CHARLES L 139

They were lodged in the city, and kept anintimate correspondence , as well with the magis-trates, who were extremely disaffected, as withthe popular leaders in both houses. St. Antho-line’s church was assigned them for their devo-tions; and their chaplains, here, began openly topractise the presbyterian form of worship, which,except in foreign languages, had never hithertobeen allowed any indulgence or toleration. Soviolent was the general propensity towards thisnew religion, that multitudes of all ranks crowd-ed to the church. Those, who were so happyas to find access early in the morning, kept theirplaces the whole day: Those, who were exclud-ed, clung to the doors or.windows, in hopesof catching, at least, some distant murmur orbroken phrases of the holy rhetoric ' All theeloquence of parliament, now well refined frompedantry, animated with the spirit of liberty,and employed in the most important interests,was not attended to with such insatiable avidity,as were these lectures, delivered with ridiculouscant, and a provincial accent, full of barbarismand of ignorance.

The most effectual expedient for paying courtto the zealous Scots was to promote the presby-terian discipline and worship throughout Eng-land and to this innovation, the popular leadersamong the commons , as well as their moredevoted partisans, were, of themselves, sufficiently

31 Clarendon, vol. i. p. 189.

H A ff.

1IV.

1649.