On the very day on which Russell was beheaded in London, the doctors and masters of the university assembled at Oxford, and pronounced, in old ecclesiastical form, their solemn condemnation of a series of opinions, which were the foundation of attempts like the last. They were the doctrines of Hobbes and of Baxter, of the Quakers and of the Fifth-monarchy men, above all the political views of the Whigs, such as Russell also avowed,—that all power originates with the people; that the subject is only bound so long as the Prince fulfils his duty; that hereditary right contains in itself no unconditional claim to the crown; and that it is permissible to enter into defensive associations, even in opposition to the will of the highest powers. Against this, it was inculcated, as a peculiarly characteristic command of the English Church, that men should be obedient to authority for God's sake, and that unconditionally, without reserve or exception.

In the same sense public thanksgivings were ordained for the preservation of the King and his loyal subjects from the fury of the fanatics and the godless. The Whigs were preached at as much as the Dissenters. From all parts of the country and from all classes the King received addresses, expressing hatred of their opinions and tendencies. That the doctrine of the lawfulness of resistance threatened the country with disorders which might lead to civil war, procured for the doctrine of passive obedience a momentary supremacy in social life.