Chap. VIII. . 'Ihe HIS T 0 RY of the PuRIT A.NS. 289 " found innocent may enjoy our rights, according to the known laws ofK. Cb.ar!cs I. " the land." ~ By this bold petition, 'tis eviden t the(e gen tlemen were encouraged to G. Fairfax's hope, that the army would carry thei r refentments fo far as to unravel al l anfwer. they had been doing for five years ; that they would not only renounce the covenant, but difclaim the proceedings of their committees, and even coun tenance the clergy's adhering to the king; and no doubt, if his maj efl:y had at this time complied with the propofals of the army, he migh t have made o-ood terms for them; for the general received them with refpeCl:, and having dtbated their addrefs in council, propofed it to the parliament, rh.1t the e{b tes of all fequelt.ered perfons, including the clergy, fhonld remain in the hands qf the tenants till a genera l peace. Upan which the old incumbents grew very troublefome, forbidding the parilhioners to pay their tithes, and threatening the prefent poifeifors of their livings with legal profecutions. On the other hand the preiby teria n clergy addreifed the general Aug. I 2. Count.r ptti· a few d1ys after the parliame nt and army were united, with a complaint, ttonfbof tbt l d . -' l' · 'll h h d b f h . 1. . pre ytena11a " t 1at 1vers ue tnquent mtmtLers, w o a een put out o t en· tv1ngs, · " did now trouble and feek to turn out thofe minifters, whom the par- , , liament had put in; and particularly, that Dr. Layfield, by a counter- " feit warrant from the general, h ad endeavoured to remove a minifter " from his benefice in Surrey." The general and his council decl ared their diOike of thefe proceedings, and promifed to write to the parliament. that fuch offenders m igh t be brought to puni!hment, which he did accordingly. The difference between the parliament and army being now in a m anner compromifed, which cut off the expectations of the clergy. Aug. I 9· the lords and commons acquainted the general, that they would take care for the punilhment of t hofe delinquent mi nifters and others, by whofe practices minifl:ers put into livings by the parliament had been difquieted and turned out; and on the 23d of the fame month Or1inancc in they paifed an ordinance, fetting forth " that whereas divers mi-thezr fav'"'·· " nifters in the feveral counties had betn difplaced by authority of par- " li <J ment, fur notorious fcandals and delinquency, and god! y, learned, " and orthodox minifters, had been placed in their room ; and whereas " the faid fcanda lous and delinquent minifters by force, or otherwife, had " entered upon the churches, and gained poifeilion of the tithes, &c. the " lords and commons did therefore ordain, that all fheriffs, mayors, corn- '' mittees, &c. do forthwith apprehend fuch minifters, and all fuch per- " fans as have been aiding, and abetting to them, and commit them to " prifon, tl1ere to remain, till thofe they had thus difpoifeifed, and moleft- " e.d, fhould receive fa tisfaction for their damages; and that tne faid lhe- ,, nffs, &c. do reftore thofe moleited minifters to the quiet poifeilion of " their refpeCI:ive places, and do in cafe of need raife the trained bands YoL. Il. P p ''to
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