but to establish it by a free grant in Parliament New burdens since the last Parliaments Since the breach of the last Parliament his Majesty hath by a new book of Rates very much increased the burden upon Merchandize and now Tonnage and Poundage old and new impositions are all taken by Prerogative without any grant in Parliament or Divers mischiefes from these grievances The Kingdom bound by one private case authority of law as we conceive from whence divers inconveniences and mischiefes are produced 1 The danger of the president that a judgement in one Court and in one case is made binding to all the Kingdome 2 Mens goods are seized their legall suits are stopped and justice Interruptiod of Iustice denied to those that desire to take the benefit of the Law 3 The great summes of money received upon these impositioins Mâ—simployment of the summes received intended for the guard of the Seas claimed and defended upon no ground but of publike trust for protection of Merchants and defence of the ports are dispersed to other uses and a new taxe raised for the same purposes 4 These burdens are so excessive that trade is thereby very much The burdens excessive hindered the commodities of our owne groweth extreamly abased and those imported much inhaunsed all which lies not upon the Merchant alone but upon the generality of the subject and by this meanes the stocke of the Kingdom is much diminisht our exportation being lesse profitable and our importation more chargeable And if the warres and troubles in the neighbour parts had not brought almost the whole streame of Trade into this Kingdom we should have found many more prejudicial effects of those impositions long before this time than yet we have done especially they To the American plantations especiall have been insupportable to the poore plantations whither many of his Majesties subjects have been transported in divers parts of the Continent and Islands of America being a designe tending to the honour of the Kingdome and the inlargement of his Majesties dominions The adventurers in this noble worke have for the most part no other support but Tobacco upon which such a heavy rate is set that the King receives twice as much as the true value of the commoditie to the owner 5 Whereas these great burdens have caused divers Merchants Impositions upon trade intercoursory to apply themselves to a way of traffique abroad by transporting goods from one Country to another without bringing them home into England It hath been lately endeavoured to set an Imposition upon this trade so as the King will have a duty out of those commodities which never came within his dominions to the great discouragement of such active and industrious men The next generall head of Civil grievances was inforcing men Compositions for Knighthood to compound for Knighthood which though it may seeme past because it is divers years since it was used yet upon the same grounds the King may renew it as often as he pleaseth for the composition lookes backward and the offence continuing is subiect to a new fine The state of that businesse he layed downe thus Heretofore when the services due by tenure were taken in kind The Originall ground of the charg it were fit there should be some way of tryall and approbation of those that were bound to such services Therefore it was ordained that such as were to do Knights service after they came of age and had possession of their lands and should be made Knights that is publikely declared to be fit for that service divers ceremonies and solemnities were in use for this purpose and if by the parties neglect this was not done he was punishable by Fine there being in those times an ordinary and open way to get Knighthood for these who were borne to it Although the use of this hath for divers ages been discontinued yet there have past very few Kings under whom there hath not bin An old grievance in the kind a general Summons requiring those who had lands of such value as the Law prescribes to appeare at the Coronation or some other great solemnity and to be Knighted and yet nothing intended but New in the manner and excesse the getting of some small fines so as this grievance is not altogether new in the kind though it be new in the manner and in the excesse of it and that in divers respects 1 First It hath been extended beyond all intention of and colour of law not only Inne-holders but likewise Lease-holders Copy-holders Merchants and others scarce any man free from it Respect of 2 The â—iâ—es have beene immoderate far beyond the proportion The generality of former times 3 The proceedings have been without any example president or rule of justice for though those that were summoned did appeare Greatnesse of fines Multiplication of distresses and issues yet distresses infinite were made out against them and issues increased and multiplied and no way open to discharge those issues by plea or otherwise but only by compounding with the commissioners at their own pleasure 3 The third was the great Inundation of Monopolies whereby heavy burthens are laid not only upon forraigne but also native Monopolies introduced by the sope patent undertaken by papists commodities These began in the Sope-Patent the principall undertakers in this were divâ—rs popish Recusants men of estate and quality such as in likelyhood did not only aime at their private gaine but that by this open breach of Law the King and his people might be more fully divided the wayes of Parliament men more throughly obstructed Amongst the infinite inconveniences and Full of mischeife mischiefes which this did produce these few may be observed 1 The impairing the goodnesse and inhancing the price of most 1 the price of commodities increast and goodnesse abated Restraint of trade of the Commodities and Manufactures of the Realme yea of those who are of most necessary and common use as Salt Sope Beere Coles and infinite others 2 That under colour of Licences Trades and Manufactures are restrained to a few hands and many of the Subjects deprived of their ordinary way of livelyhood 3 That upon such illegal grants a great number of persons had bin unjustly vexed by Pursevants Imprisonments attendance upon Illegall imprisonments vexations the Councell Table seisure of goods and many other wayes Shipmony 4 The fourth that great and unparalleld grievance of the Shipmoney which though it may seeme to have more warrant of Law than the rest because there hath a judgement past for it yet in truth it is thereby aggravated if it be considered that Aggravated not supported by the Iudgement Which is not grounded upon any law custom president or authority of law bookes that judgement is founded upon the naked opinion of some judges without any written Law without any custome or authority of Law broken
THE KINGDOMES Manifestation WHEREIN A course may be taken for us and our posterity to enjoy Peace and Truth together with the propagation of the Gospell with certaine considerations condusing thereunto Delivered in a speech BY IOHN PYM Esquire Once a worthy Member of the House of Commons now deceased the eighth of December 1643. LONDON Printed by B. H. and are to be sold by J. West neere the New-Exchange 1643. A Declaration of the Grievances of the Kingdome delivered in Parliament by Iohn Pym ESQUIER NEver Parliament had greater businesses to The precedent consideration of grievances will furth or the supply dispatch nor more difficulties to encounter therfore wee have reason to take all advantages of order and addresse and hereby wee shall not only doe our owne worke but dispose and inable our selves for the better satisfaction of His Majesties desire of supply The grievances being removed our affections will carry us with speed and cheerefulnesse to give His Majestie that which may be sufficient both for his honour and support Those that in first place shal endeavour to redresse the grievances will be found not to hinder but to be the furtherers of his Majesties service hee that takes away weights doth as much advantage motion as hee that addeth wings Diverse pieces of this maine work have bin already propounded Great works are first to be considered in the modell his endeavour should bee to present to the House a modell of the whole In the Creation God made the world according to that Idea or form which was eternally preexistent in the divine mind Moses was commanded to frame the Tabernacle after the patterne shewed him in the Mount Those actions are seldome well perfected in the execution which are not first well moulded in the designe and proposition He said he would labour to contract those manifold affaires both of the Church and State which did so earnestly require the wisdom A double method compounded of grievances cures and faithfulnesse of this House into a double method of grievances and cures and occause there wanted not some who pretended that these things wherewith the Common-Wealth is now grieved are muâ—h for the advantage of the King and that the redresse of them will be to His Majesties great disadvantage and losse hee said hee Publike grievances disadvantagious to the King doubted not but to make it appeare that in discovering the present gâ—eat distempers and disorders and procuring remedy for them we should be no lesse serviceable to his Majestie who hath summoned us to this 〈◊〉 Councell than usefull to those whom wee doe here represent for the better effecting whereof he propounded three The first generall division maine branchâ—s of his discourse In the first hee said hee would offer them the severall heads of some principall grievances under which the Kingdome groaned In the second he undertooke to prove that the disorders from whence those grievances issued were as hurtfull to the King as to the people In the third he would advise sâ—ch a way of healing and removing those grievances as might be equally effectual to maintaine the honour and greatnesse of the King and to procure the prosperity and contentment of the people In the handling whereof he promised to use such expressions as Sharp matters to bee mitigated in the expression The K can do no wroÌ„g might mitigate the shâ—rpenes and bitternes of those things whereof he was to speak so far as his duty faithfulnesse would allow It is a great Prerogative to the K. and a great honour attributed to him in a Maxime of our Law that he can doe no wrong he is the fountaine of Iustice and if there be any injustice in the execution of his Commands the Law casts it upon the Ministers and frees the King Activity life and vigour are conveied into the sublunary creatures by the influence of Heaven but the malignity and distemper the câ—use of so many Epidemicall diseases do proceed from the noysome vapours of the earth or some ill affected qualities of the aire without any infection or alteration of those pure celestiall and incorruptible bodies In the like manner he said the authority the power and countenance of Princes may concurre in the actions of evill men without partaking in the injustice and obliquitie of them Hurtfull projects presented to the King under plausible notions These matters where of we complaine have bin presented to his Majestie either unâ—er the pretence of Royall Prerogatives which he is bound to maintaine or of publike good which is the most honourable object of Regall wisdome But the covetous and ambitious designes of others have inâ—erposed betwixt his Royall intentions and the happines of his people making those things pernicious and hurtfull which his Majestie apprehended as just and profitable He said the things which he was to propound were of a various A promise of moderation nature many of them such as required a very tender and exquisite consideration In handling of which as he would be bold to use the liberty of the place and relation wherein he stood so hee would bee carefull to expresse that Modestie and humilitie which might be expected by those of whose actions he was to speake And if his judgment Submission to reformation or his tongue should slip into a particular mistake hee would not thinke it so great a shame to faile by his owne weaknesse as hee should esteem it an honour and advantage to be corrected by the wisdom of that house to wc h be submitted himselfe with this protestation that he desired no reformation so much as to reforme himselfe The greatest liberty of the kingdom is Religion Religion thereby we are freed from spiritual evils and no impositions are so grievous as those that are laid upon the soule The next great liberty is Justice Iustice wherby we are preserved from injurie in our persons and estates from this is derived into the Common-wealth peace and order and safety and when this is interrupted confusion and danger are ready to over-whelme all The third great liberty consists in the power and priviledge Priviledge of Parliament of Parliaments this is the fountaine of law the great Councell of the kingdom the highest Court this is inabled by the Legislative and Conciliary power to prevent evils to come by the Judiciary power to suppresse and remove evils present If you consider these three great liberties in the order of dignitie this last is inferiour to the other two as meanes are inferour to the end but if you consider them in the order of necessity and use this may justly claime the The order propounded in handling these three great liberties first place in our care because the end cannot be obtained without the means if we do not preserve this we cannot long hope to enjoy either of the other Therefore he said being to speak of those grievances which lye upon the kingdome
poundage impositions He began with the Tonnage and poundage and other impositions not warranted by Law and because these burdens had long lyen upon us and the principles which produced them are the same from whence diverse others are derived he thought it necessary to premise a short narrative and relation of the grounds and proceedâ—ngs of the power of imposing herein practised It was he said a fundamentall Not to be taken but by consent in Parliament truth essentiall to the constitution and government oâ— this kingdome an hereditary liberty and priviledge of all the free borne subjects of the Land that no tax tallage or othâ—r charge might be laid upon us without common consent in Parliament this was acknowledged by the Conqueror Acknowledged by the Conqueror ratified in that contract which hee made with this Nation upon his admittance to the Kingdome declared and confirmed in the Lawes which he published Sometimes broken by other Kings but never denyed This hath never bin denyed to any of our Kings though broken and interrupted by some of them especially by K. Iohn and Hen. 3. then againe confirmed by Mag. Chart. and other succeeding lawes yet not so well setled but that it was sometime attempted by the two succeeding Edwards in whose times the subjects werâ— very sensible of all the breaches made upon the common â—ibertie and by the opportunitie of frequent Parliaments pursued them with fresh complaints and for the most part found redresse Those breaches repaired by succeeding Parliaments and procured the right of the subject to be fortfied by new Statutes He observed that those Kings even in the Acts whereby they did Some mixture of evidence for the subject in these very breaches break the Law did really affirme the subjects liberty and disclaime that right of imposing which is now chaleÌ„ged for they did usually procure the Merchants consent to such taxes as were laid therby to put a colour of justice upon their proceeding and ordinarily they were limited to a short time and then propounded to the ratification of the Parliament where they were cancell'd or confirmed as the necessity and state of the Kingdome did require But for the most part such charges upon merchandize were taken The grant by Parliament most usuall by authority of Parliament and granted for some short time in a greater or lesser proportion as was requisite for supply of the publike occasions 6 or 12 in the pound for one two or three yeers as they saw cause to be imployed for the defence of the Sea and it was acknowledged so clearly to be in the power of Parliament that they At first variously limited in respect of time and persons have sometimes bin granted to Noble men sometimes to Merchants to be disposed for that use Afterward they were granted to the King for life Afterwards Confirmed to the King for life and so continued for divers descents yet still as a gift and grant of the Commons No contrary practise between Ed. 3 and Q Mary Betwixt the time of Ed. the third and Q. Mary never Prince that he could remember offered to demand any imposition but by graÌ„t in Parliament Q. Mary laid a charge upon cloth by the equity of the Statute of Tunnage Poundage because the rate set upon wool was much more than upon cloth there being little wool carried out of the Kingdom unwrought the Q thought she had reason to lay somwhat more yet not ful so much as brought them to an equallity Pretended equity for the Custome upon cloth but that there stil continued a lesse charge upon wool wrought The grounds of the pretermitted Custome into cloth than upon wool carried out unwrought until K. Jame's times when upon Nicholsons project there was a further addition of charge but still upon pretence of the Statute which is that we call the pretermitted custome In Q. Eliz. time one or two litle impositions crept in the general Bates Case prosperity of her raign overshadowing small errours and innovations one of these was upon Currans by occasion of the Merchants complaints that the Venetians had laid a charge upon the English cloth that so we might be even with them and force them the sooner to take it off this being demanded by K. Iames was denied The judgement therein for the King by one Bates a Merchant and upon a suit in the Exchequer was adjudged for the King The manner of which judgement was thus There were then but three Iudges in that Court all differing from one another in the grounds of their sentences The first was of opinion the King might impose upon such commodities as were forraigne and superfluous Resulting from different opinions of the Iudges as Currans were but not upon such as were native and to be transported or necessary and to be imported for the use of the kingdom The second Iudge was of opinion he might impose upon all forraign Merchandise whether superfluous or no but not upon native The third that for as much as the King had the custody of the Ports and the guard of the Seas and that he might open and shut up the ports as he pleased he had a prerogative to impose upon all Merchandise both exported and imported This single distracted divided judgement is the foundation of The only foundation of â—he power oâ— imposing all the imposâ—tions now in practice for after this K. Iam laid new charges upon all commodities outward and inward not limited to a certaine time and occasion but reserved to himselfe his heires and successors for ever the first imposâ—tions in fee simple that were followed with complaints and preserved by breaches of Parliaments ever heard of in this kingdome This judgement and the right of imposing thereupon assumed was a question in septimo duodecimo of that King and was the cause of the breach of both those Parliaments In 18. and 21. Jacobi it was declined by this House that they might preserve the favour of the K. for the dispatch of some other great businesses upon which they were more especially attentive In 1. of his Majesty It necessarily came to be remembred upon the The redresse desired without diminution of the Kings profit proposition on the Kings part for renewing the bill of Tonnage and Poundage but so moderate was that Parliament that they thought rather to confirme the impositions already set by a law to be made than to abolish them by a judgement in Parliament but that and divers insuing Parliaments have been unhappily broken before that endeavour could be accomplished only at the last meeting a Remonstrance was made concerning the liberty of the Subject in this point and it hath alwayes been exprest to be the meaning of the House and so it was as hee said his owne meaning in the proposition now made to settle and restore the right according to law and not to diminish the Kings profit
have been forced to redeeme their peace with large summes and they still emaine by law as lyable to a new question as before for it is agreed by all that the King cannot licence a common Nusance and although in deed these are not such yet it is a matter of very ill consequence that under that name they should be compounded for and may in ill times be made a president for the Kings of this Realme to claime a power of licencing such things as are Nusances indeed The seventh the Military charges laid upon the severall Counties Military charges of the Kingdom sometimes by warrant under his Majesties signature sometimes by Letters from the Councel Table sometimes such hath been the boldnes and presumption of some men by the order of the Lord Lievtenants or deputy Leivtenant alone This is a growing evill still multiplying and increasing from a few particulars to many from small summes to great it began A growing evill first to be practised as a loane for supply of coat and conduct money Coat and conduct money 〈◊〉 practised by Q Eliz. for this it hath some countenance from the use in Q Eliz. time when the Lords of the Councell did often desire the deputy Lievtenants to procure so much mony to be laid out in the Country as the service did require with a promise to pay it againe in London for which purpose there was a constant warrant in the Exchequer This he said was the practice in her time and in a great part of K James and the payments so certain as it was little otherwise than taking up mony upon bils of exchange at this day they follow these presidents in the manner of the demand for it is with a promise of a repayment but not in the certainty and readines of satisfaction The first particular brought into a tax as he thought was the Muster masters wages Muster Masters wages at which many repined but being for small summes it began to be generally digested yet in the last Parliament this House was sensible of it and to avoyd the danger of the president that the Subjects should bee forced to make any payments without consent in Parliament they thought upon a Bill that may bee a rule to the Lieutenants what to demand and to the People what to pay But the hopes of this Bill were dasht in the dissolution of that Parliament Now of late divers other particulars are growing into practice which make the grievance much more heavy those mentioned were these Preâ—â—ing 1 Pressing men against their will and forcing them which are rich or unwilling to serve to find others in their place Publike magazins 2 The provision of publike Magazins for powder and other Munition Spades and Pickaxes Salary of officers 3 The Salary of Divers officers besides the Muster-Master Cart horses and Carts 4 The buying of Cart-horses and Carts and hyring of Carts for Cariages Extrajudiciall declarations of Iudges The eighth the extrajudiciall declarations of Judges whereby the subjects have beene bound in matters of great importance without hearing of Counsell or Argument on their part and are left without legall remedie by writ of errour or otherwise he remembred the expression used by another member of the House of a teeming Parliament this hee said was a teeming grievance from hence have issued most of the great grievances now in being A teeming grievance The Shipmoney the pretended Nusances already mentioned and some others which have not yet beene toucht upon Especially that concerning the proceedings of Ecclesiasticall Courts The ninth That the authority and wisdom of the Councell Table Monopolies countenanced by the Councell Table The ancient oath of couÌ„cellours have bin applyed to the contriving and managing of severall Monopolies and other great grievances he said The institution of the Councell Table was much for the advantage and security of the subject to avoyd surreptions and precipitate Courts in the great affaires of the Kingdome That by Law an oath is to be taken by all those of the Kings Counsell in which amongst other things it is exprest that they should for no cause forbeare to doe right to all the Kings people and if such an oath be not now taken he wisht it might be brought into use againe It was the honour of that Table to bee as it were incorporated Their trust dignity with the King His royall power and greatnesse did shine most conspicuously in their actions and in their Counsels We have heard of Projectors and Resurees here tofore and what opinion and relish they have found in this House is not unknowne But that any such thing should bee acted by the Councell Table which might give strength and countenance to Monopolies as it hath not beene used till now of late so it cannot be apprehended without the just griefe of the honest subject and incouragement of those who are ill affected He remembred that in Tortio of King A Noble Gentleman then a very worthy member of the Commons Much diminished and debased House now a Great Lord and eminent Councellour of State did in this place declare this opinion concerning that clause used to bee inserted in Pattents of Monopoly whereby Iustices of Peace are commanded to assist the Pattentees this he urged as a great dishonour to those Gentlemen which are in Commission to bee so meanely imployed with much more reason may we in jealousie of the honour of the Councell Table humbly desire that their precious By being imployed in matters of such ill report time their great abilities designed to the publike care and service of the Kingdome may not receive such a staine such a diminution as to be imployed in matters of so ill report in the estimation of the law of so ill effect in the apprehension of the people Star chamber a great Councell The tenth The High Court of Starchamber which some think succeed that which in the Parliament Rolles is called Magnum Concilium and to which Parliaments were wont so often to referre those important matters which they had no time to determine This Court which in the late restauration or erection of it A court erected against oppression in Henry the seventh's time was especially designed to restraine the oppression of great men and to remove the obstructions and impediments of the Law This which is both a Court of Councell and a Court of Justice hath beene made an instrument of erecting and defending Monopolies and other grievances to set a face of right upon these things which are unlawfull in their owne nature a face of publike good upon such as are pernicious in their use and execution The Soape-Patent and diverse other Applyed the establishing of Monopolies evidences thereof may be given so well knowne as not to require a particular relation And as if this were not enough this Court haâ—h lately intermedled with the Ship-money diverse Sheriffes
have beene questioned for not levying and collecting such sums as their Coâ—nties have beene charged with and if this beginning be not prevented the Star-Chamber will become a Court of Revenue and it shall be made crime not to collect or pay such taxes as To the recovery of ship money the State shall require The Eleventh He said he was gone very high yet hee must The Kings ediccts and Proclamations goe a little higher that great and most eminent power of the King of making Edicts and Proclamations which are said to bee Leges Temporis with whom our Princes have used to encounter with sudden and unexpected danger as would not indure so much delay as assembling the great Councell of the Kingdome This which is one of the most Glorious beames of Majestie rigorous in commanding Reverence and subjection to our unspeakeable For the erecting of Monopolies griefe hath been often exercised for the enjoyning and maintaining sundry Monopolies and other grants exceeding burdensome and prejudiciall to the people The Twelfth Although hee was come as high as he could upon The word and truth of God earth yet the presumption of evill men did leade him one step higher even as high as Heaven as high as the Throne of God It was now hee said growne common for ambitious and corrupt men of the Clergie to abuse the truth of God and the bond of Conscience preaching downe the Lawes and liberties of the kingdome pretending Divine authority for an absolute power in the King to doe what he would with our persons and goods this hath Pretended for the absolute power of Kings been often published in Sermons and Printed books and is now the high way to preferment The last Parliament we had a sentence for an offence of this kinde against one Mannering then a Doctor now a Bishop concerning whom hee said hee would say no more but this that when he saw him at his Barre in the most humble dejected posture The offence of D. Mannering that ever hee observed hee thought hee would not so soone have leapt into a Bishops Chaire but his successe hath emboldened others therefore hee said this may well bee noted as a double Now practised by others To the great hurt and grievance of the people grâ—evance that such doctrine should bee allowed that such men should be preferred yea as a roote of grievances whereby they indeavour to corrupt the Kings Conscience and as much as in them lyes to deprive the people of that Royall protection to which his Majestie is bound by the fundamentall Lawes of the Kingdom and his own personall Oath The thirteenth The long intermission of the Parliaments contrary The Intermission of Parliaments to the two statutes yet in force whereby it is appointed there should bee Parliaments once a yeare at the least and most contrary to the publike good of the Kingdome for this being well remedied would produce remedies for all the rest Having put through the severall heads of grievances hee came The subjects grievances hurtfull to the King to the second maine branch propounded in the beginning That the disorders from whence these grievances issued were as hurtfull to the King as to the people of which hee gave diverse reasons 1 The interruption of the sweet communion which ought to B. interrupt their communion bee betwixt the King and His People in matters of grace and supply They have need of him by His generall pardon to bee secured from projectors and informers to bee freed from obsolete Lawes from the subtle devices of such as seeke to restraine the Prerogative to their own private advantage and the publike hurt and he hath need of them for counsell and support in great and extraordinary occasions This mutuall entercourse would so weane the affections and interests of His Subjects into his actions and designes that their wealth and their persons would bee his his owne estate would bee managed to most advantage and publike undertakings would bee prosecuted at the charge and adventure of the Subject The Victorious attempts in Queene ELIZABETHS time upon Portugall Spaine and the Indies were for the greatest part made upon the poore Subjects purses and not upon the Queenes though the Honour and profit of the successe did most accrew to her 2 Those often breaches and discontentments betwixt the King By domestical breaches discontents and the people are very apt to diminish his reputation abroad and disadvantage his treaties and alliances 3 The apprehension of the favour and incouragement given to By weakning his partie abroad Popery hath much weakned his Majesties party beyond the Sea and impared that advantage which Queen Elizabeth and His Royall Father hath heretofore made of being heaâ—s of the Protestant union 4 The innovations in Religion and rigour of Ecclesiasticall By forcing his subjects to leave the kingdome Courts have forced a great many of his Majesties Subjects to forsake the Land whereby not only their persons and their posterity but their wealth and their industry are lost to this Kingdome much to the demolishing of His Majesties Customes and Subsidies Amongst other inconveniences this was especially to bee observed that diverse Clothiers driven out of the Countrey had set up the manufacture of Cloth beyond the Seas whereby this State is like to suffer much by abatement of the price of Woolls and by want of imployment for the poore both which likewise tend to his Majesties particular losse 5 It puts the King upon unproper wayes of supply which being By unproper wayes of supply not warranted by Law are much more burdensome to the subject than advantagious to hâ—s Majesty In France not long since upon a survey of the Kings Revenue it was found that two parts in three never came to the Kings purse but were diverted to the profit of the officers or Ministers of the Crowne and it was thought a very good service and reformation to reduce two parts to the King leaving still a third part to the Instruments as were imployed about getting it in It may well be doubted that the King may have the like or worse successe in England which appeares already in some particulars The King hath reserved upon this Monopoly of Wines 30 thousand Pound Rent a yeere the Vintner paies 40. Shillings a Tun which comes to Ninty thousand pounds the price upon the Subject by retaile is increased Two pence a Quart which comes to Eight pound a Tunne and for 45000. Tunne brought in yeerely amounts to 3. hundred 60. thousand pounds which is 3. hundred and 30. thousand pounds losse to the Kingdome above the Kings Rent other Monopolies as that of Soape have been very chargeable to the kingdome and brought very little Treasure into his Majesties Coffers The Law provides for that revenue of the Crowne which is Naturall and proper that it may be safely collected and brought to Account but this illegall Revenue being without any
such provision is left to hazard and much uncertainty either not to be retained or not duly accounted of 6 It is apt to weaken the Industry and Courage of the Subject if By weakning the industry and courage of the subject they be left uncertain whether they shall reap the benefit of their own paines and hazard those who are brought into the Condition of slaves will easily grow to a slavish disposition who having nothing to lose doe commonly shew more boldnesse in disturbing than in defending a kingdome 7 These irregular Courses do give opportunity to ill Instruments By introducing ill Instruments into the Kings service to insinuate themselves into the Kings service for wee cannot but observe that if a man bee officious in furthering their inordinate burdens of Ship money Monopolies and the like it varnisheth over all other faults and makes him fit both for Imployment and preferment So that out of their offices they are furnisht for vast expences purchases Buildings and the King loseth often more in desperate debts at their deaths than he got by them all their lives whether this were not lately verified in a Westerne man much imployed while he lived he leaves to the Knowledge of those who wâ—re acquainted with his Course and hee doubted not but others might be found in the like case Those that are affected to Popery to prophanesse and to superstitious innovations in matters of Religion All kinde of Spies and intelligencers have meanes to be countenanced and trusted if they will be but zealous in these kinde of services which how much it detracts from His Majestie in honour in profit and prosperity of publike affaires lyes open to every mans apprehension and from these reasons or some of them hee thought it proceeded that through the whole course of the English story it might be observed that those Kings who had bin most respectfull of the Lawes had bin most eminent in greatnesse in Glory and successe both at home and abroad and that others who thought to subsist by the violation of them did often fall into a state of weaknesse poverty and Infortunitie 8 The differences and discontents betwixt his Majestie and the By diverting the KINGS thoughts from divers great and hopeful enterprises people at home have in all likely-hood diverted his Royal thoughts and Councells from those great opportunities which hee might have not only to weaken the House of Austria to restore the Palatinate but to gaine to himself a higher pitch of power and greatnesse than any of his Ancestors It is not unknown how weak how distracted how discontented the Spanish Colonies are in the West Indies There are now in those parts in New England Virginia and the Caribe-Islands and in the Barmudos at least 60000 able persons of this Nation many of them well armed and their bodies seasoned to that Climate which with a very small charge might bee set down in some advantagious parts of these pleasant rich and fruitfull Countreys and easily make his Majestie Master of all that treasure which not only foments the war but is the great support of Popery in all parts of Christendom 9 Lastly Those courses are apt to produce such distempers in the By producing many chargeable distempers state as may not be setled without great charge and losse by which means more may be consumed in a few moneths than shall be gotten by such wayes in many yeeres Having past through the two first generall Branches he was now come to the third wherein he was to set downe the wayes of healing The wayes of remedying their grievances and removing those grievances which consisted of two maine Branches first in declaring the Law where it was doubtfull The second in better provision for the execution of Law where it is cleere But he said because hee had already spent much time and began to find some confusion in his Memory he would refer the particulars to another opportunity and for the present only move that which was generall to all and would give waight and advantage to all the particular wayes of redresse that is that we should speedily desire a Conference with the Lords and acquaint them with the Miserable condition wherein we find the Church and State and as wee have already resolved to joyn in a religious seeking of God in a day of fast and humiliation so to intreat them to concur with us in a Parliamentary course of petitioning the King as there should bee occasion and in searching out the causes and remedies of these many insupportable grievances under which we lye that so by the united wisdome and authority of both Houses such courses may bee taken as through Gods blessing may advance the honour and greatnesse of His Majâ—sty and restore and establish the peace and prosperity of the Kingdome This hee said Wee might undertake with comfort and hope of successe for though there bee a darknesse upon the Land a thicke and palpable darknesse like that of Egypt yet as in that the Sunne had not lost his light nor the Aegyptians their sight the interruption was onely in the Medium so with us there is still God bee thanked light in the Sunne Wisdome and Justice in Hâ—s Majestie to dispell this darknesse and in us there remaines a visuall faculty whereby wee are inabled to apprehend and moved to desire light and when wee shall be blessed in the enjoying of it we shall thereby be incited to returne His Majesty such thankes as may make it thine more cleerely in the world to His owne glory and in the hearts of his people to their joy and contentment FINIS