[570] Parl. Hist., iv. 515.
[571] "An answer unto certain objections formed against the proceedings of His Majesty to suspend the laws against Conventicles by His declaration, March 15, 1672."—State Papers, Dom. 1673, bundle 190, fol. 164.
[572] These were the Bishop of Durham's queries.—Cosin's Works, iv. 384.
[573] Baxter's Life and Times, iii. 99. Life of Philip Henry, 128.
[574] A short treatise on the lawfulness of the Oath of Supremacy and the power of the King in ecclesiastical affairs, by Philip Nye, was published in 1683. Nye died in 1672, and when this treatise was written does not appear on the title page. He ascribes to the magistrate, power "to send out preachers, to urge and constrain men to hear.... A coercive power of this nature is placed in no other hand but his." It is strange indeed to find an Independent writing thus. After exalting the civil power, and enforcing the duty of submitting to Royal Supremacy, the author, in a postscript, speaks of His Majesty's most gracious Declaration; and seemingly, without any idea that it could be inconsistent to accept the indulgence, maintains that there is nothing in the opinions of Independents that "should render us, in any sort, incapable of receiving the fruit and benefit of the King's majesty's favour and indulgence, promised to tender consciences." Probably Nye wrote this piece just about the time when the indulgence was issued—seven months before his death. Nye's tract (with many others, which I have found very instructive) is preserved in Dr. Williams' Library.
[575] Burnet, i. 308.
[576] Orme's Life of Owen, 272.
[577] Wilson's Hist. of Dissenting Churches, iii. 187.
[578] Bunyan's license is given in Offor's preface to Bunyan's Works. Numbers of entries from the Register, and copies of applications and licenses have been printed in local histories of Dissent. The original documents are preserved in the Record Office.
[579] State Papers, 1672.