In 1661, the increasing power of the Episcopalians subjected the Presbyterians, as yet the ascendant religion of the state, to an intolerant spirit, which they themselves had but recently vindicated; and it is an indisputable fact, that in 1648, Mr. Constantine attached his signature to a declaration on the part of the leading Presbyterian ministers of Lancashire, expressive of a detestation of toleration, as uncountenanced by the laws of God, and injurious to all the churches of Christ throughout the whole world. As in this document Mr. Constantine records himself as then minister of Oldham, the probability is, he was incumbent at the period Mr. Worthington was the officiating minister. Several conferences of bishops and Presbyterian ministers assembled in 1661, to restore the amity of the church, but proving unsuccessful, and the most powerful party in Parliament being the Episcopal, an act was passed which required that before St. Bartholomew's day, the 24th of August, 1662, every minister in the church should conform to the rites and ceremonies of the Episcopal religion. Mr. Constantine declining to accede to such conditions, was deprived of the beneiice, and appears to have been succeeded by a Mr. Loben, whose views being somewhat tinged with Presbyterianism, difficulties occurred before he was inducted. The ejected clergyman did not, like many other pastors in the same condition, begin public Nonconformist preaching, but at once retired into domestic quiet with his wife, Frances, daughter of Captain Robert Ashton, of Shepley. He occasionally delivered private addresses to such of the late church congregation as held his views, and several of these parties being resident at Greenacres, a congregation was formed there, or Presbyterian principles, with a leaning towards the doctrines of the Independents. Owing, however, to the rigorous spirit of two subsequent acts of Parliament, passed to enforce uniformity, Mr. Constantine was not properly enabled to become a legally recognised minister, till the indulgence act came

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