the PURITANS ; under which name they include all that delire to preferve the laws and liberties of the kingdom, and to maintain religion in the power of it. 6. The exempting papifts from penal laws fo far as amounted to a toleration, befidesconferring upon them many other privileges and court Vo I.. I. 5 C favours
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