Chap. Ill. The HISTORY of the PURITANS. 535 " And as thofe vipers, Pays his majefty, mull look fortheir rewardof pu- K. Charles I. " nifhment : fo you, my lords, mutt juftly expert from me that favour '6 Z " that a good king oweth to his loving and faithful nobility." The undutifulnefs of the commons was only their keeping the fpeaker Remarks. in the chair, after he had fignified that the king had adjourned them, which his majefty had no power of doing, and no king before king ,ames I. pretended to adjourn parliaments, and when he claimed that power, it was complained of as a breach of privilege.} It is one thing Rapin, to prorogue or diffolve a parliament, and another to adjourn it, the latter P. 218. being the ad of the houle itfelf, and the confequence of veiling loch a power in the crown might be very fatal; for if the kingmay adjourn the houfe in the midit of their debates, or forbid the fpeaker to put a queftion when required, it is eafy to forefee the whole bufinefs of parliament mutt be under his direétion. The members abovementioned were fentenced to be imprifoned during the king's pleafure ; and were accordingly kept tin- der dole confinement many years, where Sir yobs Elliot died a martyr to the liberties of his country. Mr. Hollis was fined a thoufand marks, Sir john Elliot two thoufand pounds, Valentine five hundred pounds, and Long two thoufand marks. Great were the murmurings of the people upon this occafion ; libels Libetsagainft were difperfed againft the prime minilter LAU v ; one of which fays, tRhemwßers. Laud look to thyfelf, be allured thy life isfought. As thou art thefountainVol. I. of wickednefs, repent of thy manflrous fins before thou be taken out of this p. 662. world; and affùre thyPelf, neither God nor the world can endure filch a vile counfellor or wbifperer to live. But to juftify thefe proceedings to the world, his majefty publilhed a declaration of the caufes of dijolving the laß parliament. The declaration vindicates the king's taking the duties of tonnage andKing's deela poundage, from the examples of fome of his predeceffors, and as agree- rae on5f his able to his kingly honour. It juftifies the filencing the predeftinarian con - djfotvi f thr troverfy, and lays the blame of not executing the laws againft papitts, lot pal fubordinate officers and minilters in the country : " We profefs ment. " (lays his majefty) that as it is our duty, fo it [hall be our care to corn- " ° mand and dire/ well; but it is the part of others to perform the mi- " nifterial office ; and when we have done our office, we [hall account " ourfelf, and all charitable men will account us innocent both to God and " men ; and thofe that are negligent, we will efteem culpable, both to " God and us." The declaration concludes with a profeffron that " the king will maintain the true religion of the church of England, without conniving at popery or fchifm : That he will maintain the rights and " liberties of his fubjelts, provided they do not mifufe their liberty, by turning it to licentioufnefs, wantonly and frowardly refitting our law- ful
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