He now found that, unless he packed them again, he should not be able to obtain a decision in favour of the proceedings of his Ecclesiastical Commission.

He determined, therefore, to postpone for a short time the confiscation of the freehold property of refractory clergymen.

[102] The temper of the nation was indeed such as might well make him hesitate.

During some months discontent had been steadily and rapidly increasing.

The celebration of the Roman Catholic worship had long been prohibited by Act of Parliament.