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| ( 14 )
have attained the ƒame, if the In- dulgence granted them, had not brought them together from the Weƒt- Indies, ƒo that they appeared in far greater numbers than could well have been believed to be yet remain- ing after ƒo long a tract of Diƒcou- ragement. They not only were joyned together, but many that never were of that Profeƒƒion before, joyned with them, as all the diƒ- contented of the Nation has ever done ƒince the Revolution, making Religion alway the Pretext of gain- ing their other Ends. The Jealouƒy of the Catholicks did not a little heighten the Diƒcon- tents of both theƒe Parties likewiƒe, and tho' they were not ƒo afraid of them as of each other, becauƒe of their ƒmall number, yet with very uneaƒie Eyes, they beheld them co- ming into the chief Poƒts, both in Civil and Military Imployments ; and the Presbyterians, by the Liber- ty granted to all, had their ƒhare, and were alƒo admitted into Imploy- ments which they had never before, but when neceƒƒity compelled for- mer Kings; yet they were ƒo far from | ( 15 )
from being thankful for it, that both in their Pulpits and Converƒation, they openly declared they thought themƒelves nothing obliged to any Tolleration they had, it being given to introduce the Catholicks and ruin Proteƒtants among themƒelves; nor were theƒe Jealouƒies and Appre- henƒions only among the Clergy. For after your Majeƒty had given Warrant to the Chancellor, Viƒcount of T____, and my ƒelf, to enquire of all the Officers of State, Judges, and Officers of the Army, their O- pinion and Conƒent, for taking off the Penal Laws and Teƒts; moƒt of them, tho' they conƒented to it, yet had ƒuch a cruel Apprehenƒion of o- ther things farther to be preƒs'd upon them, that it made them extremely uneaƒie, and the turning our of Sir G____ M_____ from being your Advocate, and the Lord Harruƒs and Edmiƒtoun from the Seƒƒion, for refu- ƒing to convent to what was offer'd, heightened extremely the Humour, for they were eƒteemed of the great- eƒt Integrity and Learning of that Judicatory, and it ƒeems not without reaƒon, for tho' they were humo- rous |