Chap. VIII. Tbe HIS T 0 R Y of the PuRITANS. 673 afhamed to afcribe thefe cruelties to the influence of the bilhops, fays, King . 11 I 11 d . ll. h d'J:r. h et Charles II. " that this and a t 1e pena aws ma e agamn t e Iuenters were t e a"'s 1670 . " if the parliament, and not of the church, and were made more on a~ " civil and political, than upon a moral or religious account; and al- " ways upon fome freil1 provocation in reality or appearance." This is the language by which the patrons of high church cruelty, endeavour to excufe themfdves from the guilt of perfecution ; but it mufl: fall famewhere; and that it may not fall too heavy upon the church, it is artfully, and with great good manners, cafl: entirely ztj!OIZ tbe legijlature, and put upon the fcore of fedition, whereas it was well known the diffenters behaved peaceably, and were very far from difl:urbing the fl:ate. Nor does the preamble to the act charge them with diiloyalty, but only fays, " that ·" for the providing fpeedy remedies againfl: the practices of feditious fee- ,, tarioo, and others, who under pretence of tender confciences, " have or may at their meetings contrive infurrections, be it en- " acted, &c." as if it was poffible tu do this in the company of women and fervants, who were always prefent in their affemblies. It is therefore evident, that the act was levelled purely againfl: liberty of confcience, and was fo feverely executed, that (as Sir Hany Cape! obferves), there was hardly a conventicle to be heard of all over England. The two houfes (fays our church hifl:orian), were exprefs for the execution p. 286. of thefe laws; th~ biiliops and clergy were fincerely zealous in ir, and the honefl: ju fl:ices and magiflrates (as he calls them), bore the more hard upon them, becaufe they faw them fo bold in defpifing and evading the jufl:ice of the nation. Great numbers were profecuted on this act, and many indufl:rious fa- Method~ of milies reduced to poverty. .' Many minifl:ers were confined in gaols and Pt~fecutton, clofe prifons 1 and warrants were iffued out againfl: them and their hearers, whereby great fums of money were levied. In the diocefe of Sal:/~ bury the perfecution was hottefl:, by the infl:igation of biiliop Ward; many hundreds being purfued with great indufl:ry, and driven from their families and trades. The act was executed with fuch feverity in Starling's Baxter'• mayoralty, that many of the trading men in the city were removing with Life, part their effeCts to Holland, till the king put a il:op to ir. !'?formers were every II. P· 4· where at work, and having crept into religious affemblies in difguife, le- ~:~ne~7 r: vied great fums of money upon minifl:er and people. Soldiers broke into ' the houfes of honefl: farmers, under pretence of fearching for conventicles, and wher.e ready money was wanting, they plundered their goods, drove away thm cattel, and fold them for half price, Many were plundered of their houlhold furniture; the fick had their beds taken from under them, and thetnfelves laid un the floor. Should I fum up all the particulars, and the ~ccounts I have received (fays Mr. Sewel), it would make Sewel, p. a ·volume of 1tfelf. Thefe vile creatures were not only encouraged, but 493· VoL. Il, 4 R puilied
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=