for a word and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate and turn aside the just for a thing of nought Blame not before thou have examined the truth understand first and then rebuke answer not before thou hast heard the cause neither interrupt men in the midst of their talk Doth our Law judge any man before it hear him and know what he doth King Agrippa said unto Paul Thou art permitted to speak for thy self Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of the poor in his cause thou shalt not respect persons neither take a gift for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise and pervert the eyes of the righteous Woe to them that devise iniquity because it is in the power of their hand and they covet fields and take them by violence and houses and take them away so they oppress a man and his house even a man and his heritage Thus saith the Lord God Let it suffice you O Princes of Israel remove violence and spoyl and execute judgment and justice take away your exactions from my people saith the Lord God If thou seest the oppression of the Poor and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a Province marvel not at the matter for he that is higher then the highest regardeth and there be higher then they Per me Richard Chambers Afterwards in the Term of Trinity the 5 yeer of King Charls it is found in the great Roll of this year that there is demanded there of Richard Chambers of London Merchant 2000 l. for a certain fine imposed on him hither sent by vertue of a writ of our said Lord the King under the foot of the great Seal of England directed to the Treasurer and Barons of this Exchequer for making execution thereof to the use of the said Lord the King as is there contained and now that is to say in the Utas of the Blessed Trinity this Term comes the said Richard Chambers in his own proper person and demands Oyer of the demand aforesaid and it is read unto him and he demands Oyer also of the Writ aforesaid under the foot of the Great Seal of England hither sent and it is read unto him in these words CHarls by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. To his Treasurer and Barons of his Exchequer health The extret of certain fines taxed and adjudged by Us and our said Council in our said Council in Our Court of Star-Chamber in the Term of St Michael the Term of St. Hillary and the Term of Easter last past upon Thomas Barns of the Parish of St. Clements Danes in the County of Middlesex Carpenter and others severally and dividedly as they be there severally assessed We send unto you included in these presents commanding that looking into them you do that which by Law you ought to do against them for the levying of those fines Witness our Self at Westminster the 21 of May in the yeer of Our Reign the 5 Mutas And the tenor of the Schedule to the said Writ annexed as to the said Richard Chambers followeth in these words IN the Term of Easter the fifth year of King Charles of Richard Chambers of London Merchant 2000 l. which being read heard and by him understood he complains that he is grievously vexed and inquieted by colour of the Premises and that not justly for that protesting that the said great Roll and the matter therein contained is not in Law sufficient to which he hath no need nor is bound by Law to answer yet for Plea the said Richard Chambers saith That he of the demand aforesaid in the great Roll aforesaid mentioned and every parcel thereof ought to be discharged against the said Lord the King for that he said That he from the time of the Taxation oâ— the aforesaid Fine and long before was a Freeman and a Merchant of this Kingdom that is to say In the Parish of the blessed Mary of the Arches in the Ward of Cheap London And that by a certain Act in the Parliament of the Lord Henry late King of England the Third held in the ninth year of his reign it was provided by Authority of the said Parliament That a Freeman shall not be amerced for a little offence but according to the manner of the said offence and for a great offence according to the greatness of the offence saving to him his Contenement or Freehold and a Merchant in the same manner saving unto him his Merchandize and a Villain of any other then the King after the same manner to be amerced saving his Wainage and none of the said Amercements to be imposed but by the Oaths of good and lawful men of the Neighbourhood And by a certain other Act in the Parliament of the Lord Edward late King of England the first held in the Third year of his reign it was and is provided That no City Burrough or Town nor any man should be amerced without reasonable cause and according to his Trespass that is to say A Freeman saving to him his Contenement A Merchant saving to him his Merchandize and A Villan saving to him his Wainage and this by their Peers And by the same Act in the Parliament of the said Lord Henry late King of England the Third held in the ninth year of his reign aforesaid it was and is provided by Authority of the said Parliament That no Freemen should be taken or imprisoned or disseized of his Freehold or Liberties or free Customs or outlaw'd or banish'd or any way destroyed And that the Lord the King should not go upon him nor deal with him but by a lawful judgement of his Peers or by the Law of the Land And by a certain Act in the Parliament of the Lord Edward late King of England the Third held in the fifth year of his reign it was and is provided by the Authority of the said Parliament That no man henceforward should be attached by reason of any Accusation nor pre-judged of Life or Member nor that his Lands Tenements Goods or Chattels should be seized into the hands of the Lord the King against the form of the great Charter and the Law of the Land And by a certain Act in the Parliament of the Lord Henry late King of England the seventh held in the third year of his reign reciting that by unlawful Maintenances given of liveries signes and tokens and retainders by Indentures Promises Oaths Writings and other Imbraceries of the Subjects of the said Lord the King false Demeanors of Sheriffs in making of Pannels and other false returns by taking of money by Jurors by great ryots and unlawful assemblies the policie and good Government of this Kingdom was almost subdued and by not punishing of the said inconveniences and by occasion of the Premises little or nothing was found by Inquisition by reason thereof the Laws of
see his Children dispossessed of their Hereditary Rights and hopes his Son in Law will make Overtures of Peace which if slighted by the Emperor he will not lose the season to prepare for the defence of the Palatinate But if his Son will not hearken to his advice he shall be inforced to leave him to his proper Counsels Notwithstanding this open wary and tender proceeding with all care and patience to observe the Spanish humors our State Ministers that were most addicted to Spain discerned their trifling with us which they did not spare to censure and resolved to use a freer Language yet still discovered a willingness to wait their further leisure for the English Patience seemed invincible In the mean time the Privy Council having an eye to the support of the Palatinate began the raising of Moneys by way of free gift and directed Letters of the tenor following to divers Earls Viscounts Bishops and Barons the same Letter being sent to each respectively YOu may formerly have heard how the Palatinate being the ancient Heritage of the Count Palatine his Majesties Son in Law and to discend to his Majesties Grand-children is now invaded by a Foreign Enemy many principal Towns are surprised a great part of the Countrey in the possession of strangers and the inhabitants forced to take an Oath against their Natural Prince Whereupon his Majesty out of considerations of Nature Honor and State hath declared himself in the course of an Auxiliary War for the defence and recovery of the same the occasion being so weighty and pressing hath moved his Majesty by the general advice of us his Council to think of some course for provision of that nature as may serve as well to the maintenance and preserving of the present succors already sent as for the reinforcing them out of those Countries as the occasion of the War shall require And for that the swiftness of the occasion would not permit a supply by other means for the present so readily as was needful we have all concurred to begin with our selves in offer of a voluntary gift unto his Majesty for the advancement of the present occasion nothing doubting but that your Lordship being a Peer of the Kingdom will chearfully and readily follow the example of us begun And if there were much alacrity and readiness found in the Nobility and others to contribute at the motion of his Majesties Sons Ambassador at what time the Palatinate was not invaded neither had his Majesty declared himself you will much more and in a better proportion do it now these two weighty Motives do concur and so nothing doubting of your Lordships readiness herein we bid c. To the Marquess of Winchester To the Earl of Cumberland To the Earl of Darby To the Earl of Northumberland c. Also a Letter of the same form was written to the Lord Major of London But the short Reign of King Frederick was near its period The Imperial Forces under Bavaria Buquoy and D. Balthazar advance towards Prague and the Bohemians quit their Garrisons to make their Army the more compleat Yet neither Count Mansfield nor the English Forces were there On the Eighth day of November being the Lords day both Armies met for the fatal decision of the great Controversie The Bohemians stood upon the advantage-ground betwixt the Imperialists and Prague But the Enemy breaking through scattered and ruined their whole Army and pursued the Victory The King and Queen surprised with this Discomfiture among a wavering people in a City not very defensible were constrained to â—lie the next morning Diminution of Honor was added to the Calamity of this Prince because he suffered his Soldiers to mutiny for Pay when he had a mass of Money by him which was left behind to augment the Enemies Conquest Neither was Anhalt the General a fit person for the high trust reposed in him who not long after the Defeat sought and obtained the Emperors favor and was made one of his Generals to debel the Protestant cause and party But Count Mansfield whom Anhalt slighted and closed not with him to bring him up to this Fight made good his fidelity and with his Flying Army became a continual vexation to the Emperor harasing his Countries and forcing Contribution King Iames upon the news of the Palsgrave's overthrow and upon a Narration of the state of Affairs in those parts made unto His Majesty by the Earls of Oxford and Essex newly returned from the Palatinate was pleased to call a full Council together to consider of this great and weighty affair The Order ensuing relates the particulars At the Court at Whitehall Jan. 13. 1620. Present Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Chancellor Lord Treasurer Lord Privy Seal Lord Steward Lord M. Hamilton Lord Chamberlain Earl of Arundel Earl of Kelly Lord V. Doncaster Lord V. Falkland Lord Carew Lord Digby Mr. Treasurer Mr. Secr. Naunton Mr. Secr. Calvert Mr. Chanc. of the Exchequer Master of the Rolls Master of the Wards HIs Majesty being resolved to make some Royal preparations for the Recovery and Protection of the Palatinate being the antient Inheritance of his Majesties Son in law and Grandchildren did in his high wisdom think méet to appoint some persons of knowledge and experience in the Wars to consider of and give their Advice in such Propositions as shall be made unto them by the Board for the better expediting of that service To which purpose the Earl of Oxford and the Earl of Essex the Earl of Leicester the Lord Uiscount Wilmot the Lord Danvers the Lord Calfield Sir Edward Cecyl Sir Richard Harrison Knights and Captain Danbingham were called to the Table and made acquainted with His Majesties pleasure That they or any Five or more of them together with Sir Horace Vere and Sir Edw. Conway Knights if they return into England while this Committee doth continue shall undertake this service and have their méetings and assemblies in the whole Council-chamber here in Whitehall touching the affairs above-mentioned And that for their better assistance they call unto them such others of experience whose advice and opinion they shall think fit to make use of in their several Consultations upon such things as shall be so referred unto them from the Board Which they are to prosecute without intermission or delay And they shall make Report of their Opinions which is to be done in writing under Five of their hands at least The Particulars offered to their Consideration are these First What proportion or number of men as well Horse as Foot with Munition Victuals Shipping and Treasure will be sufficient for that Enterprise And secondly By what time it will be meet that their Forces be in readiness And where the Arms Munition and Victuals may best be provided with such other Circumstances as are incident to any of these Heads For the better direction herein Mr. Secretaries will acquaint them with such Intelligences as they have received touching the
Frankendale if they be taken That within the said term of seventy days a Suspension of Arms in the Palatinate be concluded upon the Conditions last propounded by Sir Richard Weston at Bruxels and that a general Treaty shall be again set on foot upon such honorable terms as were tendered to the Emperor in November last But if these particulars be refused or delayed by the Emperor that the King of Spain shall joyn forces with the King of Great Britain for the recovery of his Childrens Honors and Patrimony And if he cannot give assistance that he will at least allow him a free and friendly passage through his Territories for the forces to be employed in that service Of these points distinctly if the Ambassador should not receive a direct assurance he was to take his leave of that King and to return into his Masters presence But the King annexed this private Instruction That in case a Rupture happened it might be managed to the best advantage Wherefore he should not instantly come away but send him secret intelligence and in publick give out the contrary Immediately upon these Demands an Order was sent from Spain to Bruxels for the relief of Manheim but it came too late for before the arival thereof the Town was yielded into the hands of Tilly But had it come in season the effect thereof might be guessed by Tilly's Reasons presented to the Arch-Dutchess against raising the siege of Manheim and the restoring of Heidelburgh to this purpose That he could not do it without the Emperors express consent and that the winning of Manheim was to be hastned to prevent the machinations of evil Neighbors who were plotting new Commotions in favor of the Count Palatine and especially to obviate the designs of Count Mansfield And lastly That the Emperor and the Catholick League having setled all Germany might give the Law to their Opposites and settle a peace upon their own terms How little the Emperor attributed to the Kings Humanity and upright dealing which he applauded in shew might be discerned by sure Advertisements of his purpose to propound in the Dyet at Ratisbone his promise of translating the Palatine Electorate to the Duke of Bavaria as a thing irrevocable Moreover the King of Spain the Fifth of November 1622. in the height of those Professions made to the English Ambassador touching the Marriage wrote on this manner to his Grand Favorite the Conde Olivares THe King my Father declared at his Death That his intent never was to marry my Sister the Infanta Donna Maria with the Prince of Wales which your Uncle Don Balthazar understood and so treated this Match ever with intention to delay it notwithstanding it is now so far advanced that considering all the aversness unto it of the Infanta it is time to seek some means to divert the Treaty which I would have you finde out and I will make it good whatsoever it be But in all other things procure the satisfaction of the King of Great Britain who hath deserved much and it shall content me so that it be not in the Match Olivares wrote a Letter deliberative the Eighth of November 1622. and propounded an Expedient to the King of Spain in these words SIR Considering in what estate we finde the Treaty of Marriage between Spain and England and knowing certainly how the Ministers did understand this business that Treated it in the time of Philip the Third that is in Heaven that their meaning was never to effect it but by enlarging the Treaties and Points of the said Marriage to make use of the Friendship of the King of Great Britain as well in matters of Germany as those of Flanders And imagining likewise that your Majesty is of the same opinion though the Demonstrations do not shew so joyning to these Suppositions that it is certain the Infanta Donna Maria is resolved to put her self into a Monastery the same day that your Majesty shall press her to this Marriage I have thought fit to represent unto your Majesty that which my good zeal hath offered me in this occasion thinking it a good time to acquaint your Majesty withal to the end you may resolve of that which you shall finde most convenient with the advice of those Ministers you shall think fit to make choice of The King of Great Britain doth finde himself at this time equally engaged in two businesses the one is this Marriage to which he is moved by the conveniencies he findes in your Majesties friendship by making an Agreement with those Catholicks that he thinks are secretly in his Kingdom and by this to assure himself of them as likewise to marry his Son to one of the House of Austria knowing that the Infanta Donna Maria is the best born Lady in the World The other business is the restitution of the Palatinate in which he is more engaged for beside that his Reputation is at stake there is added the love and interest of his Grand-children Sons of his onely Daughter So that both by the Law of Nature and Reason of State he ought to put that forward whatever inconveniencies might follow by dissembling what they suffer I do not dispute whither the King of Great Britain be governed in this business of the Palatinate by Act or Friendship I think a man might say he used both but as a thing not precisely necessary to this Discourse I omit it I hold it for a Maxim that these two Engagements in which he findes himself are inseparable for although the Marriage be made we must fail of that which in my way of understanding is most necessary the restitution of the Palatinate This being supposed Having made this Marriage in that form as it is Treated your Majesty shall finde your self together with the King of Great Britain engaged in a War against the Emperor and the Catholick League A thing which to hear will offend your godly ears or declaring your self for the Emperor and the Catholick League as certainly your Majesty will do then you will finde your self engaged in a War against the King of England and your Sister married with his Son with the which all whatsoever reasons of Conveniency that were thought upon in this Marriage do cease If your Majesty shall shew your self Neutral as it may be some will propound That first will cause very great scandal and with just reason since in matters of less opposition then of Catholicks against Hereticks the Arms of this Crown have taken the godly part against the contrary party and at this time the Frenchmen fomenting the Hollanders against your Majesty your Piety hath been such that you have sent your Arms against the Rebels of that Crown leaving all the great considerations of State onely because these men are Enemies to the Faith and the Church It will oblige your Majesty and give occasion to those of the League to make use of the King of France and of other Catholick Princes ill-affected
of all such as should serve their Princes with the like loyalty had sent him a Blank signed by himself wherein he might set down his own Conditions both in point of Title and Fortune And this he did in no wise to oblige another Princes Subject but only to give encouragement to honest and faithful proceedings And therefore he would not make these offers in private but open and justifiable to all the world and would accompany all that he should do with a Declaration or Patent That what he had done for the Earl of Bristol was for the fidelity wherewith he had served his own Master Hereunto the Earl made answer That he was sorry and much afflicted to hear such language And desired that they should understand that neither this King nor Spain were beholding to him For whatsoever he had done he thought the same to be fittest for his Masters service and his own honor having no relation to Spain and that he served a Master from whom he was assured both of justice and due reward And nothing doubted but his own Innocencie would prevail against the wrong intended by his powerful Adversaries And were he sure to run into imminent danger he had rather go home and cast himself at his Masters feet and mercy and therein comply with the duty and honor of a faithful Subject though it should cost him his head then be Duke or Infantado of Spain And that with this resolution he would imploy the utmost of his power to maintain the Amity between the two Kings and their Crowns and to serve his Catholick Majesty After he had taken his leave and was ready to come away he had another Profer made unto him in private of Ten thousand Crowns to take with him in his purse to make his way and go through with his troubles if haply his own monies might be seised upon And it was told him no body should know it Yes said he one would know it who he was assured would reveal it to his Majesty viz. the Earl of Bristol himself and it would make him not so clear in his own heart as now he was and so he refused the offer The Match was now truly broken but as yet the breach was not declared nor the Treaty quite fallen to the ground but continued after a languishing manner in the hands of Sir Walter Aston The Spaniards by all Advertisements from England were advised to expect a War and accordingly they went seriously to work and prepared themselves for what might happen And Aston being there upon the place conceived it high time that King Iames should resolve upon some course to allay the storm arising or to go hand in hand with them in equal preparations All that was left alive of the Marriage-business was no more then that those Jewels which the Prince had left at his Farewel were not yet returned But if the Letter then expected from England brought no better Answer to their last Offer concerning the Palatinate then such as they had hither to received they will return the Jewels and declare the Marriage broken For by this time they had received intelligence of the Princes treating a Marriage with a Daughter of France the Lady Henrietta Maria. And so it was that King Iames had lately sent the Lord Kensington afterwards Earl of Holland to enquire covertly whether the Match were feasible before he would enter into a Publick Treaty The Lord Kensington returned this Accompt of his Negotiation That there appeared in the face of that Court an extraordinary sweetness smoothness and clearness towards an Alliance with England The Princess herself was observed seldom to have put on a more cheerful countenance then she had done the first night of his appearance in that Court The Queen though a Daughter of Spain wished this Match more then that intended with her own Sister And the Queen-mother who will have the chief stroke in the business expressed her good will and favor as much as might stand with her Daughters honor For the French observe the aspiring of the King of Spain to the Monarchy of Christendom and his approaches to the Kingdom of France and his encompassing it on all sides And they discern that an Alliance with England is the surest way to oppose the mightiness of that King And upon the same accompt they promised brave assistance to the United Provinces gave great encouragement to Count Mansfield and Duke Christian of Brunswick A Gentleman of the Religion was sent to Liege to offer them the Kings protection if that Town will seek it Nevertheless they have not directly embraced this Overture of Marriage because we have not as yet wholly abandoned the Treaty with Spain lest they should lose the Friendship of a Brother-in-law to gain another which may possibly fail them But they say that their hearts are not capable of more content then to see this Motion upon a Publick Commission and all that may touch upon the way of Spain dissolved Neither are they like to strain us to unreasonable Conditions in favor of the Roman Catholicks in his Majesties Dominions For in that matter their Pulse beats so temperately as to promise a good Crisis therein And in case his Majesty be drawn to banish the Priests and Jesuites and to quicken the Laws against other Catholicks to keep a good Intelligence with his Parliament yet they say they hope he will not tie his hands from some moderate favor to flow hereafter from the mediation of that State which is all they pretend unto for the saving of their honor who otherwise would hardly be reputed Catholicks Thus the Lord Kensington having rendred an accompt of his diligence advised to go on roundly with the Match lest otherwise though never so well affected they be altered with the Arts of Spain For saith he undoubtedly the King of Spain will resolve if possible to oblige one side And as the French do think he may please England with the restitution of the Palatinate so we may think he will please the French with rendring of the Valtoline But without the assistance of Parliament and compliance with the people the King could not go through with those weighty works which he was now to take in hand Now the things which troubled the People were set forth to the King in three particulars As That for the Subsidies granted in the two last Parliaments they received no retributions by Bils of Grace That some of their Burgesses were proceeded against after the Parliament was dissolved And that when they have satisfied the Kings demands he will nevertheless proceed to the conclusion of the Spanish Match Hereupon some of his nearest Council perswaded him to begin the work by removing the peoples Jealousies and to cast away some crums of his Crown amongst them and those crums would work miracles and satisfie many thousands And whereas the aim of the former Treaties was the setling of an universal peace in Christendom
sorts of persons might partake of the Publick Joy Prisoners for Debts were set at liberty and Pardon was granted to several Criminals as an earnest of the Kings respect and love to his Sister after this new Alliance The Duke of Buckingham was sent into France to his Christian Majesty to send away the Wife to the King of Great Britain and to be her Convoy He arrived at Paris the 24. of May with the Earl of Montgomery and other English Lords and was lodged in the Palace of the Duke of Chevereux who with his Lady was to conduct the Queen into England there to render her to the King her Husband During the seven days stay which the Duke made at Park the Feastings and Rejoicings were renewed and multiplied Bonfires shining and Canons playing but none did equalize the Feast that was made by the Cardinal of Richelieu The Second of Iune was the time appointed for our Queens departure The King of France sent to the Towns in her way to render her Majesty all due honors as if it were to himself The King of England having notice that the Queen was gone from Amiens sent a Royal Navy to Boloign to transport her the Fleet saluted the Town with a hundred peece of Canon Among other great Ladies the Duchess of Buckingham was sent to kiss the Queens hands as from the King her Husband desiring her to take her own time of coming over with most conveniencie to her own person The 22. of Iune New Stile the Queen imbarqued at Boloign and within Twenty four hours arrived at Dover And as the King was preparing to receive her she sent to his Majesty to desire him not to come till the morrow because she had been somewhat indisposed at Sea She passed that night at Dover and the next day about Ten of the clock the King was there with the Flower of the Nobility and after some Complements past caused every-body to retire and they were half an hour together in the Closet Thence his Majesty conducted the Queen to Canterbury and the same evening the Marriage was there consummated Then the Queen in testimony of her respect and love to the King her Husband made it her first suit as afterwards the King made known That he would not be angry with her for her faults of Ignorance before he had first instructed her to eschew them For that she being young and coming into a strange Country both by her years and ignorance of the Customs of the Nation might commit many Errors And she desired him in such cases to use no Third person but by himself to inform her when he found she did ought amiss The King granted her request and thanked her for it desiring her to use him even as she had desired him to use her which she willingly promised The Knights and Gentlemen of Kent together with the Trained Bands were by Order of the Council commanded to attend and receive the Queen at the most convenient places as she passed in such solemn manner and equipage as beseemed the dignity of his Majesty and the quality of her person Likewise the Magistrates of the Cities and Towns were commanded to attend at her passage in such Formalities as are used in principal and extraordinary Solemnities On the Sixteenth of Iune the King and Queen came both to London Great preparations were made and intended for her Majesties reception but the Plague then increasing those Ceremonies were laid aside A Chappel at Somerset-house was built for the Queen and her Family with Conveniencies thereunto adjoining for Capuchin-Friers who were therein placed and had permission to walk abroad in their Religious habits Thence-forward greater multitudes of Seminary-Priests and Iesuites repaired into England out of Forein parts This Summer the Pestilence raged in London At the entrance of the late King there was a great Plague in the City but this was far greater and the greatest that ever was known in the Nation For which cause a great part of Trinity-Term was adjourned from the First Return to the Fourth by the advice of the Privy-Council and the Justices of the Courts at Westminster and some few days in the beginning and ending thereof were holden for the better expediting and continuing of Causes and Suits and the returning and suing out of Processes and such like business as might be done in the absence of the Parties by their Attornies On the Eighteenth day of Iune the Parliament began at Westminster The King being placed in his Royal Throne the Lords sitting in their Robes the Commons also being present his Majesty spake thus I Thank God that the Business to be treated on at this time is of such a nature that it needs no Eloquence to set it forth For I am neither able to do it neither doth it stand with my Nature to spend much time in words It is no new business being already happily begun by my Father of blessed memory who is with God therefore it needeth no Narrative I hope in God you will go on to maintain it as freely as you advised my Father to it It is true He may seem to some to have been slack to begin so just and so glorious a work but it was his wisdom that made him loth to begin a work until he might find a means to maintain it But after that he saw how much he was abused in the confidence he had with other States and was confirmed by your Advice to run the Course we are in with your Engagement to maintain it I need not press to prove how willingly he took your Advice for the Preparations that are made are better able to declare it then I to speak it The assistance of those in Germany the Fleet that is ready for action with the rest of the Preparations which I have only followed my Father in do sufficiently prove that he entred into this Action My Lords and Gentlemen I hope that you do remember that you were pleased to imploy me to advise my Father to break off those two Treaties that were on foot so that I cannot say that I came hither a free unengaged man It 's true I came into this business willingly and freely like a Young man and consequently rashly but it was by your interest your engagement So that though it were done like a Young man yet I cannot repent me of it and I think none can blame me for it knowing the love and fidelity you have borne to your King having my self likewise some little experience of your affections I pray you remember that this being my first Action and begun by your Advice and intreaty what a great Dishonor it were to you and me if this Action so begun should fail for that Assistance you are able to give me Yet knowing the constancie of your love both to me and this Business I needed not to have said this but only to shew what care and sense I have
the Council That both the English and Dutch Ships designed to block up Dunkirk whilst our Fleet was gone to Spain were dispersed by a sudden storm and that Two and twenty Ships of Dunkirk Men of War having Four thousand Land-soldiers were at liberty to rove up and down and do mischief at Sea Hereupon the Council by their Letters to the Lords Lieutenants of the Counties upon the Seacoasts required that the Trained-Bands be in readiness with compleat Armor and other Furniture to march upon all Alarms to what place soever the necessary defence thereof shall require Also upon intelligence that these Two and Twenty Dunkirkers intended to land their Four thousand men in Ireland in case their design failed as to England Letters were expedited to the Lord Deputy of Ireland to guard those Sea-coasts for that it were alike mischievous if they should land in either Kingdom In the beginning of October the Fleet consisting of Eighty Ships great and small the Anne-Royal a Ship of Twelve hundred Tun being Admiral put forth from Plimouth for the Coasts of Spain with these Regiments aboard the Fleet according as we find it mentioned in an old List viz. The Duke of Buckingham's The Lord Wimbleton's Sir William St. Leger's Serjeant-Major-General and Colonel Burrough's Regiments were shipped in the Admirals Squadron which carried 2093 Seamen and 4032 Land-soldiers The Lord Valentia's Regiment The Earl of Essex's and Colonel Harwood's were shipped in the Vice-Admirals Squadron carrying 1765 Seamen and 3008 Land-soldiers The Earl of Essex was Vice-Admiral and commanded this Squadron Sir Charls Rich his Regiment Sir Edward Conway's and Colonel Regiments were shipped in the Rear-Admirals Squadron carrying 1833 Mariners 2998 Soldiers The Fleet after four days sail was encountred with a furious storm which so dissipated the Ships that of Fourscore no less then Fifty were missing for seven days Afterwards they all came together upon the Coasts of Spain where they found a Conquest ready the Spanish Shipping in the Bay of Cadez the taking whereof was granted feasible and easie and would have satisfied the Voyage both in point of honor and profit This was either neglected or attempted preposterously Then the Army landed and Sir Iohn Burroughs took a Fort from the Spaniard but the Soldiers finding good store of Spanish Wines abused themselves and hazarded the ruine of all had the Enemy known in what condition they were notwithstanding all Commands to the contrary So they were presently shipp'd again and the General putting to Sea intended to wait about Twenty days for the Plate-Fleet which was daily expected from the West-Indies But the evil condition of his Men by reason of a general Contagion enforced him to abandon the hopes of this great Prize So the English having effected nothing returned home with dishonor in November following It gave no small occasion of clamor That a Fleet so well provided and manned should land their men in an Enemies Country and return without some honorable Action But where the fault lay hath not been yet adjudged neither was any ever punished for failing in that duty The General for some time was not admitted into the Kings presence and some of the Colonels of his Army accused him and some Seamen aggravated the Accusation The General was examined before the Council and laid the fault on others in the Fleet who let the King of Spain's Ships pass without fighting them according to Order They on the other hand said they had no Order from their General to fight Thus was there fending and proving which contributed little to salve the dishonor which the Nation sustained by this unprofitable and ill-managed Design Upon the Fleets return to Plimouth in December and Consideration of the present use of the Soldiers therein imployed a Proclamation issued forth to command that no Soldiers of the Fleet should depart from their Colours or be discharged of their Service till the King shall signifie his pleasure how and when he will use their further Service So the Forces that returned from Cades were kept on foot and dispersed into several parts of the Kingdom There was also a strict Commandment That no Subject of this Realm of England shall have intercourse of Trade with any of the Dominions of the King of Spain or the Arch-Dutches of Flanders upon pain of Confiscation both of Ships and Goods that shall be found upon Voyage of Trade into any of the said Dominions Moreover in regard of the Subjects apparent danger and the encouragement of the Enemies of this State by putting Ships to Sea being weakly manned and ill furnished the King ordained that none should set forth any Ship or Pinnace of the burthen of Threescore Tuns or upwards unless they furnish the same with serviceable Muskets and Bandaliers sufficient for the arming of half the number of persons that sail therein together with a quantity of Ammunition answerable to the length of their intended Voyage Furthermore for the instructing and exercising of the Trained-Bands as well Officers as Soldiers by men experienced in Military Exercises The King gave Commandment that divers Low-Countrey Soldiers should be assigned to the several Counties and that the Trained-Bands should be ready at the times appointed for their Direction in their Postures and use of Arms. The Plague still continuing in London and Westminster and the places near adjoyning the King to prevent a general infection had adjourned a part of Michaelmas Term from the Utas thereof to the Fourth Return and afterwards to the Fifth and then the residue of the Term from the City of Westminster as also the Receipt of the Revenue from Richmond to the Town of Reading in Berkshire In which Term a Commission issued forth under the Great Seal for executing the Laws against Recusants according to the Petition of the late Parliament which was read in all the Courts of Judicature at Reading Which Commission together with Pricking of Sir Edward Cook and certain other Gentlemen Sheriffs who had appeared the last Parliament against the Duke and being Sheriffs could not be chosen Parliament-men gave occasion of discourse and hopes of a new Parliament At Hampton Court in December following this ensuing Order was made WHereas Four Articles concerning the Oath used to be taken by the High Sheriffs of Counties were this day presented unto the Board unto which Articles Sir Edward Cook Knight at this present High Sheriff of the County of Bucks Did upon tender of the Oath unto him take Exceptions and sent his Exceptions and the Reasons thereof in writing to Mr. Attorny General who by direction of the Board did attend all the Iudges of England to receive their Advice thereupon and the said Iudges having advised thereof did with one unanimous consent Resolve and so Report to the Lord Keeper That they found no cause to alter the said Oath but onely in one of the said Articles hereafter mentioned It is thereupon this day Ordered by their
Lordships according to the unanimous Advice of all the Iudges of England and his Majesties pleasure signified therein That the First Article propounded viz. You shall do all your pain and diligence to destroy and make to cease all manner of Heresies and Errors commonly called Lollaries within in your Bayliwick from time to time to all your power and assist and be helping to all Ordinaries and Commissioners of the Holy Church and favor and maintain them as oftentimes as you shall be required shall be left out in the Oath to be given to Sir Edward Cook and shall ever hereafter be left out in all Oaths to be given to the High Sheriffs of Counties hereafter And their Lordships do likewise Order according to the unanimous Advice of all the Iudges of England That the other thrée Articles doubted of shall stand in the said Oath to be ministred to the said Sir Edward Cook and to all other High Sheriffs as heretofore hath béen accustomed and that the Lord Keeper do give order to such Officers and Clerks in the Court of Chancery to whom it appertained to make out the Oath for the time to come according to present Order The expectation of a Parliament gave encouragement to the Bishop of Lincoln who yet retained the name of Lord Keeper notwithstanding his Sequestration several moneths before from the presence of the King the Council Table and the custody of the Seal to make an Address to his Majesty for a favorable interpretation of his actions But his carriage towards the Duke at the Parliament at Oxford was fresh in memory where the Bishop told the Duke in Christ-Church upon the Dukes rebuking him for siding against him That he was engaged with William Earl of Pembroke to labor the Redress of the Peoples Grievances and was resolved to stand upon his own Legs If that be your resolution said the Duke Look you stand fast and so they parted and shortly after that he was sequestred though the Seal was not disposed from him till the Thirtieth of October at which time it was given to Sir Thomas Coventry at Hampton-Court who was that day sworn of the Privy Council and sate there and sealed some Writs and afterwards came to the Term at Reading and sate there as Lord Keeper and heard Causes The King being pressed with his own Necessities and the Cry of the Nation against the Fruitless Voyage of Cadiz summoned a Parliament to meet in February and before the time of meeting his Majesty enjoyned the Archbishops and Bishops in both Provinces to proceed against Popish Recusants by Excommunication and other Censures of the Church and not to omit any lawful means of bringing them to Publick Justice especially he recommended to their vigilant care the unmasking and repressing of those who were not professed Papists yet disaffected to the true Religion and kept close their evil and dangerous affection and by secret means and slights did encourage and advance the growth of Popery This Command was seconded by a Proclamation requiring That all Convicted Papists should according to the Laws of this Realm remain confined to their dwelling places or within five miles thereof unless upon special Licences first obtained in Cases necessary Immediately before the Parliament Bishop Laud procured the Duke of Buckingham to sound the King concerning the Cause Books and Tenets of Mr. Richard Montague and understanding by what the Duke collected That the King had determined within himself to leave him to a Tryal in Parliament he said I seem to see a Cloud arising and threatning the Church of England God for his Mercy dissipate it About the same time the King declared his purpose to celebrate the Solemnity of his Coronation on Candlemas-day at the Palace of Westminster and required all persons who by reason of their Offices and Tenures were bound to perform any Duties at the Solemnitie to give their attendance and to be furnished in all respects answerable to an action of so high State according to their places and dignities Wherefore by a Commission under the Great Seal of England Sir Thomas Coventry Lord Keeper of the Great Seal Iames Lord Say High Treasurer of England Edward Earl of Worcester Keeper of the Privy Seal Thomas Earl of Arundel and Surrey Earl Marshal of England William Earl of Pembroke Lord High Chamberlain Edward Earl of Dorset and Sir Randol Crew Cheif Justice of the Common Pleas were authorised to receive and determine the Claims exhibited by any Person concerning Services to be performed at the approaching Coronation And the more to credit the Solemnity the King resolving to make certain of his Servants and other Subjects in regard of their Birth good Service and other Qualities Knights of the Bath Authorised Thomas Earl of Arundel and Surrey and Earl Marshal of England William Earl of Pembroke Lord Chamberlain to perform in his Majesties Name and behalf all the Rites and Ceremonies belonging thereto At the same time Writs were directed to all Sheriffs in the Realm of England and Dominions of Wales commanding them to make Proclamation That all such as had Forty pounds a year or more of Lands or Revenues in their own hands or the hands of Feoffees for their use for the space of Three years and are not yet Knights do at their perils prepare to present themselves in his Majesties Presence by the One and thirtieth of Ianuary to receive the Order of Knighthood Upon the asswaging of the great Pestilence through the Mercy and Goodness of God in withdrawing and almost removing the Scourge the King by His Royal Authority ordained a Publick and General Thanksgiving to be celebrated upon the Nine and twentieth of Ianuary being the Lords day in the Cities of London and Westminster and the places adjacent and on the Nineteenth of February in all other places of the Kingdom the manner and form whereof was prescribed by a Book composed by the Bishops according to his Majesties special Direction The Contagion ceasing the restraint enjoyned to the Citizens of London from resorting to Fairs for a time was taken off The number of those that died this year within and without the Walls of the City of London and in the Liberties and Nine out Parishes from the Sixteenth of December 24. to the Fifteenth of December 25. Was in Total Fifty four thousand two hundred sixty and five whereof of the Plague Thirty five thousand four hundred and seventeen On Candlemas-day King Charls was Crowned Bishop Laud had the cheif hand in compiling the Form of the Coronation and had the honor to perform this Solemnity instead of the late Lord Keeper Williams who through the Kings disfavor was sequestred from this Service which belonged to his place as he was Dean of Westminster Mr. Iohn Cosens as Master of the Ecclesiastical Ceremonies kneeled behinde the Bishop when the Prayers were read and directed the Quire when to answer The Ceremony in going to and all the
well-beloved Sir VVilliam Balfoure Knight and Iohn Dolbier Esquire or either of them for levying and providing certain numbers of Horses with Armes for Horse and Foot to be brought over into this Kingdome for our service viz. for the levying and transporting of one thousand Horse fifteen thousand pounds for five thousand Muskets five thousand Corslets and five thousand Pikes ten thousand five hundred pounds and for one thousand Curaseers compleat two hundred Corslets and Carbines four thousand five hundred pounds amounting in the whole to the said summe of thirty thousand pounds And this our letter shall be your sufficient warrant and discharge in this behalf Given under our Privy Seal at our Palace of Westminster the 30th of Ianuary in the third year of our Reign Iune the seventh the King came to the Lords House and the House of Commons were sent for And the Lord Keeper presented the humble Petition of both Houses and said MAy it please your most excellent Majesty the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in Parliament assembled taking into consideration that the good intelligence between your Majesty and your people doth much depend upon your Majesties answer unto their Petition of Right formerly presented With unanimous consent do now become most humble Suitors unto your Majesty that you would be pleased to give a clear and satisfactory answer thereunto in full Parliament Whereunto the King replyed The answer I have already given you was made with so good deliberation and approved by the judgements of so many wise men that I could not have imagined but it should have given you full satisfaction But to avoid all ambiguous interpretations and to shew you there is no doublenesse in my meaning I am willing to pleasure you as well in words as in substance read your Petition and you shall have an answer that I am sure will please you The Petition was read and this answer was returned Soit droit fait come il est desire C. R. This I am sure said his Majesty is full yet no more then I granted you in my first Answer for the meaning of that was to confirm your liberties knowing according to your own Protestations that ye neither meane nor can hurt my Prerogative And I assure you my Maxime is That the Peoples Liberties strengthen the Kings Prerogative and the Kings Prerogative is to defend the Peoples Liberties You see how ready I have shewed my self to satisfie your demands so that I have done my part Wherefore if this Parliament have not a happy conclusion the sin is yours I am free from it Whereupon the Commons returned to their own House with unspeakable joy and resolved so to proceed as to expresse their thankfulnesse and now frequent mention was made of proceeding with the Bill of subsidies of sending the Bills which were ready to the Lords of perfecting the Bill of Tunnage and Poundage and Sir Iohn Strangeâ—â—ies also expressed his joy at the answer and further added Let us perfect our Remonstrance King Iames was wont to say He knâ—w that by Parliaments which otherwise he could never have known After the granting of the Petition of Right the House ordered that the Grand Committees for Religion Trade Grievances and Courts of Justice to sit no longer but that the House proceed only in the consideration of Grievances of most moment And first they fell upon the Commission for Excise and sent to the Lord Keeper for the same who returned answer that he received Warrant at the Councel Table for the sealing thereof and when it was Sealed he carried it back to the Councel Table The Commission being sent it was read in the House viz. CHarles By the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. To Sir Thomas Coventry Knight Lord Keeper of the Great Seale of England To James Earl of Malburg Lord High Treasurer or England Henry Earl of Manchester Lord President of our Councel Edward Earl of Worcester Lord Keeper of our Privy Seal George Duke of Buckingham Lord high Admiral of England William E. of Pembrook Lord Steward of Our Houshold Philip Earl of Mountgomery Lord Chamberlain of Our Houshold Theophilus Earl of Suffolk Edward Earl of Dorset William Earl of Salisbury Thomas Earl of Exeter John Earl of Bridgwater James Earl of Carlisle Henry Earl of Holland William Earl of Denbigh George Earl of Totnes Sir George Hay Kt. Lord Chancellor of Scotland William Earl of Morton Thomas Earl of Kelley Thomas Earl of Mellers Edward Uiscount Conway one of our principal Secretaries of State Edward Uiscount Wimbleton Oliver Uiscount Grandison Henry Falkland Lord Deputy of Ireland To the Lord Bp. of Winchester Wil. Lord Bp. of Bath and Wells Fulk Lo. Brook Dudley Ash Lord Carlton Uice Chamberlain of Our Houshold Sir Thomas Edmonds Treasurer of our Houshold Sir John Savil Controler of Our Houshold Sir Robert Nanton Master of the Court of Wards Sir John Cook one of the principal Secretaries of State Sir Richard Weston Chancellour and under Treasurer of our Exchequer Julius Caesar Master of the Rolls and Sir Humphrey May Kt. Chancellour of Our Dutchy of Lancaster Greeting Whereas the presâ—nt Conjuncture of the general affairs of Christendom and our own particular interest in giving assistance unto our oppressed Allies and for providing for the defence and safety of our own Dominions and People do call upon Us to neglect nothing that may conduce to those good ends And because Monies the principal sinâ—ws of War and one of the first and chiefest movers in all great Preparations and Actions are necessary to be provided in the first place and We are carefull the same may be raised by such ways as may best stand with the State of Our Kingdoms and Subjects and yet may answer the pressing occasions of the present times We therefore out of the experience We have had and for the trust we repose in your wisdoms fidelities and dutifull care of your service And for the experience we have of all great Causes concerning us and our State both as they have relation to Foraine parts abroad and as to our Common-wealth and People at home Ye being persons called by us to be of Our Privy Councel have thought sit amongst those great and important matters which so much concern us in the first and chiefest place to recommend this to your special care and diligence And we do hereby authorise and appoint and strictly will and require you that speedily and seriously you enter into consideration of all the best and speediest ways and means ye can for raising of Monies for the most Important occasions aforesaid UUhich without extreamest hazard to Us our Dominions and People and to our Friends and Allies can admit of no long delay the same to be done by Impositions or othâ—rwise as in your wisdoms and best Iudgments ye shall find to be most convenient in a case of this inevitable necessity wherein Form â—nd
Schedule wherein the names of Ecclesiastical persons were written under the letters O and P O standing for Orthodox and P for Puritans for the Duke commanded that he should thus digest the names of eminent persons to be presented unto the King under that Partition King Charles in the entrance of his Reign proceeds with preparations for a War begun in his fathers time the Militia of the Kingdom through the long continued Peace was much decayed and the Musters of the Trained-bands were slight and seldom taken and few of the Commons were expert in the use of Arms wherefore the Lords Lieutenants were commanded by order of the Council to make a general Muster of the Trained Horse and Foot in their several Counties and to see to the sufficiency of the Men Horse and Arms and that all be compleat according to the best modern form and be in readiness for all occasions and especially now the affairs of Christendom stand upon such uncertain Terms and more particularly that the Maritine Towns be well manned and their men duely exercised and the King declared his will and pleasure that the Lord Lieutenants of the several Shires should have the nomination of their Deputy Lieutenants In the beginning of May Warrants were issued forth for a Leavy of Souldiers to be imployed in the service of his Majesties Brother and Sister the Prince and Princess Palatine whereof eight thousand were pointed to Rendezvous at Plymouth by the five and twenty of this Moneth and the charge of Coat and Conduct was ordered to be disbursed by the Country and the Country to be repaid out of the Kings Exchequer after the President of former times in like manner two thousand men were appointed to Rendezvous at the Port of Hull to be transported into the Netherlands for the service of the United-Provinces and two thousand were to be returned thence into England for his Majesties present service the mingling of a good proportion of old Souldiers and Officers with the new raised Companies was the ground of this exchange The remembrance of the late violence committed by Count Mansfield's Army in their passage to Dover occasioned a Proclamation to repress and prevent the like attempts of Soldiers as they now passed through the Counties to the places of their Rendezvous threatning the Offendors with the strictest proceedings against them for an Example of Terror and straitly commanding the Officers who have the charge of the Conduct for the removing of all occasions and pretences of disorders to see their Companies duely paid and provided of all necessaries and to be alwayes present with them and carefully to conduct them from place to place in like manner to prevent their Outrages when they should come to Plymouth or the parts adjoyning a Commission was sent impowering persons of trust upon any robbery fellony mutiny or other misdemeanors punishable with death by Martial Law committed by the Souldiers or other dissolute persons joyned with them to proceed to the trial and condemnation of all such Delinquents in such Summary course and order as is used in Armies in time of War according to the Law Martial and to cause Execution to be done in open view that others may take warning and be kept in due obedience The consummation of King Charles his Marriage with Henrietta Maria Daughter of France was near at hand The Treaty had proceeded far in his Fathers life time but was not in all points concluded the Articles were signed the year before by King Iames on the eleventh of May and by the French King on the Fourteenth of August On the Thirteenth of March this present year the Earls of Carlisle and Holland being then Ambassadors and Commissioners in France for this Marriage King Charls signed the Articles Besides the general there were other private Articles agreed upon in favor of the Papists of this Kingdom That the Catholicks as well Ecclesiasticks as Temporal imprisoned since the last Proclamation which followed the Breach with Spain should all be set at liberty That the English Catholicks should be no more searched after nor molested for their Religion That the Goods of the Catholicks as well Ecclesiastical as Temporal that were seised on since the forementioned Proclamation should be restored to them And on the Tenth of May as the first fruits of this promised Indulgence and favor the King granted unto Twenty Roman Priests a special Pardon of all Offences committed against the Laws then in force against Papists The Dispensation being come from Rome about the beginning of May the Espousals were made in Paris by Cardinal Richelieu The Ambassadors having first presented to the King the Contract of Marriage which was read openly by the Chancellor and his Majesty of France agreed thereunto The Duke of Chevereux likewise shewed his Procuration of power which the King of England had given him concerning the said Marriage The Archbishop of Paris pretended that it belonged to him to perform this Solemnity but the Cardinal carried it as well for the eminencie of his Dignity as for that he was chief Almoner and prime Curate of the Court. Sunday following the day appointed for these Nuptials the Bride went from the Louure about Nine in the morning to be dressed in the Archbishops house and afterwards the King Queen and Princesses and all the Court in rich Attire parted likewise from the Louure and came to the said house of the Archbishop and thence conducted the Bride to a Theatre exected on purpose before the Frontispiece of Nostre-Dame The Duke of Chevereux had Black habit lined with Cloth of Gold and beset with Diamonds The Earls of Carlisle and Holland Ambassadors were both clad in Beaten-Silver and went on each side of the Duke of Chevereux A Canopy being placed upon the Scaffold the King of France and Monsieur his Brother consigned the Queen of Great Britain their Sister into the hands of the Duke of Chevereux and the Marriage was solemnized according to the ordinary Ceremonies of that Church Which being performed they went in the same order and solemnity to Nostre-Dame the Duke of Chevereux going before the King When they came to the door of the Quire they made great Reverence to the King and Queen and then the Ambassadors retired into the Bishops house while Mass was said in the Church The Mass being ended the Duke of Chevereux and the Ambassadors came again to the door of the Quire to take their places and the same Order was observed in returning as in going And so they came from the Church into the Hall of the Archbishops house where the Feast Royal was made in as great magnificence as can be expressed The King sate under a Canopy at the middle of the Table and the Queen of Great Britain at his left hand and the Queen-Mother at his right the Duke of Chevereux sate next the Queen of England and the Earls of Carlisle and Holland next to the Duke To the intent that all