was warmly opposed by
the high church lords, and the bishops themselves, who protested
against whatever steps were taken during their restraint from
Parliament, as illegal, upon this principle, that as they were part of
the legislature, no law could pass during their absence, at least
if that absence was produced by violence, which Clarendon has fully
represented.

The prejudice against the episcopal government gaining ground,
petitions to remove the bishops were poured in from all parts of the
kingdom, and as the earl of Strafford was then so obnoxious to the
popular resentment, his cause and that of the bishops was reckoned by
the vulgar, synonimous, and both felt the resentment of an enraged
populace. To such a fury were the common people wrought up, that they
came in bodies, to the two Houses of Parliament, to crave justice,
both against the earl of Strafford, and the archbishop of Canterbury,
and, in short, the whole bench of spiritual Peers; the mob besieged
the two Houses, and threatened vengeance upon the bishops, whenever
they came out. This fury excited some motion to be made in the House
of Peers, to prevent such tumults for the future, which were sent down
to the House of Commons. The bishops, for their safety, were obliged
to continue in the Parliament House the greatest part of the night,
and at last made their escape by bye-ways and stratagems. They were
then convinced that it was no longer safe for them to attend the
Parliament, 'till some measures were taken to repress the insolence
of the mob, and in consequence of this, they met at the house of the
archbishop of York, and drew up a protest, against whatever steps
should be taken during their absence, occasioned by violence. This
protest, the bishops intended should first be given to the Secretary
of State, and by him to the King, and that his Majesty should cause it
to be read in the House of Peers; but in place of this, the bishops
were accused of high treason, brought before the bar of the House of
Peers, and sent to the Tower. During their confinement, their enemies
in the House of Commons, took occasion to bring in a bill for taking
away the votes of bishops in the House of Peers: in this bill lord
Falkland concurred, and it was supported by Mr. Hambden and Mr. Pym,
the oracles of the House of Commons, but met with great opposition
from Edward Hyde, afterwards earl of Clarendon, who was a friend to
the church, and could not bear to see their libe