Let us suppose, however, that he exaggerated a little, and that old George was the victim of circumstances.[1] [Footnote 1: Commons Journals of dates, and generally from Feb.

21 to March 16; Ludlow, 855-856.] A large proportion of the proceedings of the House and the Council may be described as simply a re-establishment of Presbyterianism.

The secluded members being Presbyterians to a man, there was at once an enthusiastic recollection of the edicts of the Long Parliament between 1643 and 1648, setting up Presbytery as the national Religion, with a determination to revert in detail to those symbols and forms of the Presbyterian system which the triumph of Independency had set aside during the Commonwealth, and which had been allowed only partially, and side by side with their contraries, in the broad Church-Establishment of the Protectorate.

The unanimity and rapidity of the House in their votes in this direction must have alarmed the Independents and Sectaries.

It was on Feb.