the Earl of Strafford, for Archbishop Laud, and for Charles I.;* but his Majesty not acknowledging the jurisdiction of the court, he had no opportunity of displaying his eloquence in the royal cause. On the other hand, in the defence of Lord Cravent he pleaded with such strength of argument, that the Attorney General menaced him for appearing against the government; upon which he boldly replied, that he was pleading in defence of those laws, which the government had declared they would maintain and preserve, and he was doing his duty to his client; so that he was not to be daunted by threatenings.' In 1643, he took the Covenant, ‡ and

This royal clientship however, though stated by Burnet, is reasonably questioned by Thirlwall, from it's being unconfirmed by any other writer. It does not, indeed, appear that Charles called in any lawyer to his assistance.

+ He was counsel, also, for the Duke of Hamilton, the Earl of Holland, and Lord Capel.

‡ Of this measure, at first sight so inconsistent with his principles as a Churchman, if not with his feelings as a Christian, Mr. Thirlwall has given an able vindication, pp. 130, 131. He candidly and justly owns however, that for his subsequent conduct in taking the Engagement (an obligation, directly contradictory both in letter and spirit to his previous acceptance of the Covenant) he is at a loss, with all his admiration of Hale's character, and all his conviction of his integrity, for reasons to exculpate him from the charges of pusillanimity, selfishness, or versatility. Some account of the Instrument in question, which so strongly marked the complexion of the times and the religious sentiments of the prevailing party, with the Instrument itself (as not. unlikely to interest, at least, younger readers, who may not have had an opportunity of perusing it) is subjoined:

In 1661, we may premise from Rapin, the two Houses of Parliament ordered that this document should be burned by the common hangman (which was performed with great rejoicings) as, also, the Act mentioned below for subscribing the Engagement against a King and a House of Peers.'

sat several times with other laymen in the assembly of divines. He was then in great esteem with the

"In 1643, after the flames of civil war had broken out, and the King and the Parliament had made an appeal to the sword, the latter published an ordinance, calling an Assembly of Divines and Laymen to be held at Westminster, to be consulted by both Houses, for settling the government and liturgy of the Church of England. This measure was adopted for the purpose of smoothing the way for the reception of the Commissioners from the General Assembly of Scotland, and treating upon the subject of an union of the Churches. The two nations entered into a mutual League and Covenant, and the Assembly of Divines were ordered by both Houses to frame an exhortation to the taking of the Covenant, to be publicly read in every church. It was directed to be printed and published, and appointed to be taken by all the members of parliament and the Assembly of Divines, which was performed with great solemnity.

"A solemn League and Covenant for Reformation and Defence of Religion, the Honour and Happiness of the King, and the Peace and Safety of the three Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland:

"We noblemen, barons, knights, gentlemen, citizens, burgesses, ministers of the gospel, and commons of all sorts, in the kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, by the providence of God living under one king, and being of one reformed religion, having before our eyes the glory of God and the advancement of the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the honour and happiness of the King's Majesty and his posterity, and the true public liberty, safety, and peace of the kingdoms, wherein every one's private condition is included; and calling to mind the treacherous and bloody plots, conspiracies, attempts, and practices of the enemy of God against the true religion and professors thereof in all places, especially in these three kingdoms, ever since the reformation of religion, and how much their rage, power, and presumption are of late and at this time increased and exercised; whereof the deplorable estate of the Church and Kingdom of Ireland, the distressed estate of the Church and Kingdom of England, and the dangerous estate of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland are present and public testimonies: we have (now at last) after other means of supplication, remonstrance, protestations, and sufferings for the pre

parliament, and employed by them as a lawyer upon many important affairs. In particular, he was ap

servation of ourselves and our religion from utter ruin and destruction, according to the commendable practice of these kingdoms in former times and the example of God's people in other nations, after a mature deliberation resolved and determined to enter into a mutual and solemn League and Covenant, wherein we all subscribe, and each one of us for himself with our hands lifted up to the most high God do swear:

“1. That we shall sincerely, really, and constantly through the grace of God endeavour in our several places and callings the preservation of the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland in doctrine, worship, discipline, and government against our common enemies, the reformation of religion in the kingdom of England and Ireland in doctrine, worship, discipline, and government according to the word of God, and the example of the best reformed Churches; and we shall endeavour to bring the Churches of God in the Three Kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in religion, confessing of faith, form of church-government, directory for worship and catechising, that we and our posterity after us may as brethren live in faith and love, and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us.

"2. That we shall in like manner, without respect of person, endeavour the extirpation of popery, prelacy (that is, churchgovernment by Archbishops, Bishops, their Chancellors and Commissiaries, Deans, Deans and Chapters, Archdeacons, and all other ecclesiastical officers depending on that hierarchy), superstition, heresy, schisms, profaneness, and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound doctrine and the power of godliness; lest we partake in other men's sins, and thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues, and that the Lord may be one, and his name one, in the Three Kingdoms.

"3. We shall with the same sincerity, reality, and constancy in our several vocations endeavour with our estates and lives mutually to preserve the rights and privileges of the parliaments, and the liberties of the Kingdoms; and to preserve and defend the King's Majesty's person and authority, in the preservation and defence of the true religion and liberties of the Kingdom; that the world may bear witness with our consciences of our VOL. IV.

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pointed one of the Commissioners to treat on the reduction of Oxford. In this capacity he performed.

loyalty; and that we have no thoughts or intention to diminish his Majesty's just power and greatness.

“4. We shall also, with all faithfulness, endeavour the discovery of all such as have been or shall be incendiaries, malignants, or evil instruments by hindering the reformation of religion, dividing the King from his people or one of the Kingdoms from another, or making factions or parties among the people contrary to this League and Covenant; that they may be brought to public trial, and receive condign punishment as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve, or the supreme judicatories of both kingdoms respectively, or others having power from them for that effect, shall judge convenient.

"5. And whereas the happiness of a blessed peace between these Kingdoms, desired in former times to our progenitors, is by the good providence of God granted unto us, and hath been lately concluded and settled by both parliaments; we shall each. one of us, according to our place and interests, endeavour that they may remain conjoined in a firm peace and union to all posterity, and that justice may be done upon the wilful opposers thereof in manner expressed in the precedent articles.

"6. We shall also, according to our places and callings, in this common cause of religion, liberty, and peace of the Kingdoms assist and defend all those who enter into this League and Covenant, in maintaining and pursuing thereof: and shall not suffer ourselves directly or indirectly, by whatsoever combination, persuasion, or terror, to be divided and withdrawn from this blessed union and conjunction; whether to make defection on the contrary part, or to give ourselves to a detestable indifferency or neutrality in this cause, which so much concerneth the glory of God, the good of the Kingdom, and the honour of the King; but shall all the days of our lives zealously and constantly continue therein against all opposition, and promote the same according to our power against all lets and impediments whatsoever; and what we ourselves are not able to sup press or overcome, we shall reveal or make it known, that it be timely prevented or removed: all which we shall do, as in the sight of God.

may

"And because these Kingdoms are guilty of many sins, and

a signal service to the republic of letters, by prevailing upon General Fairfax to spare the University with all it's ancient treasures of learning.

Though he sincerely lamented the fate of Charles I., he yet thought it his duty to take the Engagement to the Commonwealth; and, in 1652, he was. elected by the parliament with some others to revise and reform the laws of England.

Cromwell, upon his appointment to the Protectorship, rightly judging that the countenance of Mr.

provocations against God and his son Jesus Christ, as is too manifest by our present distresses and dangers, and the fruits thereof, we profess and declare before God and the world our unfeigned desire to be humbled for our sins, and for the sins of these Kingdoms especially; that we have not as we ought valued the inestimable benefit of the Gospel, that we have not laboured for the purity and power thereof, and that we have not endeavoured to receive Christ in our hearts, nor to walk worthy of him in our lives, which are the causes of other sins and transgressions, so much abounding among us; and our true and unfeigned purpose, desire, and endeavour for ourselves and all others under our power and charge both in public and in private, and in all duties we owe to God and man to amend our lives, and each one to go before another in the example of a real reformation, that the Lord may turn away his wrath and heavy indignation, and establish these churches and kingdoms in truth and peace. And this Covenant we make in the presence of Almighty God the searcher of all hearts, with a true intention to perform the same, as we shall answer at that great day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed; most humbly beseeching the Lord to strengthen us by his Holy Spirit to this end, and to bless our desires and proceedings with such success as may be deliverance and safety to his people, and encouragement to other Christian Churches groaning under or in danger of the yoke of Anti-christian tyranny, to join in the same or like Association or Covenant, to the glory of God, the enlargement of the kingdom of Jesus Christ, and the peace and tranquillity of Christian kingdoms and commonwealths."