Chap. X. The II I S T O R Y of the Pïr R I T nN s. 749' o in execution." Agreeably to this declaration his majefty ¡filled out his K. Charles i. royal proclamation december ro. requiring obedience to the laws and fta- 1641. tutes ordained for the eftablifhing true religion in this kingdom, and corn. Ruthw. manding that divinefervice be performed as heretofore; and that all offi- P. 456. cers and minifters ecclefiaftical and temporal do put the Paid laws in due execution againfl all willful contemners and difturbers ofdivine worfhip, contrary to thePaid laws and ftatutes. Thus matters ftood between the king and parliament, when all men Yiwe of the expeEted the court interefi in the horde of peers would be broken, by theofphe r3 hit- iffue of the impeachment of the thirteen bifhops, for compiling the lateX, canons, which was now approaching. The lords had refolved that fuch bithops as were impeached, fhould not fit in the houfe when the merits of their caufe was in debate, but that when the manner of proceedingwas to be fettled, they might be prefent bat not vote. To enable them the better to make their defence, it was refolved further that the bithop of Rochefter with one other bithop, might have accefs twice to the arch- bilhop of Canterbury in the Tower, to confult with him about their an- fwer to the impeachment ; and that all the lords bishops may have accefs to and have copies of any aEts and records in any of his majefty's courts of juftice, that may ferve for their defence. On the loth of November the bithops put in their anfwer, confifting of a plea and demurrer, in which they neither confefs nor deny the faa, but endeavour to thew that the offenceof making canons could not amount to a premunire; which was certainly true, provided they had been made in a legal convocation, . and that the canons themfelves had not been contrary to the king's pre- rogative and the fundamental laws of the land. The anfwer was figned with all their hands except the bifhop of Gloucefter's, who pleaded not guilty modo &forma. The commons were diffatisfied with the bi{hops,Naifön, for not pleading directly to their charge ; and with the lords, for receiv- 715, 735-- ing a demurrer when they were not prefent, contrary to the requefl which. they fent up with the impeachment, efpecially when the nature of the cafe, being a meer matter offaEt, could not require it.; they therefore prayed- the lords by ferjeant Glyn to fet afide the demurrer, and to admit them to make proof of their charge without any further delay ; or if they were fatisfied with the charge, and the bifhops would not plead to it, to pro- ceed immediately to judgment ; but the lords, inftead of complying with the commons, gave the bithops their option, and ordered them to declare byfaturday, whether they would plead to the impeachment or abide. by their demurrer, when they declared theywould abide by their demur. rer; upon which the lords appointed monday following [December u.]. to hear them by their counfel in prefence of the commons; but the houle: =Seating. this dilatory method of proceeding,in a cafe which they alledge: was -,
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