156

CHAP.

II.

EISTOET OP ENGLAND,

were never carried into full execution. Tlie Presbyteriansystem was fully established nowhere but in Middlesex andLancashire. In the other fifty counties, almost every parishseems to have been unconnected with the neighbouring pa-rishes. In some districts, indeed, the ministers formed them-selves into voluntary associations, for the purpose of mutualhelp and counsel; but these associations had no coercivepower. The patrons of livings, being now checked by neitherBishop nor Presbytery, would have been at liberty to confidethe cure of souls to the most scandalous of mankind, but forthe arbitrary intervention of Oliver. He established, by hisown authority, a board of commissioners, called Triers. Mostof these persons were Independent divines; but a few Presby-terian ministers and a few laymen had seats. The certificateof the Triers stood in the place both of institution and of in-duction ; and without such a certificate no person could hold abenefice. This was undoubtedly one of the most despoticacts ever done by any English ruler. Yet, as it was generallyfelt that, without some such precaution, the country would beoverrun by ignorant and drunken reprobates, bearing thename and receiving the pay of ministers, some highly respect-able persons, who were not in general friendly to Cromwell,allowed that, on this occasion, he had been a public benefactor.The presentees whom the Triers had approved took possessionof the rectories, cultivated the glebe lands, collected thetithes, prayed without book or surplice, and administered theEucharist to communicants seated at long tables.

Thus the ecclesiastical polity of the realm was in inex-tricable confusion. Episcopacy was the form of governmentprescribed by the old law which was still unrepealed. Theform of government prescribed by parliamentary ordinancewas Presbyterian. But neither the old law nor the parliamen-tary ordinance was practically in force. The Church actuallyestablished may be described as an irregular body made up of