522 7Ie HI STORYof the PuRTANs. Chap. III. Charles 1. Neale thought there was.no filtration for proteftants out of the church of England ; how then can it be fuppofed that they thould make war in de, fence of a religion for which they had the utmolt contempt ? Lord Cla- rendon lays the war was owing to Buckingham's difappointment in his amours at the French court ; but it is more likelyhe advifed it to keep up the mifunderflandings between the king and his parliaments, by confirm- big the neceffity of railing money by extraordinary methods, upon which his credit and reputation depended. War being declared, the queen's do, mefticks were Pent home, and a fleet was fitted out, which made a fruitlefs defcent upon the ifle of Rhee, under the condudt of the duke of Buckingham, with the lofs of five thoufand men. This raifed a world of complaints and murmurs againfl the duke, and obliged the weak andun- happy king to try the experiment of another parliament, which was ap- pointed to meet March 17, 1627-8. 1628. As foon as this refolution was taken in council, orders were difpatched A new par- to all parts of the kingdom, to releafe the gentlemen imprifoned for the ¡tarent. loan, to the number of feventy-eight, molt of whom were chofen mem- bers for the enfuing parliament. In the mean time, his =jetty went on with railing moneyby excife ; and inftead of palliating and foftening the miftakes of his government, put on an air of high fovereignty, and told his parliament, that if they did not provide for the necellities of the Rate, he fhould ufe thofe other means that Godhad put into his hands, to fave Ru(hw. that which the follies of othermen would hazard. " Take not this (fays P. 476- " his majefty) as a threatning, for I fcorn to threaten my inferiors, but as " ° an admonition from him, who by nature and duty, has molt care of " your prefervation,and profperity." Petition of But the parliament not being awed by this language, began with grie- right. vances ; and though they voted five fubfidies, they refufed to carry the bill through the houfe, 'till they had obtained the royal affent to their PE, TaTION OF RIGHT, which affected, among others, the following claims contained in Magna Charta. I. That no freeman (hall be detained in prifon by the king and privy- council, without the caufe ofcommitment be expreffed, for which by law he ought to be detained. z. That an Habeas Corpus ought not to be denied, where the law allowsit. 3. That no tax, loan, or benevolence, thall be impofed without see of parliament. 4. That no man (hall be fore-judged of life or limb, or be exiled or de- ftroyed, but by the judgment cf his peers, according to the laws of the land, or by act of parliament. The
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=