Chap. XL Tfre HISTORY of the PURITANS. 767 of Hull, but the parliament were before hand with his =jetty, and not K. Charles 1. only fecured that important fortrefs, but got the command of the fleet r6M [March 3 t.] which fubmitted to the earl of Warwick, whom the parlia- ment appointed to be their admiral. The ordinance of March 5. For difpofing of the militia by bothhoufes of The miffs.. parliament without the king, in cafes of extreme danger to the nation, of which danger the two houfes were the proper judges, with the /ubfequent refolutions f .2Warch 16. were the GRAND CRISIS which divided the houle into two parties. Mr. Hyde afterwards lord Clarendon, Mr. Bridge- man, Mr. Palmer, and other eminent lawyers and gentlemen, having given theiropinion againft the ordinance, quitted their feats and retired to the king. On the other hand, ferjeant Maynard, Whitlocke, Glyn, Sel- den, the lord keeper Littleton, Mr. Lee, St. `f'ohn, Grimflon, and divers othersof no lefs judgment in law, and ofa fuperior intereft in their coun- try, accepted of commifíïons in the militia, and continued in the fervice of the parliament. Many retired to their country feats, and were for ftanding neuter in thisnice conjun6ture ; but thofe who remained were about three hundred, befides fifty that were employed in the country, and about fifty more abfent with leave; the reft went over to the king, and were fome time after expelled the houle. But from this time the fitting members were more refolute, and met with lefs oppo- fition. March 15. his majefty acquainted the houles from Huntington, with his defign to refide for fome time át Ïirk ; and adds that he expe6ted " they fhould'pay a due regard to his prerogative, and to the laws eftab- " lifhed ; and that none of his fubjetts thould prefume under colour of " any order or ordinance of parliament, to which his majefty is not a " party, to do or execute what is not warrantable by the laws." His majefty's intention by this meffage, was to put a ftop to all further pro- ceedings of the parliament, for their own and the nations fecurity, till' they had digefted all their grievances into a body. Upon receiving this declaration both houfes carne to thefe refolutions among others. March 16. relayed, " That thofe who advife his majefty to abfent Votes-and re- " himfelf from the parliament, are enemies to the peace of the king- Ituaonr of " dom, and juftly fufpeéted to be favourers of the rebellion in ire- the comas,. " land. Relayed, " That the ordinance of parliament for the militia is not Rap n, " inconfiftent with the oath of allegiance; but that the feveral commiflions P 390, &c,-. " granted by hismajefty under under the great feat to the lieutenants of aE the feveral counties are illegal and void. IF f lved;.,
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