jefty's Commiffion yielded," &c.

The Earl exceeded his Commiffion, which is known to every body.

Ch. vi. p. 270. “Taking themfelves to an eafier and quieter life.”

I don't know what any one could fay worse of these pretended Minifters of Chrift, the Puritans, than what is here confeffed. They fet out in the office of trumpeters of rebellion, being chaplains to the Regiments of Effex's army. As foon as they had gained their end, which was difpoffeffing the Episcopal beneficed clergy, they nested themselves in their warm Parfonages, and left the Parliament foldiers a prey to thofe they themselves moft hated, the independent fanatic lay preachers.

Ch. vii. p. 360. "An unjust and malicious afperfion."

The Hiftorian, before he said this, should have feen whether he could answer thefe two questions in the affirmative.-Would the English have paid the arrears without

the

the perfon of the King ?-Would the Scots have given up the King, if they could have had the arrears, without?

Ch. viii. p. 408. "Not only abandoned and renounced thefe fenile doctrines, but have," &c.

ment.

To know whether the Prefbyterians have indeed abandoned their perfecuting principles, we should see them under an establishIt is no wonder that a tolerated fe&t should efpouse those principles of Christian liberty, which fupport their Toleration. Now the Scotifh Prefbyterians are established, and we find they ftill adhere to the old principle of intolerance.

What has Selden here to do with Minifters, Puritans, and Perfecutors?

P. 495.

"Keep a weekly faft.”

These were glorious Saints, that fought and preached for the King's deftruction ; and then fasted and prayed for his preservation, when they had brought him to the foot of the Scaffold.

P. 497.

P. 497. ply," &c.

"And not being willing to ap

They had applied to the Protector, and received fuch an answer as they deserved. A deputation of the London Divines went to him to complain, that the Cavalier Epifcopal Clergy got their congregations from them, and debauched the faithful from their minifters. Have they fo? faid the Protector: I will take an order with them; and made a motion, as if he was going to fay fomething to the Captain of the Guards; when turning short, But hold, said he, after what manner do the Cavaliers debauch your people? By preaching, replied the minifters. Then preach BACK again, faid this able statesman; and left them to their own reflections.

P. 527." And virtuous morals."

How could he fay that thefe officers, who, he owns, were high enthufiafts, were yet men of fober and virtuous morals, when they all acted (as almost all enthufiafts do) on this maxim, That the end fanctifies the means, and that the elect (of which number

they

they reckoned themselves chief) are above

ordinances?

P. 530.

66

Published a Proteftation."

And yet these very fecluded members had voted the Bishops guilty of high treafon for protesting in the fame manner 'when under the like force.

Ibid. "Oliver Cromwell was in doubt, And is this Hiftorian indeed fo fimple as to think Oliver Cromwell was really in doubt?

P. 545. "As ftrong and convincing as any thing of this nature poffibly can be."

There is full as ftrong evidence on the other fide; all of which this honeft Hiftorian conceals--evidence of the King's bedchamber, who swear they saw the progress of it-faw the King write it-heard him fpeak of it as his-and transcribed parts of it for him. It appears by the wretched false taste of composition in Gauden's other writings, and by his unchafte language, that he was utterly incapable of writing this book. Again, confider what credit

was

was to be given to Gauden's affertion of his authorship. He confeffes himself a falfary and an impoftor, who imposed a spurious book on the publick in the King's name. Was not a man fo fhameless, capable of telling this lye for a Bishoprick, which he was foliciting on the pretended merit of this work? As to Walker, it is agreed that Gauden told him that He (Gauden) was the author of the book, and that he saw it in Gauden's hand-writing; which is well accounted for by a fervant, a tithe-gatherer of Gauden, who fwears that Gauden borrowed the book of one of the King's friends (to whom it was communicated by the King for their judgments) to transcribe; that he [Gauden] fat up all night to tranfcribe it, and that He [the tithe gatherer] fat up with him to fnuff his candles, and mend his fire. It is agreed that Charles II. and the Duke of York believed, on the word of Gauden, when he folicited his reward, that He [Gauden] wrote it. But then this forwarded their prejudices: and what they believed, Lord Clarendon would believe too. On the whole, it is fo far

from