144 ne HIs T 0 R y of the PURITANS. VoL. n. ChKing 11 or any commijjioned hy him, on any pretence 'Whatfoe'ver. The englijh a a :~~: · againfl: conventicles, was copied, and paffed almofl: in the fame terms in t.~ Scotland. The bijhops were fome of the worfl: of men, and hated by Charaller o[the people as they deferved, fo r their deportment was unbecoming their jJ~/~~~ bt·funCl:ion (fays bilhop Burnet); fome did not live within their diocefes, cJergy. and thofe who did, feemed to take no care of thetn: They !hewed no zea,I p. 217. againfl: vice; the mofl: eminently vitious in the country were their pe. culiar confidents; nor had they any concern to keep their clergy to their duty, but were themfelves guilty of levity, and great fenfu– 4nd of the peaplt, ality. The people were generally of the pre!byterian perfuafion, and flood firm by each other. In many places they were fierce and untrattabl e, a.nd generally forfook the churches; the whole country complained of the new epifcopal clergy, as immoral, ll:upid, ignorant, and greedy of gain; and treated them with an averfion that fometimes proceeded to vi– olence. Many were brought before the council, and ·ecclejiaflical com– mfjjion, for not comi11g to church, but tbe proofs were generally defective, for the people would not give evidence one againCt another. However, great numbers were call: in to prifon, and ill ufed ; fome were fined ; and the younger fort whipt publicly about the ll:reets; fo that great numbers tranfported their families to U!jler in Ireland, where they were well re– ceived. Proceedings The government obferved no meafures with this people; they exacted af tbe goexorbitant fines for their not coming to church, and quartered foldiers up– 'Uermnent, on them till they were ruined. The truth is (fays Burnet), the whole P· 211 ' 212 ' face of the government looked more like the proceedings of an inquijit ion, than of legal courts. At length, in the year 1666, Sir James "'ur– ner being fent into the well:, to levy fines at difcretion, the people arofe, and publilhed a manifell:o, that they did not take arms again/1: the king, but only that they might be delivered from the t)'ranny if the bijhops, and that prejhytery and the covenant might be.fet up, and their old mimj::. Occafims 011 ten rejfored. Turner and all his foldiers were made prifoners, but march– infurret7ion. ing out of their own country, they were difperfed _by the king's forces, Bu~net, P· about forty being killed, and one hundred and thi rty taken ; many of ZJ, . . h . d d d' d . h fi whom were hanged before t e1r own oors, an 1e wit great rmnefs and joy, Mr. Maceail their minifler underwent the torture, and died with great conll:ancy ; his !all: words were, {arewe! fim, moon, and Jlars; farewel, kindred andfriends, ~vorld and time, and this weak and frail body; and welcome eternity, we(come a~gels andjai~ts, welcome S~'Viour if the world, and God, the ;udge qf all I Wh1ch he fpoke m a manner that firuck all who heard him. The commander of the king's
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