granted to offer the covenant; and they had difficulty in procuring leave to preach, the generality of the people having no affection. So, the Ministers having gone about the work, in all places of Down and Antrim where the Scotch army were quartered, resolved to go to Coleraine and the Route, and thence onwards to Derry. In Ballymena, Coleraine, and all the country thereabout, they had great success; but on coming towards Derry, they discovered symptoms of opposition; and the Mayor, one Thornton, and Colonel Mervyn, sent them a letter, forbidding them to come at their peril. But, they did enter the city, and after many troubles and much opposition, the bulk of the people received the covenant, in the market-place, with tears and uplifted hands. They then proceeded to the counties of Donegall and Fermanagh, where most of the British soldiers took the covenant, in spite of their principal officers. From this, the Ministers returned to Down and Antrim; and established a session, at Belfast, though there was no minister there."

The great majority of the English and Scotch having thus received the covenant, in Ulster, the English Parliament were able to calculate on their combined opposition to the Royalists, under Ormond, as well as to the Roman Catholic party who had rallied and obtained some advantages, under the celebrated Owen Roe O'Neill. Colonel Monro was therefore appointed by Parliament, Commander-in-Chief of the United English and Scotch forces; and the Presbytery being abundantly protected, began to exercise a rigorous discipline over both the laity and clergy. In fact, after having contended for liberty of conscience, for themselves, in a manner equally heroic and commendable, they incurred everlasting disgrace by entering upon the work of persecution with all the power which they were able to command. Their own historian and eulogist, Patrick Adair, thus speaks of their proceedings, in prosperity.

"By the Presbytery's desire, the General Major (Monro) subjected the whole army to discipline, and all the people within the bounds where the army lay. Having this encouragement from those who did rule the country, the Presbytery did improve it to the best advantage, both against some sectaries appearing in some places, and against scandalous conforming ministers as well as other scandalous persons; summoning them before the Presbytery, and, according as they found ground, either censuring them or releasing them. They had greatest trouble with Mr. Price, and Mr. Hamilton of Dundonald, (episcopal ministers,) who obstinately adhered to their former courses, and denied the covenant, and the authority of the Presbytery: upon which these two hirelings were suspended, and thereafter restrained from the exercise of the ministry. The place where there was the greatest hazard of spreading the errors of independency and anabaptism was

Belfast, through one Mathew Lee, being so industrious there; and the two Commissioners from Scotland were requested to visit that place frequently, for obviating this infection."

Hence, it appears, that those inconsistent men, although only just escaped themselves, from the miseries of persecution, sought the scandalous aid of military power, to tyrannize over the consciences of their protestant brethren. Freedom of faith and worship was all right and proper, for Presbyterians; but as for "Sectarists," (even independents and anabaptists,) or "malignants," (even episcopalian protestants,) they were not to enjoy any toleration at all. The history of clerical impudence supplies no instance more striking, than the conduct of these six or seven Scotchmen, called the Presbytery, in trying and degrading the regularly ordained ministers of other churches, and dooming them and their families to beggary, under the terror of Scotch soldiers ! Indeed, one becomes sick of the cant of liberty and conscience, on reading the annals of churches, and finding that the persecuted of one year became the persecutors of the next—as if freedom had merely been sought, that power might be tyrannically exercised. So it was, at least with " the Presbytery;" for, after the deposition of Price and Hamilton, in Down, they proceeded, on similar pretences, to degrade several episcopal clergymen in Antrim, for honestly refusing to swear to the persecuting covenant, and being faithful enough to abide by the doctrines and worship which they believed to be most in accordance with the word of God.

When these intolerant men persecuted their fellow Protestants, no one can be surprised that they turned, with even greater fury upon the plundered and unfortunate Catholics of Ulster. Here is their own record of their proceedings. "About this time," (April, 1645) says Adair, "The Presbytery finding the Irish Papists, partly those who had not been in rebellion, and partly those who had come in under protection, to grow numerous in the country, and considering their numbers might thereafter prove dangerous to the protestant religion, and that by the treaty between Scotland and England, no toleration was to be given to papists: and also pitying their souls, in their ignorant and hardened condition, made an act that they should be dealt with by the several ministers, to convince them of their idolatry and errors, and bring them to own the truth; or, otherwise to enter into process against them, in order to excommunication. And they appointed some of their number, to speak to the GeneralMajor, that he might use the authority he had for forcing them out of this part of the country, if they remained obstinate; and this act of the Presbytery was publicly made known to the several parish churches."

This procedure, I admit, breathed the genuine spirit of the Solemn

League and Covenant, and was worthy of those who had signed it It is full of intolerance, hypocrisy, and worldliness. They "pitied the souls" of the poor papists; and as a practical proof of the sincerity of their affection, they were ready to drive them in tens of thousands, from their humble homes, to the bleak and uncultivated mountains! Their spirit was revived in the county of Armagh, towards the close of the last century, when the name of Protestantism was disgraced by the infuriated cry of a murderous rabble, raised against unoffending Catholics" to hell, or to Connaught, or Botany Bay!" But, the Armagh multitude were ignorant and misguided peasants, whilst the Presbytery were educated men, and the recognised servants of Him who inculcated universal love, and delivered that incomparable summary of social duty-" Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them likewise; for this is the Law and the Prophets." Unhappily, however, Ministers of religion have been in all ages, the great planners and abettors of intolerance: they have always made the iniquity more revolting, by connecting the glory of God, the honour of the Redeemer, and the salvation of souls, with their infamous schemes of persecution and plunder! The seven Ministers of the Presbytery, therefore, were but a fair specimen of their class and, as they enjoyed the Tithes, through the grace of Monro's bayonets, the more episcopal ministers they degraded, the more parishes were opened to their friends and dependents; and the more Catholics that were driven from Ulster, the more lands remained for themselves and their fellow believers." It is a sorry sight," however, to see high-minded Reformers sunk into selfish and degraded Persecutors and it naturally brings suspicion upon all professions of liberality, when the advocates of toleration in the hour of suffering, become the instruments of oppression in the hour of triumph! Happily, providentially, such scenes can now be only contemplated in the dark pages of history; at least in these favoured Lands, where the generous spirit of enlightened legislation has curbed the evil spirit of churches; and no man can any longer persecute or plunder his neighbour, "for the good of his soul ! "

But, whatever may be thought of the temper and conduct of the Presbytery, their proceedings undoubtedly tended to enlarge the bounds of their church. Several young Ministers readily came over from Scotland, to enjoy comfortable glebes, and tithes, under the protection of the Scottish army; so that in the year 1647, there were about thirty parish Ministers in the counties of Down, Antrim, and Londonderry. Some episcopalians also, who did not openly espouse the Royal Cause, were permitted to retain their livings; whilst independents and anabaptists, in several places, rivalled the Presbytery in popularity and influence-the English Parliament having given in

structions to three Commissioners whom they sent to regulate the affairs of Ulster, to conciliate all sects, as far as practicable.

About this time, however, certain jealousies sprung up, in England, between the Scotch Auxiliaries and the English Parliament. The Westminster Confession of Faith, and the Solemn League and Covenant were understood to sanction the Presbyterian form of Church Government; but, the people of England had been so long oppressed by one established Church, that they were determined not to replace it by another. The great majority of the people, therefore, on the abolition of Episcopacy, by the Parliament, had formed themselves into Independent Congregations-that is, into Societies exercising the right to elect their own Ministers and regulate their own affairs, without the control of any bishop, presbytery, or any other external authority. To this party belonged the celebrated Oliver Cromwell, and the other principal Generals of the Parliamentary army, as well as the great body of the soldiers. They, likewise, gradually obtained the ascendancy in Parliament, and passed several Measures offensive to the Presbyterians. Cromwell seeing that a rupture must eventually take place between the two parties, was desirous to get rid of the Scottish troops, then occupying several important fortresses in the north of England; and a decisive victory gained over Charles, at Naseby, in Yorkshire, at once annihilated the party and the hopes of the King, and afforded Cromwell a pretext for dismissing his Scottish auxiliaries. They, refused, however, to leave the Kingdom until certain arrears of pay were liquidated; and the unfortunate King, seeing the chance of retrieving his fortunes by a rupture between the Presbyterians and Independents, secretly left the remnant of his ruined Court and Army, at Oxford, and delivered himself up to the Scottish Commander, at Newark, on the 5th of May, 1646. Cromwell at once perceived, that no other course was now open, but that of negociation; as any attempt to expel the Scotch, by force, would have rallied around them and the King the entire royalists of the Land; and would thus have possibly destroyed the fruits of all his victories. The Parliament, therefore, agreed with the Scotch army to pay the sum of £400,000-in liquidation of their arrears, and for the possession of the King's person; and this infamous bargain being completed, by the payment of the stipulated amount, the unhappy Monarch was placed in the hands of his inveterate enemies, on the 30th of January, 1647, and the Scotch returned to their own country, laden with the wages of iniquity!

The possession of the King's person gave the Independents uncontrollable power, and they resolved to be no longer annoyed by the Presbyterian party in Parliament. They, therefore, presented a Remonstrance to the House of Commons, demanding that the King

should be brought to trial; but, in despite of the intimidation of the army the spirit of manhood and justice prevailed, and the demand was rejected by a large majority. On the following day, Colonel Pride, by Cromwell's orders, beset the House with a band of soldiers, seized about fifty members of the Presbyterian party, and committed them to prison in a kind of vault, which was politely termed "hell," as a gentle intimation of what the prisoners deserved. Other Presbyterians were similarly treated, next day; so that none except Independents were left in the House. These obtained the designation of the Rump Parliament; and on the 6th of January, 1649, they passed an Ordinance appointing one hundred and thirty three persons to try the King, on a charge of High Treason, for sundry crimes against the State, and especially for appearing in arms against the Parliament of England. Before this infamous tribunal, composed chiefly of low and brutal men, the unfortunate prince was arraigned, on the 20th of January; but, refusing, on three successive days, to acknowledge its authority, he was summarily condemned without trial, and beheaded on the 30th of January, 1649, in front of his own palace of White-Hall! And, yet, these men pretended to be eminently religious, whilst thus trampling upon every principle of humanity and justice!

Against this wanton act, the Presbytery in Ireland solemnly protested, refused to acknowledge the Provisional Government in London, and recognised Charles II. as lawful Sovereign of the Realm. This course of conduct did not, in the first instance, require so much courage as has been alleged; neither did it evince so ardent an attachment to Monarchy as many have been pleased to affirm. The simple truth is this The people of Scotland were chagrined at the treatment which the Presbyterians of England had experienced from the Independents; and the young Prince having twice sworn to the Solemn League and Covenant, they determined to aid the English Royalists in placing him upon the throne, in the hope of destroying both prelacy and independency, and securing in the whole three Kingdoms, the establishment of Presbyterianism. The Scottish forces in Ireland participated in these sentiments; and there being a large Royalist party, ready to join them, as they believed, the authority of the Parliament was very inconsiderable. The Royalists, however, were more inclined to strike for Prelacy than Presbytery; and there were in fact four parties, in Ireland-The Catholics, under Owen Roe O'Neill— the Independents, in Derry, under Sir Charles Coote-the Royalists, under the Marquis of Ormond-and the Presbyterians under Monro. The Catholics and Independents formed a junction, and drove the Royalists from Derry; but these, in their turn, by treachery and otherwise, gained some advantages over the Presbyterians. During