472 The HISTORY of the PuRITANS. VoL. II. POlivcr •• real tejfimony if their godlinefi, and good affection to the prifent govern- :6~:-or· " ment, J.o much tenc/ernej:S foal! be ufed, as may co1:{tjl with the fafity and \...o'~ " good qj the nation." This was a fevere and terrible order upon the epifcopalians, and abfo– lutely unjuflifiable in itfelf; but the title of the aCt, which is an ordinana for.fecuring the peace of the commonwealth, as well as the !aft claufe, fhews it was made for the jqfety if the government, againfl: a number of men who were undermining it, and was publi!hed chiefly in terrorem, for no perfon was profecuted upon it; and the parliament which met next year, not confirming it, it became abfolutely void. P~otetlor i~ Dr.Gauden prefented a petitionary remonftrance to the protetl:or againft <uzllmgt_of!- this order; and archbilhop U(her was defired to ufe his intcreft with his ~h;':r'li~alla highnefi in behalf of the epifcopal clergy; upon which (fays the writer of the archbiihop's life) the proteCtor pro.mifed either to recal his decla– ration; or to prevent its being put in execution, provided the clergy were inqfjenjive in their language andJennons, andflood clear in meddling with matters of flate. His HIGHNEss accord ingly laid the matter before his council, who were of opinion, that it was not fafe for him to recal his declaration, and give open liberty to men who were declared enemies to his government, but that he fhould fufpend the execution of it as far as their behaviour fhould deferve; fo that in the event here was no great caufe of complaint, for notwithfl-anding this ordi nance, the fober epifcoConf. Plea, pal clergy preached publicly in the churches, at London and in the coun– part lV. try, as Dr. Hall, afterwards bifhop of Chejter, Dr. Ball, Dr. Wild, Dr. C 41-~.H"ft Hardy, Dr. Grffjith, Dr. Pearfon, bifhop of Chtjicr, and others. Re– p.0~i3: 1 · markable are the words of bifhop Kennel to thi' puq::ofe; " It is certain, " fays his lordfhip, that the proteCtor was for libwy, and the utmofl: " latitude to all parties, Jo far as conjijtfd with the peace andJajety if bis " petjon and government, and therefore he was never jealous of any caufe ·cc or feet on the account of herefy and falfhood, but on his wifer ac– " counts of political peace and quic:t ; and even the prejudice he had << againft the epifcopal party was more for their being royalifts, than for " being of the good old church. Dr. Gunning afterwards bifhop of Ely, " kept a conventicle in London, in as open a manner as diifenters " did after the toleration; and fo did feveral other epifcopal di– ,, vines." Rwfons of his j everity againji the papijls. For the fame reafons his highnefi girt the laws clofe upon the papiils, not upon account of their religion, but becaufe they were enemies to his government ; for in the month of May, a proclamation was publilhed for the better executing the laws againft jetuits and priefls, and for the con– viction of popifh recufants; th~ reafon_ of whic:h ~he: prot~ctor gi~e~ in his .declaration of08ob. 31ft, publi!hed Wtth the advtce of hts counctlm thefe 2 words;
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