After a careful consideration of what Baxter says, compared with Goddard's Journal in Cromwellian Diary, vol. i. (Introduction), I am brought to the conclusion above expressed, notwithstanding the attempt of Mr. Orme in his Life of Owen, p. 115, to give a different version of the affair. John Goodwin attacked the principle involved in the measure in his Thirty Queries modestly propounded in Order to the Discovery of the Truth and Mind of God in that Question or Case of Conscience, whether the Civil Magistrate stands bound by Way of Duty to interpose his Power or Authority in Matters of Religion and Worship of God. 1653.
[99] Soon after the rising of the first Protectorate Parliament, Biddle was released, but getting again into trouble, after much suffering and imprisonment in Newgate, the poor man became an exile for life. The Protector allowed him a hundred crowns per annum for his subsistence, and in 1658 permitted a writ of habeas corpus in his favour. Notwithstanding his errors, Biddle seems to have been an honest and devout man, and certainly the treatment which he received was most unrighteous.
[100] Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy, part i. 176.
In vol. xvii. of Petitions and Reports (State Papers) are the following memoranda:—
"Case tried at Worcester Assizes, 1656. Charge of defamation of character by ejected clergyman, against the person who prosecuted him before the Commissioners. Sued the person for damages. Judge Windham, in charging the jury, did urge very much the increase of damages as aforesaid, declaring that by such conduct as the defendant's honest men came to be sequestered, to the discouragement of many then present who had stated this to be the fact. The jury gave a verdict for the plaintiff—£80 damages."
[101] Some instances will occur in our account of the Episcopalians under the Commonwealth. Others beside Episcopalians were objected to before the Commissioners. In illustration of this, I subjoin the following document amongst the State Papers:—
"To the most reverend the Commissioners for approbation of public preachers.
"Articles that will be proved and deposed to upon oath against James Cockaine, of Tredsham, in the county of Chester.
"That Mr. James Cockaine denies the ministry as an office.
"That no Christian in these ages hath the Spirit of God in any measure.