Page:History of the Nonjurors.djvu/468

450. Like De Foe, the writer pretends that the individual was not imprisoned for reading the Liturgy: but for exercising his ministry without authority. He would not however have been disturbed but for the Liturgy. The author deprecates the depriving of the Church of Scotland of the power to call any preachers to account, whether Episcopalians or Presbyterians: adding, that this power was once possessed and ought to be continued. To prove the moderation of Presbytery, he subjoins a list of Episcopal Clergymen, who, at that time, occupied Churches and Manses. This privilege, however, was granted by the Parliament, not by the Scottish Church, which used all its exertions to prevent any such indulgence. "To show how little cause the Episcopal party in Scotland have to complain of the Presbyterians there for want of moderation, 'tis thought fit to add the following list, wherein those marked N. J. are Nonjurors, who don't pray for the Queen." There are one hundred and twelve names in the list, of which ten only are marked as Nonjurors. Then it is added, "besides a great many others, that preach in meeting houses, where some pray for the Pretender: others, who do not refuse to pray for the Queen: and some pray only for their Sovereign, without naming any body, but mean the Pretender."

No one doubts that many Episcopal Clergymen retained their benefices: but no merit can be pleaded