The mention of the Westminster Synod, seems to require some account of it. This was not a convocation accord ing to the Diocesan way of government, nor was it called by the votes of the ministers according to the Presbyterian way; but the parliament chose all the members themselves, merely with a view to have their opinion and advice for settling the government, liturgy, and doctrine of the church of England. And they were confined in their debates to such things as the parliament proposed. Some counties had two members, and some but one. And because they would seem impartial, and give each party the liberty to speak, they chose many of the most learned episcopal divines; as Abp. Usher, Dr. Holdsworth, Dr. Hammond, Dr. Wincop, Bp, Westford, Bp. Prideaux, Bp. Brownrigg, Dr. Sanderson, Dr. Hacket, and others to join with them; but few of them came, because it was not a legal convocation, the king having declared against it. Dr. Featly, who was one of them, being charged with sending intelligence to the king at Oxford of what passed in synod and parliament, was imprisoned. The divines, (of whom a list is given below*) were men of eminent learning and * William Twiss, D. D. Newbery, George Walker, B. D. Prolocutor. Corn. Burgess, D. D. John White, Dorchester, Assessors. William Gouge, D. D. Blackfryars. Robert Harris, B. D. Hanwell. Jeremiah Burroughs, M. A. Stepney. Thomas Temple, P. D. Battersea. Hum. Chambers, B. D. Claverton. John Gibbon, Waltham. John Philips, Wrentham, B4 Edm. Calamy, B. D. Aldermanhury. Thomas Hodges, B. D. Kensington. Bruce. Sydrach Sympson, London. Richard Cleyton, Showel." Arthur and godliness, ministerial abilities and fidelity. Many lords and commons were joined with them, to see that they did not. go beyond their commission*. Six or seven Independents were added to them, that all sides might be heard. Five of these, viz. Mr. Philip Nye, Mr. Thomas Goodwin, Mr. Jeremiah Burroughs, Mr. Sydrach Sympson, and Mr. William Bridge, were called the Dissenting Brethren. They joined with the rest, till they had drawn up the Confession of Arthur Salwey, Severn Stoke.. Edw. Corbet, Merton-College, Oxon. Thomas Coleman, M. A. Bliton. William Mew, B. D. Esington. Jasper Hickes, M. A. Lawrick. Henry Hall, B. D. Norwich. Richard Byfield, M. A. of Faith, and larger and smaller Catechism: but when they came to church-government, they engaged them in long debates, and kept the matter as long as they could undetermined: And after that, they kept it so long unexecuted in almost all parts of the land, except London and Lancashire, that their party had time to strengthen themselves in the army and parliament, to hinder the execution, and keep the government determined upon, a secret to most people in the nation, who knew it but by hearsay. This assembly first met July 1, 1643,* in Henry VII's. chapel. Among other parts of their trust, one was to approve of all that should be admitted into any Church-Livings. They had no power to put any out, but only were to judge of the fitness of such as were taken in. The power of casting out was in a committee of members of parliament at London, and partly also in the committees of the several counties. Those that were sequestred were generally, by the oaths of several witnesses, proved insufficient or scandalous, or both; especially guilty of drunkenness and swearing. The able and pious preachers, who were cast out for the war alone, or for opinion's sake, were comparatively few. It is pity indeed there were any. And tho' now and then an unworthy person, by sinister means, crept into their places, yet commonly those who were put in, were such as set Edmund Prideaux, Esq; Sir Henry Vane, Senior, Knt. John Glyn, Esq; Recorder of London. John White, Esq; Bulstrode Whitelocke, Esq; Humphry Sallway, Esq; Mr. Serjeant Wild. Sir Benjamin Rudyard, Knt, Sir John Clotworthy, Knt. Sir Henty Vane, Junior, Knt. Sir Thomas Barrington, Knt. Oliver St. John, Esq; his Majesty's Walter Young, Esq; Sir John Evelin, Knt. * The most remarkable hints concerning their debates, that are published to the world, are to be met with in the life of Dr. Lightfoot, before his works in folio, and in the preface to his remains in octavo; for which we are indebted to the ingenious Mr. Strype, After petitioning for a fast, they drew up a letter to the Reformed churches abroad, with an account of their design, and then presented to the parliament a Confession of Faith, a Larger and Shorter Catechism, (the last of which has been in such general use amongst Dissenters) a Directory for public Worship, and their Humble Advice concerning Church Government. There is a work which is commonly, but unjustly, ascribed to the assembly, viz. The Annotations on the Bible. The truth is, the same parliament that called the assembly, employed the authors of that work, and several of them were members of the assembly. themselves themselves laboriously to seek the saving of souls. But to return. As the parliament was afterwards on the rising side, it had undoubtedly been both their wisdom and the nation's interest, to have kept some bounds without running things to extremity. Had they endeavoured only the ejection of Lay-chancellors, the reducing the dioceses to a narrower compass, or the setting up a subordinate discipline, and the correcting and reforming the liturgy, so as to leave nothing justly exceptionable, in all probability it had been patiently borne, and the confusions the nation afterwards run into had been prevented. For Bp. Usher, Williams, and Morton, and many other episcopal divines, agreed with them in certain points of reformation; and, if these would have sufficed, were likely to have fallen in heartily with the parliament's interest. But finding an universal change insisted upon, and that nothing short of the utmost extremity would satisfy, they turned against the parliament and their interest, and were as much displeased as any. Mr. The king marching from Nottingham to Shrewsbury, filled up his army out of Shropshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, and Wales. And the Earl of Essex marched with a gallant army to Worcester, A. D. 1642. Many excellent divines were chaplains to the several regiments. Mr. Stephen Marshal and Dr. Burgess, to the general's own regiments. Mr. Obadiah Sedgwick, to Col. Hollis's regiment. Dr. Calibute Downing, to Lord Roberts's regiments. Mr. John Sedgwick, to the Earl of Stamford's regiment. Dr. Spurstow, to Mr. Hampden's. Mr. Perkins, to Col. Goodwin's. Mr. Moor, to Lord Wharton's. Adoniram Byfield, to Sir Henry Cholmley's. Mr. Nalton, to Col. Grantham's. Mr. Simeon Ashe, either to Lord Brook's or the Earl of Manchester's. Mr. Morton of Newcastle, with Sir Arthur Hasilrigg's troop; with many more. On October the 23d, 1642, was the battle at EdgeHill, between the two armies; in which the advantage was on the parliament's side. The king's army drew off towards Oxford, and Essex's towards Coventry, for refreshment. There were many other battles, described by the historians of those times, who may be consulted by such as desire further information. The great cause of the parliament's strength, and the king's ruin, was, that the debauched rabble thro' the land, emboldened by his gentry, and seconded by the common soldiers soldiers of his army, took all that were called Puritans for their enemies. And though some of the king's gentry and superior officers behaved with civility, that was no security to the country, while the multitude did what they listed. So that if any one was noted for a strict and famous preacher, or for a man of piety, he was either plundered or abused, and in danger of his life. And if a man did but pray in his family, or repeat a sermon, or sing a psalm, they presently cried out Rebels, roundheads, &c. and all their money and portable goods were proved guilty, how innocent soever they were themselves. This filled the armies and garrisons of the parliament with sober, pious men. Thousands had no mind to meddle with the wars, but greatly desired to live peaceably at home, but the rage of soldiers and drunkards would not suffer them. Some stayed till they had been imprisoned; some till they had been twice or thrice plundered, and had nothing left them. Some were quite tired out with the abuse of all that were quartered on them; and some by the insolence of their neighbours. But most were afraid of their lives; and so sought refuge in the parliament's garrisons. After the war had been carried on for some time, with great uncertainty in what it would issue; there was at length a great change made on the parliament's side, which had considerable consequences. The Earl of Essex, being weakened by a great loss in Cornwall, was laid by, and another general chosen. One reason given for this change was, the dissoluteness of many of his soldiers, who were grown too much like the king's in profaneness and lewdness: and besides, it was urged, that the revolt of Sir F. Fortescue, Sir R. Greenville, Colonel Urry, and others, was a sufficient evidence that they who had not a sense of religion, were not much to be trusted, but might easily be hired by money to betray them. It was discovered, that the earl's judgment was against ending the war by the sword, and that he and the wisest men about him, were for aiming only to force a pacificatory treaty. But the main spring of the alteration was, the prevalence of the Sectarian interest in the house, joined with Cromwell's in the army, which now began to carry all before it. Many honest and intelligent people indeed were for new modelling the army, putting out the looser men, and taking in those who were more strict and sober; but Vane and Cromwell joining together, carried on their own particular interest successfully. The method they took for compassing this design without disturbance, by |