It would be ungrateful not to add, that for facilities in research, and for direct literary aid, I am indebted to many friends. Besides special obligations which I have acknowledged in the foot-notes and Appendix, I beg to acknowledge the kindness of Mr. Thoms, Sub-Librarian to the House of Lords—Mr. Aldis Wright, Librarian of Trinity College, Cambridge—Mr. Bullen, of the British Museum—and Mr. Hunter, keeper of Dr. Williams' Library.

Nor can I omit to mention again, my fellow-workers at home, especially one whose assiduity and care in helping me to correct the press, deserve the highest praise.

Two literary friends who took much interest in this work,—the Rev. Joseph Aspland and Mr. John Bruce, F.S.A.,—are now, alas, beyond the reach of my thanks.

Should my life be spared, I hope in another volume to bring the Ecclesiastical History down to the Revolution. A history of the eighteenth century lies amongst the visions of the future.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.
Political Character of Puritanism[1]
Ecclesiastical Character of Puritanism[7]
Spiritual Character of Puritanism[11]
CHAPTER I.
Richard Cromwell[15]
His Parliament[17]
Petitions from the Army[23]
Richard's Resignation of the Protectorate[26]
Independents[28]
Baptists[31]
Presbyterians[33]
Episcopalians[34]
CHAPTER II.
Interregnum[40]
Restoration of Rump Parliament[42]
Monk's Military Power[44]
Re-establishment of Presbyterianism[49]
CHAPTER III.
Presbyterians and Monk[51]
Presbyterians and Episcopalians[52]
State of Parties[55]
Convention Parliament[57]
Commonwealth Army[58]
Breda Declaration[61]
Proclamation of Charles II.[63]
Manner of Restoration[65]
Presbyterian Deputation to the King[68]
Episcopalian Address[71]
CHAPTER IV.
The King's return[72]
Presbyterian Addresses[77]
Independent Addresses[79]
Royal Supremacy[80]
Disbanding of the Old Army[86]
Ecclesiastical proceedings in Parliament[88]
Question of the Church's Settlement[88]
Restoration of Cathedrals[92]
Petitions from Universities[92]
Changes in the position of Parties in the House of Commons[93]
Church Property[95]
Bishops[97]
Preferments[98]
CHAPTER V.
Presbyterian Chaplains[100]
Meetings of Presbyterians[101]
Presbyterian Proposals[102]
Prelates' Answer[105]
Controversy[106]
Meetings at Worcester House[114]
The King's Declaration[117]
CHAPTER VI.
The Regicides[126]
New Bishops[131]
Persecution of Nonconformists[134]
Reaction against Puritanism[138]
Venner's Insurrection[140]
Opening of Suspected Letters[145]
CHAPTER VII.
Elections for New Parliament[147]
Interception of Letters[151]
Meeting of Parliament[154]
Commission for Savoy Conference[155]
Convocation[158]
Savoy Palace[162]
Members of Conference[163]
Coronation[166]
Election for Members of Convocation[168]
Presbyterians' Exceptions to the Liturgy[170]
Meeting of Convocation[173]
Proceedings of Convocation[176]
Bishops' Answers to Exceptions[179]
Baxter's Liturgy[180]
Presbyterians' Rejoinder to Bishops' Answers[183]
Last two Meetings of Savoy Conference[187]
Baxter's Account of Commissioners[189]
Baxter's Petition[191]
CHAPTER VIII.
Proceedings of Parliament[196]
Burning of Solemn League and Covenant[196]
Bill for restoring Prelates to the Upper House[197]
Bill for governing Corporations[199]
Bill for Restoration of Ecclesiastical Courts[200]
Uniformity Bill[202]
State of feeling[206]
CHAPTER IX.
Re-assembling of Parliament[209]
Pretended Plots[211]
Deliberations of Convocation[213]
History of the Prayer Book[214]
Revision of the Book[219]
Subscription[223]
Consecration of Bishops[227]
CHAPTER X.
Uniformity Bill[229]
Lords' Amendments[231]
Debates on Amendments[233]
Commons' Amendments[239]
Conference between the two Houses[241]
CHAPTER XI.
Royal Assent to Bill of Uniformity[245]
Change in the Establishment made by the Act[246]
Convocation responsible for Changes in the Prayer Book[247]
Bishops' share in Responsibility[248]
House of Commons[250]
Clarendon[250]
Roman Catholic Party[251]
Omissions in Act[253]
Classes affected by it[255]
CHAPTER XII.
Sir Henry Vane[256]
Edmund Ludlow[258]
Edward Whalley and Major-General Gough[259]
Effects of the Act of Uniformity[261]
Reports of Disaffection[267]
CHAPTER XIII.
Bartholomew Ejectment—Farewell Sermons[271]
Reception of Catherine of Braganza[275]
Petitions from Quakers[275]
St. Bartholomew's Day[278]
The Ejected Ministers[278]
CHAPTER XIV.
Petition from Presbyterians[283]
Operation of the Act[285]
Clergy who conformed[287]
Bishops' Articles of Visitation[289]
Ministers who continued in the Establishment without conforming[290]
Clergy who disapproved of the Ejectment[291]
Rumoured Plots[292]
CHAPTER XV.
King's Declaration of Indulgence[296]
Baxter and the Independents[298]
Parliament[299]
Debate on Indulgence[300]
Papists and Nonconformists[303]
Deaths of Bishops[305]
Proscribed Worship[308]
Colonial Policy[310]
Plots and Informers[312]
Nonconformist Places of Worship[314]
Ejected Ministers[316]
CHAPTER XVI.
Conventicle Act[322]
Execution of the Act[327]
Convocation[329]
Sheldon's Inquiries[331]
CHAPTER XVII.
The Plague[333]
Ministers who remained in London during the Plague[338]
Usefulness of the Ejected Clergy[340]
Mompesson[341]
Stanley and Shaw[342]
Parliament at Oxford[343]
Increase of Nonconformity[343]
Five Mile Act[345]
Nonconformists who took the Oath of Non-resistance[348]
Those who refused it[350]
Dutch War[355]
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Fire of London[357]
Papists suspected[361]
Exertions of Nonconformists after the Fire[362]
Disturbances in Scotland[363]
Fanatics[365]
The Dutch[366]
Empty Exchequer[367]
Impeachment of Clarendon[369]
His Character[371]
Comparison between Clarendon and Burleigh[373]
Extent of Nonconformity[375]
CHAPTER XIX.
Comprehension[378]
Episcopalian Proposals[381]
Presbyterian Modifications[383]
Thorndike's Principles[385]
New Conventicle Bill[387]
CHAPTER XX.
Manton and Baxter[390]
Conventicles[392]
Sufferings of Quakers[398]
CHAPTER XXI.
The Cabal[400]
Declaration of Indulgence[403]
How regarded by Politicians[404]
By Episcopalians and Presbyterians[406]
By Independents[407]
Nonconformists return thanks for Declaration[408]
Grants to Nonconformists[410]
Charles II. and the Quakers Carver and Moore[412]
Pardon of Quakers[414]
CHAPTER XXII.
Opening of Parliament[416]
Political parties[417]
Debate on the Declaration[418]
Measures for Relief[421]
Test Act[425]
Cancelling of the Declaration of Indulgence[428]
State of Nonconformists[429]
CHAPTER XXIII.
Earl of Danby[434]
New Test[436]
Comprehension[438]
Persecution of Nonconformists[441]
Coffee Houses[443]
Comprehension and Toleration[444]
Bishop Croft[447]
CHAPTER XXIV.
Roman Catholicism[450]
The Duke of York[451]
Protestant Opposition[455]
St. Germain and Luzancy[458]
Parliament[459]
Committal of Four Lords to the Tower[462]
Bills against Popery[463]
Act for Better Observance of the Lord's Day[465]
Act for Augmentation of Small Livings[467]
Repeal of the law De Hæretico Comburendo[467]
Bill for Exclusion of Papists from Parliament[469]
CHAPTER XXV.
Bishops—Sheldon[470]
Ward[474]
Morley[477]
Cosin[478]
Hacket[481]
Wilkins[483]
Pearson—Reynolds[485]
Croft[487]
Laney[488]
Gunning[489]
Paul—Warner[490]
Earle—Skinner[491]
Nicholson—Henchman[492]
Rainbow—Henshaw[493]
Ironside[494]
Frewen—Sterne[495]
Dolben[498]
Griffith—Glemham—Barrow[499]
Wood[500]
Brideoake[501]
Lloyd[502]
State of the Clergy[502]
Their Ignorance[507]
Religious and Moral Character[510]