534 The H I S TOR Y of the PURITANS. Chap. III. IC Charles I. their aft as his own. This was a new way of covering the unwarrantable 1628. proceedings of corrupt minifers, and was Paid to be the advice of the bi- (hops Laudand Neile; a contrivance that laid the foundation of his ma- jetty's ruin. It is a maxim in law, that the kingcan do no wrong, and that all male- adminiflrations are chargeable upon his minifters; yet now, in order to (kreen his fervants, his majefly will make himfelf anfwerable for their conduI.t. So that if the parliament will defend their rights and properties, they mutt charge the kingperfonally, who in his own opinion was above law, and accountable for his allions to none but God. It was moved in the houfe, that notwithflanding the king's anfwer, the officers of the cufloms (hould be proceeded againfl, by feparating their interefts from the king's: But when the fpeaker Sir John Finch, was defired to put the queftion he refufed, Paying the king had commanded the con- trary. Upon which the houle immediately adjourned to January 25. and were then adjourned by the king's order to March z. when meeting again, They keep the and requiring the fpeaker to put the former queftion, he again refuted, and fpeaker in the faid he had the king's order to adjourn them toMarch 16. but they detain.. chair till ed him in the chair, not without forne tumult andconfufon, till they made they make a the following proteftation. proteßation. a. " Whofoever t1 all by favour or countenance, feem to extend or in- " troduce popery or arminianifm, (hall be reputed a capital enemy of the " kingdom. 2. " Whofoever (hall advife the levying the fubfidies of tonnage and " poundage, not being granted by parliament, fhall be reputed a capital " enemy. 3. " If any merchant (hall voluntarily pay thofe duties, he (hall be re puted a betrayer of the liberties ofEngland, and an enemy ofthe fame." Severalmem- The next day warrants were direfted to Denzil Hollis, Sir JohnElliot, bers taken in- William Coriton, Benjamin Valentine, John Seiden, Efqrs; and four more to cußody.. of the principal members of the houfè, to appear before the council on the morrow : Four of them appeared accordingly, (viz.) Mr. Hollis, Elliot, Coriton, and Valentine; who refuting to anfwer out of parliament for what was Paid in the houle, were committed dole prifoners to the tower. The fludies of the refs were ordered to be fealed up, and a pro- clamation iffued for apprehending them ; though the parliament not being King's fpeech diffolved, they were aftually members of the houle. On the Loth of at the dfjlu- March, the king came to the houle of lords, and without fending for the tion of the commons, or palling one fingle aft, diffolved the parliament, with a very parliament. angry fpeech again(t the leading members of the lower houle, whom he called vipers, that caft a mitt of undutifulnefs over molt of their eyes : And
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