he thought he was free to go his own course. Hurrying down to the Lord's House he prorogued Parliament until the 20th of October, and thus abruptly closed a session rendered famous by that Petition of Right to which in later times the people always appealed; to which, as Dr. Lingard says, the Crown was eventually compelled to submit.

During the recess, Selden addressed himself with eagerness to his old avocations, and prepared and published his "Marmorea Arundeliana," a learned description of the valuable relics of ancient art which the Earl of Arundel had recently brought to England. He also composed two ecclesiastical and legal treatises, "Of the Original of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of Testaments," and "Of the Disposition or Administration of Intestate's Goods."

He was recalled to the stir and stress of political controversy when Parliament had reassembled on the 20th of January, 1629. In the interval, Buckingham had fallen, stricken to death by an assassin's knife; but the grounds of quarrel between king and Commons had undergone no alteration. The debates soon acquired a tone of indignant bitterness, and religious questions added fresh fuel to the gradually spreading fire. Charles endeavoured to check them, and on the 28th of February, sent down a message commanding the House to adjourn until the 10th of March. But understanding that this adjournment was a prelude to a dissolution, Eliot, Selden, Holles, and others, resolved to put forward a formal declaration of the House, recording for the edification of the people the result of its debates on the illegal levy of taxation, and the encouragement given to Popery and Arminianism. After delivering the royal message,

the Speaker made a movement to leave the chair, but Denzil Holles and Benjamin Valentine, probably by a preconcerted arrangement, sprang forward, laid hold of his arm on either side, and firmly held him down. The suddenness of the surprise discomfited Finch, and Sir John Eliot, taking advantage of the pause, addressed the House, which listened to him without interruption, but in a state of growing excitement :—

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"You know," he cried, "how our religion is attempted; how Arminianism like a secret pioneer undermines it; how Popery like a strong enemy comes on openly! Among the enemies of true religion, and the authors of their troubles were some prelates of the Church. I denounce them," he continued, "as enemies to His Majesty. Whoever have occasioned these public breaches in Parliament for their private interests and respects, the felicity has not lasted to a perpetuity of that power. None have gone about to break Parliaments but in the end Parliaments have broken them. . . . It is fit for us," he added, true Englishmen, in discharge of our duties, to show the affection that we have to the honour and safety of our sovereign, to show our affection to religion, and to the rights and interest of the subject. It befits us to declare our purpose to maintain them, and our resolution to live and die in their defence. That so, like our fathers, we may preserve ourselves as free men, and by that freedom keep ability for the supply and support of His Majesty, when our services may be needful. To which end this paper which I hold was conceived, and has this scope and meaning."

A storm of voices broke forth, and members started from their seats either to defend or menace the dismayed Speaker, or to seek a hearing amid the tumult. Twice was the Speaker bidden to put the declaration to the vote; twice, with tears, he protested that the king had otherwise ordered him. He made a second effort to

leave the chair, but was again held down by Holles, Valentine, and Long-Holles stoutly swearing "by God's wounds" that he should sit there so long as it was their pleasure. A third appeal was made to him, and Selden gravely warned him that such obstinacy must not go unpunished, lest it should be made an evil precedent; while Hayman disowned him for a Kentishman, hotly denounced him as a disgrace to his family and a reproach to his country, and proposed that a new Speaker be chosen in his place. The stir and turmoil continued to increase, until fierce blows were exchanged; force met force, and ready hands sought their sword-hilts. "Let all," exclaimed William Strode, "who desire this declaration read and put to the vote stand up." With a fierce "Aye, aye!" the great body of members instantly rose, and Eliot flung his paper into the midst of them on the floor of the House.

Soon afterwards, the Serjeant-at-Arms attempted to lift the mace from the table, which in itself would have involved a suspension of the proceedings; but Sir Miles Hobart wrested it from him, and also shut and locked the door of the House, putting the key into his pocket. At this moment Sir John Eliot came forward with a shorter declaration, which he read amid a tumult of applause; and thereafter Denzil Holles, while Black Rod was knocking at the door, produced the following resolutions, and standing close to the chair, in which, sullen and silent, still sat the Speaker, cried out in a loud voice that he there and then put it to the question :

First, "Whoever shall bring in innovation in religion, or by favour seek to extend or introduce Popery or Arminianism, or other opinions disagreeing from the true and orthodox Church, shall be reputed a capital enemy to this kingdom and commonwealth."

With repeated "Aye, aye!" the Commons signified their assent.

Second, "Whoever shall advise the levying of the subsidies of tonnage and poundage, not being granted by Parliament, or shall be an actor or instrument therein, shall be likewise reputed an innovator in the government, and a capital enemy to the kingdom and commonwealth." This too was ratified by general acclamation.*

And third, "If any merchant or other person whatsoever, shall voluntarily yield or pay the said subsidies, not being granted by Parliament, he shall likewise be reputed a betrayer of the liberty of England."

For a third time the House rang with approving cries of "Aye, aye!" and Hobart, having flung open the door, the members swept forth pell mell, carrying with them a king's officer, who, with a guard of pensioners, had been despatched by Charles to force an entrance.

Thus came to a close the Third Parliament of Charles 1.; and for upwards of eleven years no Parliament met in England.

Charles proceeded to inflict his vengeance on the leaders of the Opposition. Sir John Eliot, Holles, Selden, Hayman, Hobart, Langton, Valentine, Strode, and Long, were examined before the Privy Council, on the 13th of March, and committed to the Tower, because they refused to answer out of Parliament for what they had done under its protection. For more than three months they were detained in rigid confinement, being denied even the use of books and writing materials. Eventually, all but Sir John Eliot sued out their writs of habeas corpus. They were then brought before the King's Bench, and in accordance with one of the provisions of the Bill of Rights, the cause of their commit

ment was specified. Littleton, their counsel, pointed out that the offence alleged against them was bailable; but the judges, through the influence of the Crown, fixed the bail upon terms which the patriots declined to accept. They next took up the ground that no court had a right to interfere with actions done in Parliament. To this the judges assented, but decided that the members had been charged with sedition and taking part in a riot, and that riot and sedition could not be regarded as parliamentary proceedings. Eliot and his companions still held firm, and sentence was finally pronounced against them, to the effect that they should be imprisoned during the king's pleasure, that none should be released without giving security for good behaviour and making submission and acknowledgment of their offence.

After an imprisonment of eight months, the patriots were again offered their liberty on their giving sureties for their good behaviour; and again, through Selden, who acted as their mouthpiece, they refused. The rigour of their confinement, however, was somewhat relaxed; and Selden, on application, was transferred by habeas corpus to the Marshalsea, and subsequently to the Gatehouse. Here his imprisonment was almost nominal, and he was even allowed to visit his friend the Earl of Kent, at his country-seat. When this incident came to the knowledge of his judges, he was remanded to the Marshalsea; but, ultimately, at the intercession of the Earls of Arundel and Pembroke, was released upon bail. In 1634, he received his full discharge.

Selden then returned to his literary and antiquarian pursuits; and in 1636, produced his famous work, the Mare Clausum, which, originally designed only as an answer to the Mare Liberum of Grotius, had expanded