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xcii Itinerant preachers were appointed by the Commissioners rather than a settled ministry, and a great number of the parishes were provided with preachers selected from the humbler class of the population.

When the Act expired in 1653, Oliver Cromwell authorized the Commissioners to "go on cheerfully in the work as formerly, to promote these good things, and to protect men in the said work." This they did until the restoration of the Second.

A.D. 1649.—Later, the third statute, "An Act for the admitting of the six Counties of to a general composition for their delinquency," was passed in 1649 "at the humble and earnest request of divers of the inhabitants of the said Counties." The total sum inflicted as fines upon these Counties was £24,000, made up as follows:—

to be paid to the Treasurers at War for the army. Commissioners were appointed in each county for the purposes of the Act, and there were provisions therein excepting certain classes of delinquents from any pardon or benefits. Compensation was also to be made to certain persons who had "done very good and faithful service to the Commonwealth, some of them having had their houses burnt, and their whole estates kept from them for divers years by the enemy (to their total ruin) for their affection to the Parliament."

A.D. 1659.—The fourth statute, passed in 1659, was "An Act for taking the accounts and redressing of grievances