"That the image of God in us doth not consist in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness.
"That Mr. Cockaine affirms in public, upon occasion, that the sacraments were Popery.
"That he disallows of catechising.
"That syllogisms are of the devil. Denies the Sabbath; saith all days are alike, and that it ought not to be called the Lord's Day.
"That several parishioners, eminent for religion and piety, have withdrawn themselves from his ministry in the said parish. He humbly prayed that as the witnesses are many who will ascertain these articles upon oath, there may issue a commission to justices of the peace for the said county, and ministers to examine the truth of the premises, and to certify thereon."
[102] So far as the law of the Triers were concerned, this is true; but it is right to add that the complaints of non-payment in many cases had a sufficient foundation.
[103] Compare Twell's Life of Pocock, 151, 175, with Thurloe, iii. 281. Owen says in the letter there printed—"There are in Barkshire some few men of mean quality and condition, rash, heady, enemies of tithes, who are the Commissioners for ejecting of ministers." He then refers to Pocock as a man of great learning and high character, as liable to be cast out "on slight and trivial pretences."
[104] These Royalists were religious men. Upon receiving sentence, they exclaimed: "Now, farewell world! welcome heaven! Oh! what a happy change shall we make from night to day! Oh! blessed Jesus and Saviour of the world, how wonderful are Thy mercies! Thy love is unspeakable!" This is reported in one of the newspapers of the day, dated April the 19th, 1655.
In the Perfect Proceedings of the 12th to the 19th of April, it is reported from Hereford that the governor had secured Colonel Birch, who affirmed that the plotters were not Cavaliers, but Ranters, Quakers, and Anabaptists.
[105] Letters from Secretary Thurloe and Mr. Pell in Vaughan's Protectorate of Cromwell, i. 145 and 165.