passed, by which every Episcopal Clergyman, exercising his functions without taking the Oaths, was subjected to imprisonment for the first offence, and for the second, to transportation. Every assemblage of five persons was deemed by the Act an Episcopal Meeting.[1] Hitherto the laity had escaped: but in 1746 all persons frequenting such illegal meetings were commanded to give information, under a penalty of fine and imprisonment. In 1748, the Act was revised, when it was enacted, that none but English or Irish Letters of Orders should be deemed sufficient to qualify any minister for the exercise of his Office in Scotland. The injustice of this clause was so obvious, that it was opposed by all the English Bishops. Still it was carried. The Clergy could not perform divine service in any place except their own houses. For a time, therefore, the Clergy could only act in the most private manner; but at length the Government began to relax in their vigilance, knowing that the Episcopalians were quiet and peaceable, though they did not take the Oaths. The Bishops, however, took care to continue the succession, appointing others as vacancies occurred.[2]
- ↑ Skinner, ii. 663–665. It is a curious fact, that, notwithstanding the hostility of the Presbyterians to the English Liturgy, several editions of the Book of Common Prayer were printed at Edinburgh by the King's Printer. They must have been used by the Episcopal congregations: but it is remarkable that the Presbyterian authorities did not interpose. The books are scarce, yet I have no less than four copies, all different editions, printed between the years 1719 and 1761,–one by Watson, 1719, another by the same, 1720, one by Basket, 1727, and another by Watkins, 1761. They are small editions, and beautifully printed.
- ↑ Skinner, ii. 670, 671. The trials to which the Clergy were exposed are detailed with much minuteness in the Life of Skinner, the author of the Ecclesiastical History. "The writer of this memoir," says his biographer, "has often heard him tell, that on
