Chap. I. The HIS T 0 R Y of the PuRITANS. 33 il:ead of leaving this work to the officers of every pariih, had put it in-K. Charles I. to the hands of fome difcreet perfons, to give direel:ion~ what might ~ remain, and what was fit to be removed, all the mifcluefs that have been complained of might have been prevented; the monuments of the dead might have remained entire, and a great many fine paintings been preferved. Dr. l-Ie)'lin charges the officers with facrilege, and fixes the divine vengeance upon them as a terror to others, one of them being killed in pulling down the crofs in Cheapjide, and another hanged foon after he had pulled down the rich crofs in Abingdon. But without remarking on the doCtor's prognofl:ications, it might be very proper to remove thefe images and croffes, becaufe of the fuperil:itious refort ofgreat numbers of people to them; though it ough~ to have been done in a peaceable manner, without any damage to the truly venerable remains of antiquity. The paper combat between the two parties at Oxford and London, was Ordtr~jor carried on with no lefs fury than the war itfelf; numberlefs pamphlets ~f:;~';)tg were fcattered up and down the kingdom, big with diffaffeCtion and r. fcandal againfl: the two houfes; to put a ftop to which, the commons by an order of March 6. I 642-3. had impowered the committee of ex– aminations to fearch for printing preffes, in fuch places where they had caufe to fufpeCt they were employed againft the parliament; and to break them in pieces, and detl:roy the materials. They were alfo to feize the pamphlets, and to commit the printer and vender to prifon. But this Rulhw: order not beingeffeB:ual, another was publiihed June 14. 1643· the pre- Vol. V. amble to which fets forth, " that the former orders of parliament to pre- P· 335· '' vent the printing and difperfing fcandalous pamphlets having been incc effectual, it is ordained, that no perfon or perfons fhall print any book " or pamphlet without licence, under the hands of fuch perfons as ihall " be appointed by parliament; nor ihall any book be reprinted without " the licence and confent of the owner, and the printer to put his· ~· name to it; the company of jlationers, and the committee of examin- " ations, are required to make ftriB: enquiry after private preffes, and to " fearch all fufpeCt:ed ihops and warehoufes for unlicen!ed books and " pamphlets, and to commit the offc:nders·againft this order to prifon, to " be puni{heJ as the parliament !hall direB:." The names of the licenfers appointed by this ordinance were thefe; For books if divinity. '!'he Rev. Mr. Tho. Gataker, 'Ihe Rev. Mr. J. Do~nham, YoL, II. · 'Ihe Rev. Mr. C'\llicut Down– ing, 1he
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