Chap.X. TheHISTORY ofthePuRITANS. 745 king's forces killed fame in cold blood, and threatened to fpit others and King ll: h 1. Charles II. roa t em a 1~e. . . 1 68 4 . When the mdulgence was publilhed m England tbefcots had the be-~ ne fit of it, but when it was taken away, the perfecution revived, with Of boufo and inexpreffible feverity, under the adminill:ration of duke Lauderda/e, Con-fi~1f convend · 11 f h 1 ib ' · 'll: ttc<es. venticles aboun ed lil a parts o t e .country; t Je pre ytenan mm1 ers preached in their own houfes, to numbers of people that ll:ood without doors to hear them; and when they were difperfed by the magiflrates, they retreated into the fields with their minifl:ers to hear the word of God; and to prevent being diil:urbed, carried arms fufficient for their defence. Upon which a very fevere act was paffed againil: houfo con– venticles and field conventicles, declaring them treafonable_; anq the landlords in whofe grounds they were held, were to be feverely fined, unlefs they difcovered the perfons prefent. But frill this did not terrify the people, who met together in defiance of the law. Writs were iffued p. 291, 370~ againf1 many who were called Cameronians, who were out-lawed, and 399· therefore left their houfes, and travelled about the country, till at length they collected into a body, and declared that the king had forfeited the crown of that kingdom, by renouncing the covenant; but the duke of Monmouth being fen t to difperfe them, routed them at Bothwe/ bridge, killing four hundred, and taking twelve hundred prifoners; two minifl:ers were hanged, and two hundred bani{hed to the plantations, who were alllofl: at (ea. Cameron their preacher fell in battle, but Hackjlon and Cargil, p. su. the two other preachers, died with invincible courage; as did all the refl:, who were oftered their lives if they would fay, God blefs the king! Hac!ijlon had both his bands cut off, which he fuffered with a conll:ancy and rapture that was truly amazing. When- both his hands were cut off, he atked, whether they would cut off his feet too? And notwith– ll:anding all his lofs of blood, after 'he was banged, and his heart taken out of his body, it was alive upon the hangman's knife. At length (fays bifbop Burnet), things came to that extremity, that EffiEisifthe the people faw they mull: come to church or be und one, but they cameperfecution. in fo aukward a manner, that it was vifible they did not come to ferve P· 519> 524• God, but to fave their fubfl:ance, for they were talking or fleeping during the whole fervice. This introduced a fort of atbeifm among the younger people. But the inquijition was fo terrible, that numbers fled from their native country and fettled in the plantations. Thefe methods of convedion were fubverfive of cbriil:ianity, and a reproach to a protell:ant church and nation; but oppreffion and tyranny had overfpread the eng- !ijh dominions ; the hearts of all good men failed them for fear, and for looking after thofe things that were coming on the land; the clouds were gathering thick over their heads, and there was no other defence againll: VoL. II 5 C an
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