The HIs T 0 R y of the PuRITANS. VoL. n. J King II filling upon an entire repeal, which they declined, .he dilfolved them. a,'6g 5 6 • • The ~pifcopal clergf were obfequious to the court, and in man y places fo ~funk Into !loth and tgnorance, that the lower people were grown quite in– different in matters of religion; but the prejb;•terians, though now freed from the feverities, they had fmarted under for many years, exprefied up– on all occafions, an unconquerable averfion to popery, and by degrees rou– fed the whole nation out of their lethargy . Of Ireland. In Ireland things had il:ill a more favourable afpeCl. for the court: The king had a greater dependance on the irijb Catholics, than upon any other of his fubjects. Colonel 'Taibot earl of 'I)nonnel, was made lord lieutenan t of that country, a vile and profligate officer, who fcrupl ed no kind of barbarity and wickednefs to ferve his caufe; he broke feveral pro– teil:ant officers in the army, and by degrees turned them all out, to make room for papijfs. All offices both civil and military were put into the hands of the vileil: mifcreants; there was not a protefi ant fb eriff left in that kingdom; the charters were taken away, and new modelled in fa– vour of papiil:s. The corpora tions were diffolved, and all things managed· with an arbitrary hand, fo that many imagining the malfacring knife to be at their throats, left the kingdom; fame tranfporting themfelves intoEngland,. and others into more remote and difiant countries. Thus far the prero– gative prevailed without any repulfe. Bijbop of Matters being now ripe for attacking the church of England in form, it London fuf- was refolved to begin, with making an example of fame of their leading pended, divines : Dr. Sharp rector of St. Gilds, having difobeyed the king's order, of not preaching on the controverted points, and fpoken difrefpectful– ly of the king's religion, in one of his fermons, the bi{hop of London– was ordered to fufpend him; but the bifhop, with all refpect and du– ty to his majeil:y, ·rent word, that he could not proceed in fuch a fum– mary way, but that when the caufe was beard in the commons, he would pronounce fuch fentence, as the canons fhould warrant; and in the mean Burnet, p. time, would defire the doctor to forbear preaching. The court refent-· 676. ing the bifhop's denial, cited him before the eccl'!fiq;1ical commi!Jion Aug. 4, where he was treated by Jifleries, in a manner unbecoming his cha– racter. The bifhop excepted to the authority of the court, as contrary to law, and added, that be had complied in the doctor's cafe, as far as the ecclejiqflicai laws would permit. However, notwithftanding all that his . lb. p. 677. lord01ip could fay in his defence, he was fufpended · ab officio, and the bifhops of Durham, Rochefler, and Peterborough, were appointed com– miilioners, to exercife jurifdiction during his fufpenfion. Dr. Sharp, af– ter having expreffed his farrow in a petition, for falling under the king's dif– pleafure, was difmiired with a gentle reprimand, and fuffered to return to the exercife of his function. The
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