Page:History of the Nonjurors.djvu/445

Rh The very attempts of the Defenders of the Presbyterians prove the truth of the Charges: and the anxiety of some of their writers to palliate or explain away the conduct of the rabble, with the tacit admissions of others, may be regarded as evidence of the substantial accuracy of the statements of the sufferings of the Episcopal Clergy. "A great part of the ministers of the nation, legally and ecclesiastically settled in their churches, were, without being accused, convicted or judged for any fault, turned out with their wives and infants in the winter season, from their houses, offices, and livings, in a most unworthy and reproachful manner by insolent rabbles, against which the Presbyterian ministers did never remonstrate, nor has there been to this day any kind of redress of a barbarity so unbecoming a Christian nation."

But in addition to this treatment from the mob, they were subjected to oppressions from the Presbyterians, who were anxious to remove all the Episcopal Clergy. In the first General Assembly after the Revolution, it was attempted to exclude all persons from being present, except the friends of Presbytery. "If any of the Episcopal party were discovered, there was a cry presently, Conformists are here: and the officers were sent to thrust them out." Some few