them in the Sea before they could land for he had a greater Navie then then the King of France whence hee conceived greatest security of resisting the Enemies thus Mat. Westm. Paris History of England Anno 12 13. pag. 224. 225. whose words we have related at large to cleere and take off the edge of this Prime president in answering which since all things will be cleered from these Writs to presse and provide ships your Majesties Officers would inferre the lawfulnesse of these Writs for ships ship-money now But under correction we humbly conceive that this president makes much against and nothing at all for these Writs and taxes which now issue forth for First it was before Magna Charta the taxes and Tallages the Petition of Right or any Subsidie Tonnage or poundage to guard the Sea the statutes are against them Secondly it was onely directly in Port-townes that had ships not to Countries and places that had no ships as the Writs are now Thirdly it was to the Masters and Owners of ships not to any other persons who being exempted from all Land-service were to serve the King and Kingdome at this pinch and extreamity at Sea but these Writs reach to all aswell those that have no ships as others Fourthly it was onely to furnish out their owne ships not to contribute money to hire the Kings ships or others or to build new of other or greater Burthens thē these that had bin These Writs now are contrary to this in all these respects at least in the intention and execution Fifthly here was no leavying of money to be paid to King John his Executors or Officers hands to provide or hire ships as now but every man was left to furnish his owne ships at his best rates with his owne provision and Marriners this quite otherwise Sixthly though the Marriners and Owners of the ships were by this Writ to furnish ships at their owne proper costs yet when they were thus furnished the King was to pay them both wages hire and freight as his successors ever had done since when they pressed any of your subjects ships or Carts for Warre or Carriage these were the words Iterum in servitium nostrum ad liberationes nostras which imply a Constancie as in all like Cases yea of your Majesty who now pay wages and freight for all the Mariners and Marchants ships your presse resolves as much therefore this makes nothing at all for this enforceing the subjects to set out ships to guard the Seas to serve your Majesty at your owne proper costs and charges but point blanke against it Seventhly this president makes it evident that those who are bound by their Teunres Lands and Lawes of the Kingdome to serve the King and defend the Kingdome by Land as all the horses foote Train'd Bands and Companies throughout England neither have bin ought to be charged with any Sea-services for heere all the Land men are charged to serve the King and defend the Kingdome by Land and these Sea-men onely by Sea neither of them enforced to serve or contribute to any service or defence both by Sea and Land for that had bin double and unreasonable charge therefore now who are charged with Land-service by these very presidents related ought not to be taxed towards the setting out of ships but Sea-men onely are to gùard the seas with such ships as they have and no other vpon your Majesties pay therefore these Writs which charge Land-men to contribute to the setting out of ships are directly against these Presidents and the Lawes and practice of these Lawes Eightly These Land men that were not bound by their Tenures and Lands to fine and yet were able to beare Armes were to receive the Kings pay and not to serve gratis even in this necessary defence of the Kingdome as these words ad capiendum solidos nostros resolve therefore certainly Mariners in those ships received the Kings pay too and the owners freight as now they doe from your Majesty and so the King not the Subjects bare the charge of the shipping then and if so in that time and age before Tonnage and poundage then your Majesty ought much more now to doe it since Tonnage and poundage is taken for that purpose Ninthly this Writ was in an extraordinary cause upon an extraordinary Exigent and occasion The King was heere deprived of his Crowne and Kingdome most unjustly by the Pope and the instigation of these treacherous Prelates and both of them given to King Philip of France a strong Army both by Sea and Land was ready to invade this Land yea to take possession of his Crowne and Kingdome this extraordinary suddaine Exigent put the Kingdome to these two extremities of those Writs there being therefore blessed be GOD no such extraordinary occasion as then this President being extraordinary is nothing pertinent to the Writs now in question nor any proofe at all of the lawfulnesse of this Taxe Tenthly it was in a time of open and eminent Warre and danger onely upon invasion ready to be made upon the Realme by a forraine Prince and Enemy both by Sea and Land therefore no proofe of the lawfulnesse of the present Writs and Taxes in time of peace For instance First Marshall Law may be executed and exercised by your Majesties Commission and Prerogative in time of Warre but not in peace as was lately resolved by your Majesty and the whole Parliament in the Petition of Right Secondly the Kings of England in times of open Warre might compell trained souldiers and others out of their owne Counties to the Sea coast or other parts for the necessary defence of the Realme but this they cannot doe in time of Peace 1. E. 3. 4. 5. Parliament M. Ca. 3. Thirdly the Kings of England in time of forraine Warres might by their Prerogative Royall seize the Land of all Priors Aliens when they were extant in England but that they could not doe in times of Peace 27. Asss. 48. 38. Asss. 20. pag. 27. Asss. lib. 3. 2. Cap. 8. Ed. 3. 38. 27. E. 3. 16. 40. E. 3. 10. 14. H. 4. 36. 22. E. 3. 43. 21. H. 4. 11. 12. Fourthly that the Kings of England when they had defensive Warres with Scotland they might lawfully demand receive and take Escuage of their subjects and so did other Lords of their Tenants but in times of peace they neither did nor could doe otherwise Lit. Sect. 199. 95. 98. 100. 101. 102. Fifthly the Dangelt there granted at first by common consent of the people in PARLIAMENT was due onely in the time of Warre and not of peace as appeares by the Premisses Sixthly subsidies and aides in former times were not demanded by KINGS nor granted in Parliament by the subjects but in time of Warre or to defray the debts of the Prince contracted by the Warres 14 E. 3. Ca 21. 15. E. 3. Ca. 12. 3. stat 2. stat 3. Ca. 1. 25. E. 3. stat 7. 11. H. 4. Ca. 10.
him odious and harefull to those that desired him for their King before Florentinus Wigorniensis Anno 1040. adds that it was such a tribute that scarce any man could pay it quapropter ab iis qui prius adventum ejus desider abant magnopere factus est exosus summopere memorabile importabile quod cum ciuibus extincti sunt and such a grievous insupportable Tax as that was then reported imposed by noe hereditary Prince but a forraine Danish Tyrant who dyed in drinke amidst his cups very shortly after as all our Historians Record be made or deemed a just and lawfull president for your Majesty row to follow God forbid Thirdly wee answer that all these presidents were before the government of the Kingdome was setled before any Charter or other Statutes against Taxes and tallages loanes aydes and benevolences without common consent in Parliament enacted before Tonnage and poundage granted therefore insufficient to this present cause Fourthly neither of the presidents was ever adjudged lawfull against the subjects and therefore not binding poore pr. 3. 93. Slades case Cook 6. 75. and they are very ancient Fifthly all these were during the time of Dangelt and involved in it what there we answer to that of Dangelt is applyable to all and each of these and that making cleere nothing for this taxe as we have manifested these presidents must doe the like The chiefe and most pertinent of all other since that of Dangelt is that of King Iohn 1213. who being injuriously deprived of his crowne and Kingdome at Rome by the Pope at the earnest solicitation of that arch Traytor Stephen Langton Archbishop of Canterbury William Bishop of London and the Bishop of Ely these Prelates departing from Rome went into France and there conspired with the Bishops and King Philip of France against their owne Soveraigne they then solemnly published the deposition and sentence of the Pope given against him at Rome and then in the behalfe of the Pope they enjoyned aswell the King of France as all other men as would obtaine remission of sinnes that uniting themselves together they would all goe into England in an hostile manner and depose King John of his Crowne and Kingdome and substitute another worthy man in his stead by the papisticall authority when as the Apostles never deposed any Princes of their Crowne and Kingdome but commanded all to feare and submit to them Rom. 13. 12. 1 Tim. 13. 12. 1 Pet. 2. 13. Hereupon the King of France prepared a very strong and great Army and Navie to invade England both by Sea and Land to depose King John and to get the Crowne of England to himselfe King John having perfect intelligence of all these things in the moneth of March commanded ships excellently furnished to come together out of all the parts of England that so he might with strong hand resist boldly those that intended to invade England he likewise raised gathered together a very great Army out of all England and Ireland and the places adjoyning that Mat. Westm. 1213. pa. 90. relates the story Mat. Paris addes this unto that the King in the Moneth of March caused all the ships out of the Ports of England to be in readinesse by his Writ which he directed to all the Bayliffes of the Ports in these words Johannes Rex Angliae c. praecipimus tibi quatenus visis istis literis eas in propria persona vna cum balivis portuum ad singulos portus balliva tua facias diligenter numerare equos aut plures praecipuos ex parte vestra Magistri omnium naviu illorum quorum naves sunt quot sunt suos naves suas omnia sua diligenter habeaâ—â—t illas apud Pertâ—â—osum in media quadra gessis beâ—â—e ordinat bonis probis marinellis bene armatis qui ituri sunt in servitium nostrum ad liberationes nostras tum habeas ibi memoriter distincte in breviate fere post quorum nomina in singulis partibus inveneris quorum ipsi sunt quot equos quilibet ferre potest hunc facias nobis scire quot quae naves iis fuerunt in partibus suis die dominico primo post cineres sicut praecipimus habeas ibi hoc breve teste meipso apud novum templum tertio die Martii These things thus done concerning ships the King sent other letters to all the Sheriffes of this Kingdome in this forme Johannes Rex Angliae c. Summoniens per bonos summonitores Barones milites omnes liberos homines servientes vel quicunque sunt vel quocumque tendunt qui arma debent habere vel arma habere possunt qui homagium nobis vel ligantium fecerunt quod sicut nos semetipsos omni sua diligunt sint apud Doveram Instant clausam paschae bene parati cum equis armis cum toto posse suo ad defendendum Caput nostrum capita sua terram Angliae quod nullus remaneat qui arma portare poterit sub nomine Culvertugii perpetuae servitutis ut illi veniant ad capiendos solidos nostros habend victualia omnia mercata balroarium mare venire facias ut sequantur exercitum nostris hominibus belli Ita quod mille mercarum de Ballivis alibi teneatur alit tuipse tum sis ibi cum predictis summonitoribus scias quod scire volumus quomodo venerunt qui non videas quod te est formale venias cum equis armis hoc ita exequeris ne inde certificandum ad corpus tuum nos capere debeamus inde habeas rotulum tuum ad nos certificand quis remanesrit These two Writs therefore being divulged throughout England there came together to the Sea coasts in divers places where the King most suspected to wit at Dover Feverisham and Ipswich men of different condition and age fearing nothing more then that report of Culvertage but when after a few dayes there wanted victuals for so great a multitude the chiefe Commanders of the Warres sent home a great company of the unarmed vulgar retaining onely the Knights their servants and free-men with the slingers and Archers neere the Sea Coast moreover John Bishop of Norwich came out of Ireland with 500 souldiers and many horsemen to the King and were joyfully received of him All therefore being assembled to the battle and mustered at Bark Downes there were amongst selected souldiers and servants strong and well armed 60000. valiant men who if they all had one heart and one mind towards the King of England and defence of their Country there had not bin a Prince under heaven against whom the King of England might not have defended himselfe safe Moreover if the King of England resolved to joyne in battell at Sea with the Adversaries that they might drowne
imposed by the Kings absolute power and will but by the common consent of all the Peeres in Parliament Fiftly it was payd to save and ransome their lives and liberties from a conquering Enemy not to a Gracious Prince to secure them from an Enemy Sixtly it was then thought and called by all our Historians an Intolerable grievance and oppression which as Speed saith in his History of Great Britaine lib. 7. cap. 44. sect. 147. and others emptied all our Land of all our Coine in the Kingdome Therefore in all these respects no warrant at all of the lawfulnesse of this Tax but a strong Argument against it to prove it both an Intolerable grievance and an unjust vexation The second Tax called Dangilt intended in the Objection is thus defined in Edward the Confessors Lawes Cap. 28. by that famous graund Inquest of twelve of the principall men out of every Countie of England appointed by William the Conquerour in the fourth yeare of his Reigne as Hoveden pag. 602. 603. Dangilt was enacted to be payd by reason of Pirats infesting the Countrey who ceased not to waste it all they could To represse this their Insolency it was enacted that Dangilt should be yearely rendred to wit one shilling out of every Plough land throughout England to hire those that might resist or prevent the occasion or eruption of Pirats The black Booke of the Exchequer Lib. 1. cap. 11. thus defines it to repulse the Danes It was enacted by the Kings of England in Parliament that out of every hide of Land by a certaine perpetuall Rent two shillings should be payd to the use of Valiant men who had diligently and continually should guard the Sea Coasts should represse the force and the assaults of the Enemy because therefore two shillings rent was principally instituted for the Danes it was called Danes gelt But that president of the second sort of Dangilt most insisted upon is so farre from warranting of the lawfulnesse of this present Tax that in truth it is an unanswerable argument against it if well considered For the first it was not imposed upon the subject by the Kings absolute Prerogative as this is but granted and imposed by Parliament with the peoples consent as Tunnage and Poundage hath been since This is evident by the Lawes of the Confessor Et ad eam insolentiam reprimendam statutum est dare geldum reddi conjunctim c. If therefore at first enacted to be payd yearely one shilling out of every hide of Land to finde men to guard the Sea and Sea Coasts against the Danes and Pirates that then this was certainly granted and enacted by Parliament since the King alone by his absolute power much lesse to such a Writ as now issueth could make no such Act or annuall Law Secondly by this the blacke Booke of the Exchequer H. 1. cap. 11. Ad injurias igitur arcendas à Regibus Angliae to wit in Parliament where the Kings of England are said onely to enact Lawes and the Lawes then enacted are said to be the Kings Lawes and Acts because his assent is unto them binding Statutum est ut de singulis hidis Iure quodam perpetuo duos solidos argenti solverent ad usus nostros cum factum hoc legitur antiquâ lege c. If then this were enacted by a certaine perpetuall Law and payd by an annuall Law as by this Exchequer Record appeares then certainly by an Act of Parliament Thirdly by an addition to the Lawes of King Edward the Confessor Cap. 12. cited in Hoveden likewise Annalium posteriorum pag. 603. which saith that every Church wheresoever situated is exempted from this Tax untill the dayes of William Rufus because they put more confidence in the prayers of the Church than in the defence of Armes Donec tandem à Baronibus Angliae auxilium requirebatur ad Normandiam requirendam retinendam de Roberto sue fratre cognomine Curt. concessum est ei non lege sanctum atque firmatum sed hoc necessitatis causa erat de unaquaque hide quatuor solidos ecclesia non excepta dum vero collectio census fieret proclamabat ecclesiae suae reposcens libertatem sed nihil profecit by which exemption of the Church and Church Lands from this Tax and this request of William Rufus to his Barons to grant him their Ayd to gaine and retaine Normandy which they did grant unto him onely for their present necessitie but did not annually establish and confirme the graunt of foure shillings on a hide land by Law as Dangilt first was granted and that upon the lands of the Church as well as others it seemes most apparent that Dangilt and this Tax succeeding in lieu of it and then taken by graunt was first granted by Parliament and that then no such Tax could be imposed by Kings even in times of warre and necessitie to regaine and preserve their proper Inheritance but by Parliament Fourthly by Sir Henry Spilman in his authorized Glossary 1626. title Dangelt pa. 2009. 201 Mr. Selden in his Mare clausum 1636. dedicated to your Majesty and published by your Majesties speciall cōmand 6. 2. cap. 11. 15. who both include to this opinion that the Dangelt was most imposed by royall authority but given by the peoples full consent in Parliament and that the taxes which succeeded were not annually granted nor paid but onely in time of Warre sc. Consult etiam magnatibus Parliament secundum authoritatem the advice of the great men of the Kingdome and by the authority of Parliament If then this taxe of Dangelt to defend the Seas was granted and imposed by Parliament onely with these taxes that succeed it not by the Kings royall prerogative without a Parliament This taxe for the Shipmoney also ought to be thus imposed and not otherwise even by thefe present Examples Secondly the Dangelt was not imposed or enacted in times of Peace but if Warre ceased the taxe also ceased in point of Law and it is Iustice according to the Law and Philosophers rule cessante causa cessat effectus that the taxe lasted and was granted and lawfully taken onely during the warres with the Danes is most apparant by the fore-recited orders of Edw. the Confessors Lawes cap. 12. by the black booke of the Exchequelib 1. cap 11. which addes moreover that when the land had the taxe being vnder Wm. the Conquerour Noluit hoc annuum solvi quod erat urgenti necessitate bellicis tempestatibus exactum non tamen omnino propter Importunarum causas dimitti rerum igitur temporibus ejus vel successoribus ipsius solutum est hoc cum ab exteris periculis bella vel opiniones bellorum fuere which Sir Henry Spilman in the very same words in librum Glossarii If then this Dangelt though granted by Parliament was due and collected by right on the subjects onely in time of forraigne Warres not in dayes of peace we have neither open Warre nor
Tax but a most pregnant Evidence against it having no cōtinuance or allowance at all from any Parliament as Dangelt had Fiftly admit that the tax of Dangelt were not imposed by Parliament but onely for Regall power and that lawfull in these antient times as is pretended all which we have manifestly proved voyd yet it is no Argument at all to prove the lawfulnesse of this present taxe of Ship-money and that in these respects First that Dangelt was first imposed in time of Warre and destruction before the government of the Kingdome was setled by good lawes therefore no president for this in time of Peace nor in this setled estate of the Realme so long continued in wholsome Lawes Secondly it was before any extant Statutes made against the imposing of any Taxe tallage aide or benevolence without common consent of the Lords spirituall and temporall and Commons in Parliament this and divers fore-recited Acts of this nature against it are ratified by your Majesty in the Petition of Right Thirdly it was before any subsidie of Tonnage and poundage granted to guard the Seas and Sea Costs to exempt the subject from these and all other taxes for that purpose and in truth it was the Tonnage and poundage of those times that after Tonnage and Poundage granted to guard the Seas c. Fourthly it was certaine first 1s afterwards 2s every hide land and that certainly limited this arbitrary and incertainly now rated by any Parliament Fiftly that was onely charged vpon lands not goods this on goods and those that have no lands Sixtly it was not alwaies annually paid but in times of warres as Spil Glossary pa. 200 and diuers others fore-recited authors have it thus Now for 3. yeares together in time of peace in these respects therefore we humbly declare vnto your Majesty that this principall president of Dangelt is no warrant of all for lawfulnesse of this taxe of Shipmoney but a cleere and vndeniable authority against it in answering whereof we have deseated and cleered and so answered most other presidents The next Presidents that are objected are those out of ancient stories Mat. Westm. Anno 874 writes of King Alfred that when the Danesinvaded the Realme with two Navies having prepared a Navy to set it to Sea tooke one of the Enemies ships and put sixe more to flight Anno 877. the enemies then encreasing in all parts the King commanded Galies and Galeas 2 long as naves fubricari per Regnum prelio hostili adventantibus obcurrit imposit is que piratio in illis viis maris custodiendis commisit Anno 877. 992 that King Alfred appointed guardians in severall parts of the Realme against the Danes quo etiam tempore fecit Rex Alfridus totum Navile quod terrestre prelio Regni sui tranquillitati providerat that Anno 1008. Rex Ethelberdus jussit parari 310. hadis navem vnam ex orto hi tum galeam vnam loricam that Anno 1040. Rex Hardecanutus vnumquemque reminisci suas classes orto mencos singulis rationibus decem naues de tota Angl. pendi precipit vnde cuncti qui ejus advent prius oraverunt exosus est effectus It is added with all that those Kings imposed ships and ship-money on the subjects therefore your Majesty may doe the like To these presidenrs we answer First that they are onely in time of open Warre and invasion by enemies for the Kingdomes necessary defence not in times of peace Againe the three first of them are onely that the King provided a Navie commanded ships to be builded through the Kingdome to guard the Seas and encounter the enemy as well by Sea as by Land but speakes not that this was done at the subjects owne charge nor that any tax was laid upon them for it or that the Command of his was obeyed or that he might lawfully impose a charge on his subjects without their common consent The fourth of them Anno 1008. saith of Ethelbert that he commands one ship to be provided for out of every two hundred and tenne Acres but saith not that this command was not by the King absolute power onely for it might be by common consent in Parliament agreed upon for ought appeares or that this command was just and lawfull neither doth he informe us that they were built Wigorniensis Anno 1008. addes that they were accordingly prepared and that the King put these souldiers into them with Victuals that they might defend the Coasts of the Kingdome from the incursion of Forreyners so that the subjects were not onely at the charge of the building of the ships the King for the Victuals Marriners souldiers and wages and in truth when all was done they had but bad successe for the same Historian saith that a great storme arose which tore and bruised the ships and drove them a shore where Holuo thus burnt them sic totius populi maximus labor periit yet this president though nearest of all comes not home to the present cause First because it was onely to build ships in the case of necessity for defence of the Realme where there wanted ships to guard it but now thankes be to God we have ships enough already built to guard the Sea against all the World Secondly every 100 and ten Acres to build a ship of 3 Oares unam triremem Wigorne writes but not taxed to pay so much to build one as now Thirdly the ships built were set out not at the subjects but at the Kings charge and cost therefore no president for this Taxe to set out ships built at ours Fourthly the charge was certaine and equall every hide land being equally charged this altogether uncertaine and unequall Fifthly this was after the time of Dangelt was set on foot therefore not done by the Kings absolute power but by common consent in Parliament as we have proved Dangelt to be granted Sixthly this president proves onely that such a thing was there commanded to be done by the King not that the King might or did lawfully command or enforce the subjects to doe it without the common consent Seventhly that was no annuall charge put on the subjects as that now but extraordinary not drawne into practice since for ought that appeares therefore differeth from this Tax of Ship-money Eightly no corporation or goods were then charged but onely lands and all were ruled by the land they held therfore this extēds not to justifie the tax of ship-money which is laid upon Corporations Goods and such as have no Land at all Ninthly no man was enjoyned this under pain of Imprisonment nor his goods distrained or sold if he refused it for of this there is not a syllable therefore no president to warrant the present imprisonment and destreining of these mens goods who now refuse to pay the tax for that of Hardicanutus not to be just and lawfull but an illegall and tyrannicall Act which saith Mat. Westm. Anno 1040. made
32. H. 8. cap. 23. 37. H. 8. 1. 14. and other fore-recited Acts Seventhly the Goods of their Enemies may be lawfully seized by the King and his subjects in time of open Warre not in dayes of Peace 2. R. 3. 2. 7. E. 4. 13. 44. Bro. forfeit 5. 22. Ed 4. 45. 22. Ed. 3. 16 17. 36. H. 8. Bro. property 38. Ployd 384. Eightly by the custome of Kent and the common Law not onely the KINGS of ENGLAND but their Subjects too may justifie their entry into another mans ground and the making of Bulwarks and entrenchments therein of defence or offence of the Enemy in time of Warre which they cannot doe in time of Peace 8. Ed. 4. 73. Bro. Custome 45. and trespasse 406. Ninthly in times of Warre men may justifie the pulling downe of Houses and Suburbs adjoyning to a Fort or City for their better defence and safety but they cannot doe it in time of Peace 14. H. 8. 16. Bro. trespasse 406. Tenthly Your Majesties Royall Progenitors might appoint Marchants and others in time of Warres for your Armies and Forts without Commission not onely in time of peace 14. E. 3. 2. 19. And so might Lords and Knights give Liveries in time of Warre but not in peace 17. H. 4. Ca. 14. 8. H. 6. Ca. 4. 1. H. 4. Ca. 7. by these tenne Cases then to omit others It is apparent that there is a vast and infinite difference in one and the selfe-same Act in time of Warre and of peace that the same Act may be lawfull in time of Hostility yet utterly unlawfull in the dayes of peace this President is no Argument of the lawfulnesse of this Taxe nor any others of like nature that can be objected being onely in time of Warre to prove the taxe of Ship-money nor yet for pressing Ship-vales for carriage and other speciall service upon hire and your Majesties owne wages not at the Subjects costs as Carts horses Loyters are now often pressed in these times of Peace but a direct Argument against them as the tenne fore-cited Cases doe evidence For any other pretended president that may be alledged to prove the lawfulnesse of this Taxe wee intend for brevities sake here not to trouble your Majestie with any particular Answer unto them they being all answered fully in these fore-objected the prime and most pertinent that are extant yet now as wee have cleered them point blanke against those Writs and Taxes for Ship-money These our most gracious Soveraigne are the Grounds Reasons and Authorities on the one hand and Replies on the other whereupon wee humbly conceive these Writs and Taxes of Ship-money wherewith wee have lately beene and yet are grievously burthened to be directly contrary to the Lawes and Statutes of this your Realme and the antient Just hereditary Rights and Liberties of your poore Subjects and an intollerable Grievance and oppression to us all which wee here in all humblenesse submit to your Highnesse most just and mature consideration not doubting but your Majestie however formerly by some of Your great Officers mis-informed of the legalitie of it will now upon the serious view of this our humble and dutifull Remonstrance which wee in all Humility together with our selves prostrate at Your Royall feete will alter Your royall Judgement of this Taxe and conclude it to be against the Lawes and our Rights and Liberties wee almost assure our selves that your Majesties most Honourable privie Counsell with the Reverend sage Judges of the Common Law if seriously charged on their Allegiance to your Majesties Highnesse without feare or flattery what they conceive of the lawfulnesse of those Writs and Taxes will upon the Consideration of these our Reasons and Answers to these chiefest presidents at leastwise upon the full hearing of the Arguments of our Counsell learned in the Lawes ready to debate it more amply if this short Remonstrance be not satisfactory with our Councell may be fairely and indifferently heard in all your Majesties Courts of Justice where this Point shall be drawne in question by us if occasion require truly informing Your Majestie that they concurre in Judgement with us in these that these Writs and Taxes are against the Lawes and Statutes of this your Realme the ancient Rights and Liberties of us Your Subjects which wee know and are assured Your most Gracious Majesty will inviolably preserve considering your promised Oath and Regall protestation notwithstanding the mis-information and false suggestion of any of Your great Officers and Servants to the contrary the rather because it was Your late royall Fathers Speech of blessed memory to all the Nobles Commons and people in the Parliament house Anno 1609. twice Printed for an eternall monument of his Goodnesse and reall Justice by his speciall Command both by it selfe and in the large Volumes of his peerelesse Workes That a King Governing in a setled Kingdome leaves to be a King and degenerates into a Tyrant so soone as hee leaves to Rule by his Lawes Therefore all Kings that are not Tyrants or perjured will be glad to bound themselves within the limits of the Lawes and they that perswade them to the contrary are * Projectors Vipers and Pests both against them and the Common-wealth Upon the tender Considerations of these premisses we most humbly beseech Your most Excellent Majestie out of your Princely goodnesse and Justice since by the great God of Israel commanded hee that rules over men must and ought to bee just ruling in the feare of God and wee all know and beleeve your Majesty to bee such a Ruler set upon Gods owne Throne over us your people for that purpose to doe Justice and Judgement to all your loyall Subjects in all Cases whatsoever especially such as are most publique and of greatest Consequence to your peoples woe or weale to exonerate Us your true hearted dutifull Subjects from these your Royall writs and heavie Taxations which wee neither can nor dare any longer contribute to for the premised Reasons And wee as our Common duty ever obligeth Us shall persevere to pray for your Majestie long to continue a most just and gracious Prince over us to our joynt and severall comforts and to Your owne eternall Honour in the surviving monuments and Annals of your Fame A List of Ships with their Charge Ships Tunnes Men Money BArkshire 1 400 160 4000 Bedfordshire 1 400 120 3000 Bristoll 1 200 80 2000 Buckingamshire 1 450 180 4500 Cambridgeshire 1 350 140 3500 Cheshire 1 350 140 3500 Cornwall 1 650 260 6500 Cumb. and Westm. 1 100 40 1000 Darbyshire 1 350 40 3500 Devonshire 1 900 360 9000 Durham 1 200 80 2000 Dorsetshire 1 550 220 5000 Essex 1 800 320 8000 Glocestershire 1 550 220 5500 Hampshire 1 600 260 6000 Huntingtonshire 1 200 80 2000 Herefordshire 1 400 160 4000 Kent 1 800 320 8000 Lancashire 1 350 140 3500 Lestershire 1 450 180 4500 Lincolnshire 1 800 320 8000 London 2 each 800 320 16000 Middlesex 1 550 220 5500 Munmoth 1 150 60 1500 Norfolke 1 800 320 8000 Northumberland 1 500 200 5000 Northampton 1 600 240 6000 North Wales 1 400 160 4000 Nottingham 1 350 140 3500 Oxford 1 350 140 3500 Rutland 1 100 40 1000 Salop 1 450 180 4500 South Wales 1 490 200 4900 Stafford 1 200 80 2000 Suffolke 1 800 320 8000 Somerset 1 800 320 8000 Surrey 1 400 160 4000 Sussex 1 500 200 5000 Warwicke 1 400 160 4000 Wiltshire 1 700 129 7000 Worcestershire 1 400 161 4000 Yorkshire 2 600 240 12000 Ships Tunnes Men Money Summe 45. 20450. 98030. 228500. FINIS * Note well these fitting Epithetes