quality: the women took part, and, as was usual, with violence:
the clergy every where loudly declaimed against Popery and the liturgy,
which they represented as the same: the pulpits resounded with vehement
invectives against Antichrist: and the populace, who first opposed the
service, was often compared to Balaam's ass, an animal in itself stupid
and senseless, but whose mouth had been opened by the Lord, to the
admiration of the whole world. In short, fanaticism mingling with
faction, private interest with the spirit of liberty, symptoms appeared
on all hands of the most dangerous insurrection and disorder.

* King's Decl. p. 35, 36 etc. Rush. vol. ii. p. 404.

The primate, a man of wisdom and prudence, who was all along averse to
the introduction of the liturgy, represented to the king the state of
the nation: the earl of Traquaire, the treasurer, set out for London,
in order to lay the matter more fully before him: every circumstance,
whether the condition of England or of Scotland were considered, should
have engaged him to desist from so hazardous an attempt: yet was Charles
inflexible. In his whole conduct of this affair, there appear no marks
of the good sense with which he was endowed: a lively instance of that
species of character so frequently to be met with; where there are found
parts and judgment in every discourse and opinion; in many actions,
indiscretion and imprudence. Men's views of things are the result
of their understanding alone: their conduct is regulated by their
understanding, their temper, and their passions.

{1638.} To so violent a combination of a whole kingdom, Charles had
nothing to oppose but a proclamation; in which he pardoned all past
offences, and exhorted the people to be more obedient for the future,
and to submit peaceably to the use of the liturgy. This proclamation was
instantly encountered with a public protestation, presented by the earl
of Hume and Lindesey: and this was the first time that men of quality
had appeared in any violent act of opposition.[*] But this proved a
crisis. The insurrection, which had been advancing by a gradual and slow
progress, now blazed up at once. No disorder, however, attended it. On
the contrary, a new order immediately took place. Four "tables," as
they were called, were formed in Edinburgh. One consisted of nobility,
another of gentry, a third of ministers, a fourth of burgesses. The
table of gentry was divided into many subordinate tab