MEMORIALS OF THE STUART DYNASTY, INCLUDING THE CONSTITUTIONAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL History of England, FROM THE DECEASE OF ELIZABETH TO THE ABDICATION OF JAMES II. BY ROBERT VAUGHAN, AUTHOR OF "THE LIFE AND OPINIONS OF WYCLIFFE." IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: HOLDSWORTH AND BALL, 18, ST. PAUL'S CHUCH-YARD. M DCCCXXXI. THE revolution of 1688 is the acknowledged epoch of our civil and religious liberties. That revolution, though accomplished with little effort and without commotion, was the result of a protracted struggle in behalf of popular rights, and of one maintained chiefly by religious men. In its earlier stages this patriotic contention derived its main strength from the puritans; and to the last, when it received important aid from members of the established church, it was an object of the utmost solicitude with the body of English nonconformists; nor is there any hazard in saying that their weight was then found sufficient to turn the scale on the better side. The influence of these parties, and especially of the puritans and their descendants, on the great questions of civil freedom, and liberty of conscience, is a topic of inquiry equally curious |