[156] A report of this speech is given in the Journals of the Commons, under date January the 25th, 1657-8.
[157] In connection with this notice of a godly ministry at the re-opening of Parliament, it may not be irrelevant to mention that the daily meetings of Cromwell's Parliament commenced with prayer; and that whereas in the Little Parliament the members turned the legislative assembly into a prayer-meeting—and "engaged" one after another in devotional exercises—in the Parliaments which followed, no such custom obtained; but some regular minister officiated each morning. So scrupulous did the Commons become in confining the performance of Divine worship to the Clergy, that in the last of Oliver's Parliaments, the House on one occasion waited half an hour for the minister, and because he did not make his appearance proceeded without prayer.—Cromwellian Diary, i. xxvii., and Parry, 522.
[158] The Republicans at first rejected had been now admitted.
[159] "Il Signor Protettore col consenso del suo consilio di stato ha questa settima banito per una sua proclamatione di Londra tutte Cattollici e Roalisi alle lor proprie stanze di campagna, o al luogo della lor nascita, prohibendo li sotto pena di incarceramento di allontanarsi di detti luoghi più de cinque miglia, e questa proclamatione commencia a essere in vigore li venti-dui di Marzo, e dura fin alli otto di Maggio." Di Londra, 14mo. Marzo, 1658.—Thurloe, vi. 841.
[160] Carlyle's Cromwell, ii. 634.
[161] Carlyle, ii. 651.
[162] The question of augmentations of livings had been brought before the Council in the month of October, 1656: it was referred to the Lord Deputy and others to speak with Dr. Owen and Mr. Nye upon the subject, and to report their opinions to the Council.
Some points respecting ministers in later entries were referred to Nye, Caryl, and Peters.
[163] The last three minutes belong respectively to May, 1658, June, 1658, and March, 1656.
[164] The authorities for this sketch of Presbyterianism are the Westminster form of Presbyterian government, Parliamentary ordinances, and the account of the particular form under which Presbyterianism appeared in Lancashire, as given by Hibbert, in his History of the Foundations of Manchester.