Note 70 — Chapter III
Reading edition
The Acts and Resolves of Parliament for taking the Engagement were repealed the 19th of January, 1653-4, and the repeal was confirmed in 1656.—Scobell, 277.
The following letter is an example of the way in which Presbyterian ministers availed themselves of this change to recover benefices forfeited by refusing the Engagement:—
"Mr. Sympson,
"If the order (by colour of which you invaded my church) did give you (which I confess I could never understand) any power to do so, the late revolution hath made it void and null; and the Lord Protector having taken to his sword a sceptre, and consented and sworn to govern according to law, and not otherwise, I conceive it to be my duty to ... let you hereby know that ... I am legal incumbent of the place; in pursuance whereof, I am resolved to return on Lord's Day afternoon, at the usual hour of public worship, to my own church, and therefore desire you to cease your future pains in that place, and signify so much to your friends, that we may have no disturbance: and if you conceive you have any right in the place, commence your action; you shall receive in any court of judicature a plea from him who is resolved to defend his own just privilege, and give an account of his reasons to the world.
"Zach. Crofton.
"The next Lord's Day, being the 2nd of August, I intend to preach at my own church between one and two of the clock, afternoon."—State Papers.
Amongst petitions and other papers in the Record Office, Dom. Interreg., vol. 677, 371, is the following from the Earl of Worcester, shewing the style in which the Protector was addressed:—
"May it please your Excellency,
"The obstacle which hindered many your Excellency's just and laudable intentions for the common welfare being now by God's providence and your Excellency's unparalleled endeavours removed, I make these my most humble addresses to your Excellency (to whose ears were my condition rightly made known), not doubting of redress, and in deed and effectually to receive what the late Council of State put me in daily hopes [of], which my humble petition will in part declare. For I can aver that no subject in England hath been so hardly dealt with; but having recourse to the fountain head of mercy and nobleness, whose crystalline waters may now run without interruption, my heart is elevated with hopes, not only to receive obligations thereunto, but also an opportunity to make evident how much I am ambitious to appear your Excellency's most humble and obliged servant,
"Worcester."
There are several other petitions from this Earl and his Countess.