other places; but the particulars will be reserved for

another chapter.

CHAPTER XVI.

Sequestration of Ministers.-Ejection of Masters and Professors from the University of Cambridge.

FROM the time of taking the covenant the virtual dissolution of the English hierarchy may be dated; although the actual repeal by an ordinance of Parliament did not take place until some time afterwards. And when the archbishop of Canterbury was suspended for disobedience to the orders of Parliament, all collation to benefices was by the nomination and order of the two Houses. But as soon as the Westminster Assembly were convened, all ecclesiastical matters, by direction of Parliament, went through their hands. The parishes elected their ministers, the Assembly examined and approved them, and the Parliament confirmed them in their benefices. This created much business for the Assembly, and after a while occupied the greater portion of their time, for the number of persons who applied for sequestered livings was very great. To facilitate this business, they were obliged to choose a select committee to attend to it. The names of this committee were, the Rev. Dr. Gouge, Dr. Staunton, Dr. Lightfoot, Dr. Smith, Dr. Temple, Dr. Packney, Dr. Hayle, Dr. Burges, Dr. Spurstow, Mr. Sey, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Conant, Mr. Garver, Mr. Colman, Mr. Hill, Mr. Corteel, Mr. Gataker, Mr. Herle, Mr. Hall, Mr. Whitaker, Mr. Bathurst, and Mr. Cheynell.

"The method of examination," says Neal, "was this: the names of the ministers who petitioned for livings, or were recommended by either House of Parliament, being published in the Assembly two or three days before the examination, liberty was given

in that time to make exceptions to their character. If nothing was objected, they were examined by the aforesaid committee, or any five of them, who reported their qualifications to the Assembly, and they then received a certificate of recommendation to the parish for which the application was made; and the scribes were directed to keep an exact list of all ministers recommended to sequestered livings, and to enter the same in a book kept for that purpose.

From Dr. Lightfoot's Journal, it appears that these candidates were required to preach before the committee as one part of their trials; and such trial sermons were often delivered several days in the week, so great was the number of candidates.

The sequestration of ecclesiastical livings, which made so many vacancies, was chiefly owing to the fact, that many of the clergy took part in the civil dispute with the king; and when their livings were situated in a place under the power of the Parliament, they either forsook them, or were ejected as being hostile to the Parliament. But it appears, that at that time, there were in the church many incompetent ministers, and many whose lives were scandalous. These also were ejected, and qualified men substituted in their place.

The University of Oxford and also the town were devoted to the cause of the king; and here he held his court, and here was for a long time the headquarters for the army. The University of Cambridge was also friendly to the royal cause, but the town. was favourable to the Parliament, and the place was within their power. A committee of sequestration was appointed for the University of Cambridge, and for removing scandalous ministers in the seven associated counties. The ordinance appointing them, sets forth that the service of the Parliament was retarded, the people's souls starved by the idle, ill-affected, and scandalous clergy of the University of Cambridge, and the associated counties. The earl of Manchester, therefore, was empowered to appoint committees who should have authority to call before them all

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provosts, masters, and fellows of colleges, and all students of the university, all ministers in the counties of the association, and all school masters that were scandalous in their lives, or ill-affected to the Parliament, or fomenters of this unnatural war, or that shall wilfully refuse obedience to the orders of Parliament, or have deserted their ordinary places of residence, not being employed in the service of the king and Parliament. The said committee were also authorized to send for witnesses, and examine complaints against the fore-mentioned delinquents on oath, and to certify the names of the persons accused to the earl of Manchester, who shall have power to eject such as are unfit for their places; to sequester their estates, and to dispose of them as he shall think fit, and place others in their room, being first approved by the Assembly of divines at Westminster. He also had power to administer the covenant to whom he would, and to assign one fifth of the sequestered estates for the maintenance of the wives and children of delinquents.

The Earl of Manchester (formerly Lord Kimbolton) repaired in person to Cambridge, and required the heads of the several colleges to send him their statutes, with the names of their members, and to certify who were present, and who absent, with the express time of their discontinuance. The fellows of a number of the colleges were ejected, for non-residence, not returning after due summons, and for political misdemeanors. The covenant was used as a test, and offered to such as were suspected of being disaffected. The whole number expelled in this and following years, including masters and fellows, according to Dr. Walker, was little short of two hundred; which was something more than one half the graduate members. Out of sixteen heads of colleges, six by compliance kept their places. These were Dr. Bainbrigge of Christ's College, Dr. Eden of Trinity Hall, Dr. Richard Love of Bennet College, Dr. Brownrigge of Katherine Hall, (ejected in 1645,) Dr. Bachcroft of Caius College, and Dr. Rainbow of Magdalen

The only thing which bears an unfavourable aspect in these appointments, was, that almost all the masters were selected from the Assembly: but it may be said in apology for this, that the most learned divines in the country, who adhered to the Parliament, were in the Assembly; and again, that by being there, their talents came to be more fully and generally known.

The filling up the fellowships now vacated, was a more serious business. All candidates were examined by the Assembly, and in about six months the requisite number was made up. The University now enjoyed a delightful tranquillity and harmony; and learning and religion flourished in the several halls and colleges. Yet some of the writers of the King's party, have represented the change now made, as though the Goths and Vandals had invaded the University, and had reduced all things to confusion and anarchy; and had not left a vestige of true learning and discipline in the place.

The earl of Manchester also extended his visitation to the ministers of the seven associated counties, by giving a warrant to commissioners to proceed in examining into the several cases requiring their attention. To these he gave special instructions how to proceed in all the parts of the trial. And when any minister was, upon trial, convicted, report was made to the earl, who directed a warrant to the churchwardens of the parish, to eject him out of his parsonage, and all the profits thereof. At the same time he directed the parishioners to choose a proper minister for the vacant place, and upon their presentation he was sent to the Assembly of divines, with an account of his character, for their trial and examination. And upon a certificate from the Assembly, that they approved of him as an orthodox divine, and qualified to officiate in the pastoral function, his lordship issued his last warrant, authorizing and appointing him to teach, preach, and catechise; and to take possession of the church, parsonage, &c.

It is difficult to ascertain the number of ministers that were cast out of their livings during the war.