well acquainted, having sometimes formerly used him not only in his
way of trade, but to carry letters between my brother and me when he
was a student in that University, for which he was always paid; and
had been so careful in the delivery that our letters had always gone
safe until now. But this time (Providence so ordering, or at least
for my trial permitting it) this letter of mine, instead of being
delivered according to its direction, was seized and carried, as I
was told, to the Lord Faulkland, who was then called Lord Lieutenant
of that county.

The occasion of this stopping of letters at that time was that mad
prank of those infatuated fifth-monarchy men, who from their
meeting-house in Coleman Street, London, breaking forth in arms,
under the command of their chieftain Venner, made an insurrection in
the city, on pretence of setting up the kingdom of Jesus, who, it is
said, they expected would come down from heaven to be their leader;
so little understood they the nature of his kingdom, though he
himself had declared it was not of this world.

The King, a little before his arrival in England, had by his
declaration from Breda given assurance of liberty to tender
consciences, and that no man should be disquieted or called in
question for difference of opinion in matters of religion which do
not disturb the peace of the kingdom. Upon this assurance
dissenters of all sorts relied, and held themselves secure. But
now, by this frantic action of a few hot-brained men, the King was
by some holden discharged from his royal word and promise, in his
foregoing declaration publicly given. And hereupon letters were
intercepted and broken open, for discovery of suspected plots and
designs against the government; and not only dissenters meetings' of