Chap. VII. The HISTORY of tbe PuRri'ANS. 653 '• Too many of his majdly's fubjeCts have been lifted in their fervice for Cl Kingli ' ' b · fi ' d h d d b • d ' h 1arles • ' a matntenance -- T e1r nen sat ome ma e no ou tot omg t e 1661 . '• bulinefs themfeJves, if they could pitch upon a lucky day to begin the ~·-. '' work--Ifyou carefully provide for fuppreffing your enemies at home, '' you will find your ene;nies abroad more enclined to peace -- " Is it poffible that fuch a fpeech could proceed from the lips of a wife and faithful counfellor, who was to aik for money and carry on the war? Could the chancellor think, that the way to conquer abroad, was to divide and harrafs the king's fubjeCls at home, in the midil: of the diil:refs of a .terrible plague? He confeifed afterwards, that he was moll: averfe to this war, Ib. p. 846~ and abhorred it from his very foul, and yet he makes a handle of it to rain down vengeance on the prefbyterians, who had no concern in it; but it happened to them as in popiih countries, when any general calamity befals the people, it is imputed to too great an indulgence to heretics, and the vengeance is returned upon their heads. Bifhop Burnet is of opinion, that the Oxford aCl was rather owing to the liberty the non-conformifts took in their fermons, to complain of their own hardlhips, and to lament the vices of the court, as the caufes of the prefent calami ties. And fuppoling this to be true, their complaints were not without reafon. However, the guilt was to lie on the diiTenting minillers, and there- 'The Oxford ' fore an aCt was brought into the houfe to banifh them from their friends; five mil~ am which had the royal a!Tent OClober 3 r, 1665· It was entituled, an aCl ~haCa~. I!. to r1frain non-conjormijls from inhabiting corporatiom; the preamble to p. • which fets forth, " that divers parfons, and others in holy orders, not " having fubCcribed the aCt of uniformity, have taken upon them to " preach in unlawful aiTemblies, and to inllil the poifonous principles " of fchifm and rebellion into the hearts of his majefl:y's fubjeets, to " the great danger of the church and kingdom. Be it therefore enaCted, " that all fuch non-conform ill: minillers fhall take the following oath: I 'The oath; . " A. B. do j<£Jear, that it is not lawful upon any pretence whatfoever, to " take arms againjl the king; and that I do abhor that traiterous pqfition, cc qf taking arms by his authority, againfl his perfon, or againjl thqfe that " are commi!Jioned by him, in purji~a~zce of Juch commijfions; mzd that " I will not at any time endeavour any alteration ~f govermnmt. '' either hz church or flatt. And all fuch non-conformill: minillers !hall. " not after the 24th of March 1665, unlefs in palling the road, come, " or be within five miles of any city., town corporate, or borough that. " fends burgeiTes to parliament; or within five miles of any parilh, " town, or place wherein they have fince the aCt of oblivion .been parfon, •• ~icar, or leCturer, &c. or where they have preached in any conven- " ucle, on any pretence whatfoever, before they have taken and fubfcribed . " the abovefatd oath, before the juftices of peace at their qt,Jarter feffions. for.
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