288 The HIS T 0 R Y of the PuRITANS. Vot. IT K. Charles I. into a pofture of defence againfl: the magiO:rates, kept guard, ftopt paf~ 16 +7· fes, examined paffengers, and fcized the magazine and arms in the town- ~ hall , and were not difperfed without diflic,ulty. The like diforders were at Ealitig in Middlefix, and in feveral'other countieE. The parliament was alarmed at tbefe diforders, and ther~fore commanded all papi!1:s and de. ,liquent clergymen to retire without the lines of communication, and pu. nifhed fame of the principal rioters as a terror to the re!1:, it being apparent -that the king's party took advantage of the holy days to try the temper of the people in favour of his releafe, for during the fpace of the following ,twelve years, wherein the fefl:ivals were laid afide, there was not the leafl: tumult on account of the holidays, the obfervation of Chriftmas being left as a matter of indifference. Ki;~g:s clergy The war being thought to be at an end, many of the clergy who had fol– pet~ttondto be !owed the camp returned home, and endeavoured to repoffefs themfelves re}lore to f } . r fl d I' , } . d' f h r h h 1' their livings. o t 1e1r tequeuere lvlflgs, to t Je preJU ICe o t 01e w om t e par lament had put into their places; they petitioned the king while he was with the army, and in a il:ate of honour and dignity, to take their poor dit1re(fed condition into his gracious confideration. His majefty recom. mended them to the general, at the very time when the difference between the parliament and army was fubfifting, upon which they reprefented SufE Cler. their grievances to him in a petition, fhewing that " whereas for divers P· 145· " years they had been outed of their livings, contrary to the fundamental '" laws of the land, by the arbitrary power of committees, whofe proceed~ ~' ings have ufually been by no rule of law, but by their own Wills; moll: '' of them having been turned out for refuting the covenant, or adhering " to the king, and the religion eftabli!hed, and of thofe, divers never cal– " led to anfwer, and fcarce one had articles proved by oath, or other le– " gal procefs, by which means your petitioners are reduced to extream " want and mifery; and whereas thofe who are put into our places labour " to il:ir up the people to involve the kingdom in a new war, and are ge· " nerally men ie:norant and unable to inftruCl: the people; and many of " them fcandal;'us in their praCtices, if impartially examined, and divers '' of them hold three or four of the befi benefices, whilil: divers other '" churches are void, and without any conftant preacher. And foraf· " much as the main profit of our-benefices confifts in tbe harvefr which is " now at band, which many of the prefent poifdfors, if they could " receive, would preiently be gone, whereby the burthen of the cure "' will lie upon your petitioners, having nothing to live upon the next ~· year. Your petitioners therefore pray, that your excellency would ~· make' ftay of the profits of the harveft, that thofe of us that are s< charged with any legal fcandal may come to a jufi trial, and if we are found
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