VII. him to proceed with diligence to enforce the laws BOOK fo recently enacted for the preservation of the church. 1662. ejected. When the bishops held their diocefan fynods, Clergy most of the ministers submitted in the north. In the western counties their refolution not to obferve the acts, nor acknowledge, by any canonical obe dience, the jurifdiction of the prelates, was confirmed by the patient fortitude of the numerous clergy, whom the act of uniformity had ejected in England. They concerted measures to avoid offence to the ftate if tolerated, but if filenced, to submit at once to the injunctions of the council; and expected, from the defolate ftate to which the church would be reduced, that if they stood and fuffered together, they would be foon replaced. But the fame example had instigated the fierce difpofition of Middleton, to retrieve his declining credit at court by adopting the most exceptionable, and perhaps the only measure in the adminiftration of Clarendon, which attaches to his memory an indelible ftain of duplicity and perfecution. In a progress through the western counties, an act of council was framed in a fit of abfolute intoxication at Glasgow. Whatsoever minifters had neglected or declined to procure prefentations from their patrons, and in. duction from the prelates, were ordained to remove from their parishes, or to be difplaced if neceffary by military force. Three hundred and fifty clergymen were ejected from their livings; above a third part of the church was difplanted, and the tears excited by their valedictory fermons, were due Oct. 1. Nov. I VII. 1662. BOOK due to their fufferings, when expelled from their homes in the winter feafon; deprived of their ftipends for the preceding year; and with their numerous families left deftitute of fupport. The commiffioner imagined that the greater number would folicit indulgence or collation from their ordinaries, while the refiftance of a few zealots would justify the severities which he was prepared to inflict. Their unexpected fubmiffion disappointed, but did not difarm his refentment. The most distinguished clergymen were selected for perfecution, on the recent oath of allegiance to the king. However willing to acknowledge that his majefty was fupreme civil governor in ecclefiaftical affairs, their explanation of the oath was rejected, and as no penalties were annexed to the act, they were either confined to remote districts, or ordained to banish themfelves from the kingdom for life. But the expulfion of the western clergy excited loud difcontent. Their auftere and exemplary deportment was univerfally refpected. They were connected by confanguinity or marriage with the principal families, and from their endearing familiarity, and fervent devotion, were beloved by the people. The moft ignorant or vicious of the clergy, the very refufe of the northern parts, were fummoned by a general invitation, and eafily admitted to the benefices of the weft. But the negligence or irregular conduct of the new incumbents was ill calculated to remove the prejudices of the people; and the few who were above contempt, but from their violence beneath esteem and refpect, were T VIL 1663. Origin of conventi cles. were equally detefted as the others were defpifed. BOOK The people rejecting the inftructions of the curates, feceded in fearch of the fpiritual manna, that defcended no longer around their tents. Each Sunday they abandoned their church and their parish in a body, to attend the worship of their former paftor; and as his habitation was too fmall or remote for their reception, conventicles firft began to be held in the fields. The feverities of the privy council were proportionably augmented. The ejected clergy were prohibited to approach within twenty miles of their former parishes, within fix of Edinburgh, or a cathedral church, or within three miles of a royal borough; and when the means of earning their subsistence were interdicted, the common offices of humanity were profcribed, and the people were forbidden, under the fame penalties of fedition, to contribute to their support **. 24 difgrace. From his riotous exceffes, the adminiftration of Middleton's Middleton had become juftly contemptible, and from his feverities odious; but the removal of an imperious minister feldom proceeds from the fufferings or complaints of the people. The accufation preferred by Lauderdale, might have failed, had not Middleton's own indifcretion accelerated his difgrace. His fervices were magnified by the prelates, and on his return to court, he found powerful intercessors in Clarendon, Sheldon the primate, and Monk. But the king was incenfed at 24 Burnet, i. 221-1. Woodrow, i. 145-55-63. 205. App. 18. Kirkton's Manufcript, 44. VII. 1663. minifter. His cha. racter. BOOK his prefumption in countermanding an order procured and tranfmitted by Lauderdale to the privycouncil, to prolong by proclamation the term prefcribed for the discharge of fines. His difgrace produced general fatisfaction, but the national joy was of fhort duration. His fucceffors proved more impeLauderdale rious, and worse than himself. Rothes was appointed commiffioner to parliament, and attended by Lauderdale, to whom he was visibly subordinate; but Lauderdale himself was dependent on the prelates, and compelled to yield to their most furious demands". Originally not lefs attached to the covenant than at present to the court, he engaged in its measures with the zeal of a profelyte; determined that no compliance fhould be omitted to promote his ambition or preferve his place. His perfonal appearance is perhaps fatirically described as enormous and uncouth; his hair was red and difhevelled; his tongue too big for diftinct articulation; his addrefs ungracious, and his manners coarse, boisterous, and unfuitable to the faftidious refinement of a court. During a long imprifonment, his mind had been carefully improved by study, and impreffed with a fenfe of religion which was foon effaced on his return to the world. His learning was extenfive and accurate; in public affairs his experience was confiderable, and his elocution copious, though unpolished and indiftinct. But his temper was dark and vindictive, incapable 25 Clarendon's Life, ii. 96. 105. Hift. ii. 582. iii. 124Burnet, i. 143. of VII. 1663 of friendship, mean and abject to his fuperiors, BOOK haughty and tyrannical to his inferiors; and his judgment, feldom correct or juft, was obftinate in error, and irreclaimable by advice. His paffions were furious and ungovernable, unless when his interest or ambition interposed; his violence was ever prepared to fuggeft or to execute the most defperate counfels; and his ready compliance preferved his credit with the king, till his faculties were vifibly impaired with age. June 18. When the parliament reaffembled, Middleton's Parliament. friends were removed from the articles, and the former mode of election revived. The prelates felected eight peers, who appointed eight prelates in return; the fixteen affumed an equal number of barons and burgeffes, to whom the officers of ftate were fuperadded; and from the fervility, of the prelates, the nomination of the articles, and the independence of parliament were refigned to the crown. An act was paffed at their inftigation, against disobedience to ecclefiaftical authority, and separation from church. The clergy, ejected or filenced by their bifhop, were punishable as feditious if they prefumed to preach. On their feparation or absence from their parish church, landholders forfeited a fourth part of their rents, tenants and citizens a fourth part of their fubftance, the freedom of their corporations and the privilege of trade; and were fubjected to whatever corporal punishment the privy council might choose to inflict ". 26 Parl. 1663. ch. i. 2. The act against feparation preceded, and appears to have fuggefted the act againft conventicles. in England, paffed 1664. A decla |