nds." (Spalding's "History of the Troubles in
Scotland," vol. i. p. 34. Aberdeen, 1792.) "As a body, the
presbyterians [in Ireland] suffered less by the ravages of the
rebellion than any other class. The more influential of their
ministers, and the principal part of their gentry, had previously
retired to Scotland to escape the tyranny of Strafford and the
severities of the bishops and were thus providentially preserved."
(Dr. Reid's "History of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland," vol. i,
p. 339.) After the execution of Charles I, an oath called the
_Engagement_, was framed by the English parliament, requiring all
persons to be "faithful to the commonwealth of England as now
established, without a king or house of lords." The Irish ministers
refused to take this oath. The republicans were irritated by this
refusal, and by the loyalty of the ministers, who publicly preached
against them. They therefore imprisoned some of the ministers, while
others fled to the woods, and some to Scotland. At length, at a
council of war held at Carrickfergus in March, 1651, a formal act of
banishment from the kingdom was passed against them. "Those that
staid in the country, though they could not exercise their ministry
orderly as formerly, and though their stipends were sequestered, yet
they, changing their apparel to the habit of countrymen, travelled
in their own parishes frequently, and sometimes in other places,
taking what opportunities they could to preach in the fields, or in
barns and glens, and were seldom in their own houses. They persuaded
the people to constancy in the received doctrines, in opposition to
the wild heresies which were then spreading, and reminding them of
their duty to their lawful magistrates, the king and parliament, in
opposition to the usurption of the times, and in their public
prayers always mentioning the lawful magistrate. This continued
throughout the summer of 1651, at which time there was diligent
search made anew for them. Some were again taken, others fled, and
those who were taken were imprisoned first, for a time, in
Carrickfergus, in lodgings where they quartered; and thereafter,
Colonel Venables not gaining any ground upon them, they were sent to
Scotland." Adair's MS. apud Dr. Reid's Hist. vol.