"In those days all non-conformists were a deal more down-trodden than they are now.
"The Devil's Garden"
W. B. Maxwell
At the very first meeting of the conference, he is reported to have said that "as the Non-conformists, and not the bishops, had sought for the conference, nothing could be done till the former had delivered their exceptions in writing, together with the additional forms and alterations which they desired."
"A Short History of the Book of Common Prayer"
William Reed Huntington
Finding, however, that, though he was very cool and patient, I made no great way in the business of the Dissenters, I turned myself to try whether, falling in with his maxims, some modification might not be found, the hint of which I received from your letter relative to the Irish Militia Bill, and the point I labored was so to alter the clause as to repeal the test quoad military and revenue offices: for these being only subservient parts in the economy and execution, rather than the administration of affairs, the politic, civil, and judicial parts would still continue in the hands of the conformists to religious establishments.
"The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. VI. (of 12)"
Edmund Burke