the political history of england during the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries - Tapa blanda

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1837 edition. Excerpt: ... Court, and justified the newly-founded royal papacy, for which it was gratefully allowed to employ it in many points for its own advantage. Laud, in particular, acted in this spirit with that vehemence which is usually produced by firm conviction and narrow views. The Roman Catholics, pressed on all sides, hoped for the protection of the Queen; while the King was not inclined either to offend the Protestants or to violate his coronation oath. And yet this was done, when he dispensed with the Ecclesiastical Laws for money, and endeavoured to secure the assent of the Catholics to his absolute mode of government. For this, the latter became doubly odious; and besides, were divided among themselves into a Jesuitical and an Antijesuitical party. When Laud, to make the celebration of divine worship more solemn, caused paintings, crosses, altars, &c. to be restored, he was called a papist though he certainly never thought of laying his power at the feet of Rome. When he and the King allowed all kinds of diversions on Sunday, this was called promoting the most horrible corruption of morals, though no more was intended than to prevent gloomy austerity, and arbitrary condemnation of what was innocent. C5) Laud certainly acted in all respects without tact, and everything that he did to make the clergy more respected, for instance, conferring many offices upon them, only exposed them to envy and doubled the reproaches of the Puritans against the worldly-mindedness and corruption of the Episcopal Church. "We are called Puritans," said they, "because we desire consistently to complete the reformation which has stopped half-way, and to restore corrupted Christianity to its pristine purity; because we courageously defend the laws and liberties of the country,...