The jurisdiction of presbyteries, synods, and other democratical courts, was in a manner abolished by the bishops; and the general assembly itself had not been summoned for several years.[****] A new oath was arbitrarily imposed on intrants, by which they swore to observe the articles of Perth, and submit to the liturgy and canons.

And in a word, the whole system of church government, during a course of thirty years, had been changed by means of the innovations introduced by James and Charles.
* King's Declaration, p.7.Franklyn, p, 611.
** King's Declaration, p.

6.
*** Burnet's Mem., p.

29, 30.
**** May, p.

29.
The people, under the influence of the nobility and clergy, could not fail to partake of the discontents which prevailed among these two orders; and where real grounds of complaint were wanting, they greedily laid hold of imaginary ones.