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HISTORY OP ENGLAND.

cnA p . Round the building where the little flock was gathered together— nisiT - sentinels were posted to give the alarm if a stranger drew near.The minister in disguise was introduced through the gardenand the back yard. In some houses there were trap doorsthrough which, in case of danger, he might descend. WhereNonconformists lived next door to each other, the walls wereoften broken open, and secret passages were made fromdwelling to dwelling. No psalm was sung; and many con-trivances were used to prevent the voice of the preacher, inhis moments of fervour, from being heard beyond the walls.Yet, with all this care, it was often found impossible to eludethe vigilance of informers. In the suburbs of London, espe-cially, the law was enforced with the utmost rigour. Severalopulent gentlemen were accused of holding conventicles.Their houses were strictly searched, and distresses werelevied to the amount of many thousands of pounds. Thefiercer and bolder sectaries, thus driven from the shelter ofroofs, met in the open air, and determined to repel force byforce. A Middlesex justice, who had learned that a nightlyprayer meeting was held in a gravel pit about two miles fromLondon, took with him a strong body of constables, broke inupon the assembly, and seized the preacher. But the congre-gation, which consisted of about two hundred men, soonrescued their pastor, and put the magistrate and his officersto flight.* This, however, was no ordinary occurrence. Ingeneral the Puritan spirit seemed to be more effectually cowedat this conjuncture than at any moment before or since. TheTory pamphleteers boasted that not one fanatic dared to movetongue or pen in defence of his religious opinions. Dissentingministers, however blameless in life, however eminent forlearning and abilities, could not venture to walk the streetsfor fear of outrages, which were not only not repressed, butencouraged, by those whose duty it was to preserve the peace.

* • Citlers, Ocl. R, 1085.