Page:History of the Nonjurors.djvu/458

440 them; but the Government interposed to prevent the execution of the sentence. Such was the state of the Episcopal Clergy in Scotland during the reign of King William.

On the accession of Queen Anne, the Clergy expected some relief: but for some time they were subjected to disappointment, in consequence of the active opposition of the Presbyterians, who never failed to represent them, if they scrupled the Oaths, as ready to enter into a rebellion, or, if they took the Oaths, as still disaffected to the Government. The Queen, however, in 1702, addressed a Letter to the Privy Council, in which she expressed her wish, that the Episcopal Clergy should be permitted the free exercise of public worship: for she knew well, that hostility to Episcopacy was the cause of the hatred entertained by the Presbyterians. The Episcopal Clergy, therefore, presented an address to her Majesty, in which, after expressing their satisfaction at having a Queen of their ancient race of Kings, they beseech her to give liberty to those parishes, whose inhabitants were chiefly Episcopalians, to select ministers of their own principles. The next year another address was presented, in which they mention the sufferings of the Clergy in 1688 and 1689, and subsequent years. The Queen returned them a very kind and gracious answer.