"If any person have slandered the government in writing, you are _not to examine the truth of that fact_ in such writing, but the slander which it imports to the king or government; and _be it never so true_, yet if slanderous to the king or the government, _it is a libel and to be punished_; in that case, _the right or wrong_ is _not to be examined, or if what was done by the government be legal, or no_; but whether the party have done such an act. If the king have a power (for still I keep to that), to issue forth proclamations to his subjects, and to make orders and constitutions in matters ecclesiastical, if he do issue forth his proclamation, and make an order upon the matters within his power and prerogative; and if any one would come and bring that power in question otherwise than in parliament, that the matter of that proclamation be not legal, I say that is sedition, and you are not to examine the legality or illegality of the order or proclamation, but the slander and reflection upon the government." "If a person do a thing that is libellous, you shall not examine the fact, but the consequence of it; whether it tended to stir up sedition against the public, or to stir up strife between man and man, in the case of private persons; as if a man should say of a judge, he has taken a bribe, and I will prove it. "They tell the king it is inconsistent with their honor, prudence, and conscience, to do what he would have them to do. And if these things be not reflective upon the king and government, I know not what is. "I'll tell you what they should have done, Sir. If they were commanded to do any thing against _their consciences, they should have acquiesced till the meeting of the parliament_. [At which some people in the court hissed.] "_If the king will impose upon a man what he cannot do, he must acquiesce_; but shall he come and fly in the face of his prince? Shall he say it is illegal? and the prince acts against prudence, honor, or conscience, and throw dirt in the king's face? Sure that is not permitted; that is libelling with a witness."[39] [Footnote 39: 12 St. Tr. 415, 416, 417.] Here, however, there was a JURY--the seven bishops were acquitted amid the tumultuous huzzas of the people, who crowded all the open spaces in the neighborhood of Westminster Hall, and rent the air with their shouts, which even the soldiers repeated.[40] [Footnote 40: See 2 Campbell's Justices, 95.] Two of the Judges--Sir John Powell and Sir Richard Holloway--stood out for law and justice, declaring such a petition to the King was not a libel. They were presently thrust from their offices. * * * * *