Peters had become an important political personage. One of the Dutch deputies in treaty with England, observes, in a letter, November, 1653: "Mr. Peters hath writ a letter to the Queen (of Sweden) by the Lord Whitelocke, wherein he relates the reasons why they put the King to death, and dissolved this last Parliament; and withal sends to her Majesty a great English dog and a cheese, for a present."—Thurloe, i. 583.
[67] They are printed in the Parl. Hist., iii. 1417. They bear this simple title: "The Government of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the dominions thereunto belonging."
[68] Carlyle, ii. 227.
[69] Whitelocke, 571.
[70] The Acts and Resolves of Parliament for taking the Engagement were repealed the 19th of January, 1653-4, and the repeal was confirmed in 1656.—Scobell, 277.
The following letter is an example of the way in which Presbyterian ministers availed themselves of this change to recover benefices forfeited by refusing the Engagement:—
"Mr. Sympson,
"If the order (by colour of which you invaded my church) did give you (which I confess I could never understand) any power to do so, the late revolution hath made it void and null; and the Lord Protector having taken to his sword a sceptre, and consented and sworn to govern according to law, and not otherwise, I conceive it to be my duty to ... let you hereby know that ... I am legal incumbent of the place; in pursuance whereof, I am resolved to return on Lord's Day afternoon, at the usual hour of public worship, to my own church, and therefore desire you to cease your future pains in that place, and signify so much to your friends, that we may have no disturbance: and if you conceive you have any right in the place, commence your action; you shall receive in any court of judicature a plea from him who is resolved to defend his own just privilege, and give an account of his reasons to the world.
"Zach. Crofton.
"The next Lord's Day, being the 2nd of August, I intend to preach at my own church between one and two of the clock, afternoon."—State Papers.