Chap. XII. The H I S TORXof the PURITANS. 795 matt equal advantage, the number of Lain on both fides being about K Charies-b four thoufand. Thus the fword was drawn, which was drenched in the r6t 2* blood of the inhabitants of this hand for feveral years, to the lofs of as many proteftant lives as perifhed by the infurrec`tion andnaafracre of Ireland. C H A P. XII. The fiate of the church of England. The religious charaEfer of both parties. With a fummary of the grounds of the CIVIL WAR. WW E have already teen the unfettled Rate of religion upon the 7econlhi ì king's progrefs into Scotland, with the complaints of the royalifts °f the church. for want of decency and uniformity. The hierarchy had for force time been a dead weight, the fprings that moved it being flopt, by the impri- fonment of the bithops, and the check that was given to the fpiritual courts; but now the whole fabrick was taken down after a year, though when that was expired no other difcipline was ere&ed in its room; nor was the name fide and dignity of archb/hops and bifhops taken away by ordinance of parliament till Sept. 5. 1646. that is, till the war was over, and the king a prifoner. In this interval there was properly no eftabli/hed form of government, the clergy being permitted to read more or lets of the liturgy as they pleafed, and to govern their parifhes according to their difcretion. The veftments were left indif èrent, force wearing them, and others in imitation of the foreign proteftants, making ufe of a cloak. Feb. 2. 1642-3. the commons ordered, that the feature of the univerfity of Cambridge, which impofes the ufe of the furplice upon all fludents and graduates fhould not be preffed, as being aga-inft the law and liberty of the fubje&; and three days after they made the fame order for the fchools of Weftminfter, Eaton, and Winchefter. Bithop Kennet Pays, that tithes were denied to thofe who readcommon prayer; and 'tis as true, that they were with-held from thofe that did not read it, for many ta- king advantage of the confufion of the times, eafed themfelves of a bur- den for which force few pleaded confcicnce, and others the uncertain title of thofe that claimed them. 5 I _a Though
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