494 The HISTORY of the PURITANS. Chap, U, Kingjamesl. the laws of their country, and the freedom of debates in parliament, The 1621. king returned thema long anfwer, which concludes with denying them, what they call their ancient andundozebted rzght and inheritance. The com- mons in debate upon his majefìy's anfwer, drew up a proteflation in main. tenance of their claim, and caufed it to be entered in their journal book. Upon this the king being come to London, declared in council the pro- teltation to be null, and with great indignation tore it out of the book with his own hand. A few days after he diffolved the parliament, and ifiued Winn, a proclamation, forbidding his fubjecfis to talk of fiate affairs. He all() p. 150. committed the leading members to prifon, as Sir Edward Coke, Sir Rapin, Robert Philips, Mr. Seiden, Mr. Pym, and Mr. Mallery ; others were p 493' Pent into Ireland, and the earls of Oxford and Southampton were confined in the Tower. 1622. The king having parted with his parliament, was at liberty to gratify again the Spaniard, by indulging the papifts ; for this purpofe the lord steeper a a s re- laxed. Williams, by his majefty's command, wrote to all the judges, that in Fuller, " their feveral circuits they difcharge all prifoners for church recufancy; R. X. p. ioi. " or for refufing the oath of fupremacy ; or for difperfing popifh books; " or hearing or faying mafs ; or for any other point of recufancy that " concerned religion only." Accordingly the jefuits and popifh recufants of all forts were enlarged, to the number (lays Mr. Prynne) of four thoufand; all profecutions were Rayed, and the penal laws fufpended. Upon this, great numbers of jefuits, and other miflionaries, flocked into England; mats was celebrated openly in the countries; and in London their private aftmblies were fo crouded, that at a meeting in Black Fryars [November 5. 1622. N. S.] the floor funk under them and killed the preacher and ninety-three of the hearers. While the papifis were countenanced, the court and the new bi- íhops bore hard upon the puritans, filling the pulpits with men of arbi- trary principles, and puuifhing thole who dared to preach for the rights Mr.Knight's of the fubjelt. The reverend Mr. Knight of Broadfgate-hall, in a fer- fermon a- mon before the univerfityof Oxford on 2 Kings xix. 9. advanced this pro- . gain/t the ofition that fubordinate mag/lrates might lawfully make u e o force, and prerogative. defend themfelves, the commonwealth, and the true religion in hefed, again)? the chiaf magßrate, within the cafes and conditions following. s. When the chief magi/lrate turns tyrant. 2. When heforces his fubjetls upon 61af- phemy or idolatry. 3. When any intolerable burdens orpreures are laidupon them. And, q. When refzfance is the only expedient to ficure their lives, their fortunes, and the liberty of their confciences. The court being in- formed of this fermon Pent for the preacher, and afked him, what au- thority he had for his affertion i' he anfwered, Paræus on Romans xiiith, but that his principal authority was king James himfelf, who was fending affiftance
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