754. The HISTORY of the PURITANS. Chap. X. K. CharlesI. in Weftminfter, to confult what meafures were to be taken. The archbi- r> fhop advifed to go no more to the houfe, and immediately in a heat drew up the followingprotftation, againft whatfoever the two houles fhould do in their abfence, which all prefent figned with their hands except the bithop of Winchefter. To the king's molt excellent majefty, and the lords and peers now afjembled in parliament. Their pratef- The bumble petition and prote$ation of all the bithops andprelates now fatioá. Claren. called by his majefty's writs to attend theparliament, andprefect about P. 35 r London and Weftminfterfor thatfervice. " ` jHereasthe petitionersare calledupby feveral and refpeftive writs, /1t and under great penalties to attend the parliament, and have a " clear and indubitable right to vote in bills, and other matters whatfo- " ever debatable in parliament, by the ancient cuftoms laws and flatutes " of this realm, and ought to be protected by your majefty quietly to at- " tend and profecute that great fervice : They humbly remonftrate and " proteft before God, your majefty, and the noble lords and peers now " affembled in parliament, that as they have an indubitate right to let and " vote in the houle of lords, fo are they, if they may be protefted from " force and violence, moft ready and willing to perform their duties " accordingly. And that they do abominate all actions or opinions tend- " ing to popery and the maintenance thereof ; as alto all propenfion and " inclination to any malignant party, or any other fade or party whatfo- " ever, to the which their own reafons and confcience (hail not move " them to adhere. But whereas they have been at feveral times violently " menaced, affronted, and affaulted, by multitudes of people in their " coming to perform their fervices in that honourable houle, and lately " chafed away and put in danger of their lives, and can find no redrefs or " protehtion, upon fundry complaints made to both houles in thefe par- " titulars : they humbly proteft before your majefty, and the noble houfe " of peers, that Paving unto'themfelves all their rights and intereft of fit- " ting and voting in that houle at other times, theydare not fit or vote " in the houle of peers, until your majefty (hall further fecure them " from all affronts, indignities, and dangers, in the premifes. Laftly, " whereas their fears are not built upon fantafies and conceits, but upon " fuch grounds and obje&ions as may well terrify men of refolution and " much conftancy, theydo in all humility and duty, proteft before your ."majefty, and the peers of that moft honourable houle of parliament, againft: I
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