BISHOP TRELAWNY. 



219 



not say so hard a thing of us, for Grod's sake ! Do not believe 

 we are, or can be guilty of it ! It is impossible for me or my 

 family to be guilty of rebellion ! Your majesty cannot but 

 remember that you sent me to queJl Monmouth's Eebellion, and 

 I am as ready to do what I can to quell another. We will do our 

 duty to your Majesty to the utmost, in everything that does not 

 interfere with our duty to God." 



The writer of the Survey of Cornwall,* quotes these words 

 from the collection of manuscripts possessedby the family, — (which 

 documents, he adds, are so numerous that the mere abstracts of 

 them fill two folio volumes). 



The bishops having repKed to the king "We resign ourselves 

 to the Will of Grod," withdrew. King James and his Council 

 were perplexed. The seven protesting prelates were summoned 

 to appear again on the 8th of June. 



They were legally advised that they were in danger, and the 

 law did not require them to admit anything that would render 

 them liable to punishment. 



On their appearing, they were asked by the king whether 

 they owned their Petition, and whether the signatures were 

 really theirs. They bowed, but gave no answer. 



His majesty concluded that they were trying to avoid placing 

 themselves within the reach of the law, so he told them that if 

 they would admit it, upon his royal word not a hair of their 

 heads should be touched. Then they acknowledged their 

 signatures, vindicating their actions. They were ordered to 

 retire. On being called in again, they were surprised to find 

 that the king had vanished from the Council, and the notorious 

 Judge Jefferies, the Chancellor, was in the chair ! 



He called upon the seven ecclesiastics to recant, and to withdraw 

 their petition. They remained firm. The Chancellor, treating 

 them roughly, then announced the decision of the council. He 

 committed them to be imprisoned in the Tower. 



It was feared by the king and his advisers that to send them 

 through the streets of London would cause a tumult, so they had 

 them privately conveyed by water. But the peojile heard of it, 

 and flocked to the river. On their knees they invoked the 



* C. S. Gilbert, Vol. 1, p. 552.. See also Vol. II, p. 916. 



