668 'Ihe HIS T 0 R Y of the PuRITANS. Vot, If. King tacked him in a burlefque fi:rain, and with fo peculiar and entertaining Ch1a~~S.II. an. addrefs, .that from the king down to the tradefman, his books were read ~ w1th the h1ghefi: pleafure. He had all the men of wit on his fide, and Rehearfal tranfpofed. Part 11. in Tit. not only mumbled Parker more than the ferious and grave writings of Dr. 01ven, but filenced the whole party; one of whom concludes his letter to Mr. Marvel with theie wordf, If thou darejt to print or publijh any 6•e or libel againfl Dr. Parker, by tbe eternal God I will cut tby throat. Sub– fcribed J. G. All fober men were of opinion, that it was ungenerous and cruel to treat a number of peaceable men, whom the laws had put almofi: out of their proteClion, in fo ludicrous a manner. Religion itfelf Rapin, p. fuffered by it. I remember, fays lord chief jufiice Hale, that wben Ben. 406. Jobnjon in his play of the alchymijl introduced .Anartus in derifion of the puritans, with many of their phrafes taken out of fcripture, in order to render that people ridiculous, the play was detefied and abhorred, be– caufe it feemed to reproach religion itfelf; but now, when the pre!byte– rians were brought upon the fiage in their peculiar habits: and with their difiinguilhing phrafes of fcripture, expofed to the laughter of fpeclators, it met with approbation and applaufe. LicentioufBut fuch was the complexion of the court, that they bid defiance to nefi of tdhe. virtue, and even decency, giving countenance to all manner of licentioufnefs. court an Cl· h l h r fi tt · · · d ty. T e pay- OLlles were become ne s of promtutwn (fays Burnet), an the Rurnet, p. fi:age was defiled beyond example; the king, queen, and courtiers, went 262,. z67. about in mafks, and came into citizens houfes unknown, where they Rap•n, P· danced with a great deal of wild fi·olic, and committed indecencies not 40 3· to be mentioned. They were carried about in hackney chairs, and none could di!linguith them except thofe who were in the fecret. Once the queen's chairman not knowing who the was, left her to come home in a l1ackney coach, fame fay in a cart. Buckingbamwho gloried in bis debau– cheries, and l'Yi!mot earl of Rochdfer, the greatefl: wit and libertine of bis age, were the principal favourites. To fupport thefe extravagancies, the houfe of commons fupplied the king with what money he wanted, and were thcmfelves fo mercenary, that tbe purchafe of every man's vote was known; for as a man rofe in credit in the houfe, he advanced his price, and expeCted to be treated accordingly. 166g. The univerfity was no lefs cor-rupt, there was a general licentioufi1efs And univer- of manners among the fi:udents; the fermons of the younger divines .ftty, were filled with encomiums uoon the church, and fatyragainfl: tbenon-con– formifis; the evangelical doctrines of repentance, faith, cbarity, and prac– tical religion, were unfafi1ionable. The fpeeches and panegyrics pro~ounced by the orators, and tern:e filii, on public occalions, w~re fcumlou_s, and little kfs than blafphemous; as appears by the !etter m the margm, from
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