706 'Jhe HIST 0 R Y of the PuRITANs. VoL. 11. Khtg for the minJflers of the gqjpel called non-conformijls, and their meetinrrs • Charles II. 'th A. • t bnr; h 1. ·,I', l fi ,fh'fl • h · "' ' 1676 . wzk . au.vtce ot q;e to ~v om t~e tf!jormers appiJ or auz 1 ,ance zn t e 1 r under- ~tamg. 91 the ;,.. INFORMERs were now become the terror of the non-conformills ~~:t·P.lea, and ~he reproac~ of a civiliz~d nation. They went a?out i~ difguife: part Ill. p.' and ltke wandenng fiwllers, ltved upon the plunder of 1ndufinous fami8, 9, 10. lies. They are a feleB: company (fays the coiformifls plea }or the noncoiformi}ls), whom the long-fufferiflg of God permits for a time; they are of no good reputation ; they do not fo much as know the names or perfons in the country whom they molefl:, but go by report of their under fervants and accomplices. They come from two or three coun– ties off, to fet up this new trade ; whether they are papifis or nominal proteftants, who can tell? They never go to their parifh churches, nor any other, but lie in wait and ambuth for tbe·ir prey; their efiate is in– vifible, their country unknown to many, and their morals are as bad as the very dregs of the age : Thefe are the men who direct and rule many of the magifhates; who live upon the fpoil of better chrifiians and fub– jeB:s than themfelves, and go away with hondl: mens goods honeiil:ly Sewel, p. gotten. -- They are generally poor (fays another writer), as are 493· many of theju/iices, fo that they !hared the booty·b~longing to the king as well as the poor amm~g themfelves; by which means the king and the '!"heir 'me· thod~. · <J'fuir i1lja– mous lives and deaths. poor got but little. Their praCtice was to infinuate tbemfelves into an acquaint-ance with fame under fervants, or lodgers in a non-conformijl family, under the cloak of religion, in order to difcover the place of their meeting. They walked the fl:reets on the Lord's day, to obferve which way any fuf– peB:ed perfons went. They frequently fet down in coffee-houfes, and places of public refort, to lifien to conv.erfat·ion. _Tl:ey could tur~ the~felves into any fhape, and counterfeit any pnnc1ples, to obtam their ends. When they had difcovered a conventicle, they immediately got a warrant from fome who were called conjiding.}ujlices, to break open the' houfe. If the minifl:er was in the rnidfi of his fermon or prayer, they commanded him in the: king's name, t<> come down from his pulpit;' and if he did not immediately obey, a file of mufqueteers was ufually fent up to pull him down by force, and to take him into cufiody ;· the congregation was broke. up, and t_he people guarded_ along _the fire~t to a magifirate, and from htm to a pnfon! unlefs they Immediately paid their fines: The goods of the houfe were nfled, and frequently earned off, as a fecurity for the large fine f~t upon it. . . . This was a new way of raifing contnbutwns,. but 1t foldom or never. P roflpered; that which was ill gotten was as ill fpent, upon lewd women, :or
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