all the marks of Majesty nay they did arrogate to themselves the Legislative and Supreme power Polyander But doth not the Supreme Power reside â—n the English Parlement which is an Epiâ—ome and Representative of the whole Nation Philanglus I will not resolve you in that till I acquaint you with the Pedigree primitive institution of Parlement which I will endeavour to do as succinctly as I can but in regard that our Parlement was erected at first in imitation of the Assembly of the three Estates in France in which Government you are so well vers'd I pray do me the favour as give me a touch of the mode of France in those publick Assemblies and then I shall apply my self to satisfie you touching English Irish and Scots Parlements having in some measure studied the case Polyander In France the Kings Writ goeth to the Bayliffs Seneschals or Stewards of liberties who issue out warrants to all such ashave fees and lands within their Liberties as also to all Towns requiring all such as have any complaints to meet in the principal City there to choose Delegats in the name of the Province to be present at the generall Assembly Being met at the principal City of the Bayliwick the Kings Writ is read and so the Delegates are elected and sworn Then they consult what is to be complained of and fit to be proposed to the King whereof there is an Index or Catalogue made which is delivered to the Delegats to carry to the General Assembly All the Bayliwicks are divided to twelve Classes but to avoid confusion and to the end there may not be too great a delay in the Assembly by gathering of the voyces or suffrages every Classis compiles a brief or Book of the grievances and demands of all the Bayliwicks within that Classis then these Classes at the Assembly compose one general Book of the grievances and demands of the whole Kingdome This being the order of the proceeding of the Comminalty or third Estate the like order is observed by the Clergy and Nobility so when the three books or Cahiers as they call them for the three Estates are perfected then they present them to the King by their Presidents in the open great Assemby The first who presents the Cahiers is the President of the Clergy who begins his Harang or Oration on his knees but at the Kings command he stands up and â—o proceeds bareheaded The President â—or the Nobility speaks next in the like manner But the President for the Commons begins and ends his Oration on his knees whilst the President of the Clergy speaks the rest of that order rise up stand bare till they are bid by the King to sit down and be covered and so the like for the Nobility but whilst the President for the Comminalty speaks the rest are neither bid to fit or to be covered The grievances and demands being thus all delivered at once and left to the King and his Privy Councel without further debate or expence of time the General Assembly of the three Estates endeth expecting afterwards such a redresse to their grievances as the King and his Councel shall think fit Philanglus These proceedings of France are not much unlike the ancient usage of this Kingdome for many ages when all Laws were nothing else but the Kings answers to the Petitions presented to him and his Councel as is apparent by many old Statutes and the confession of Sir Edwarâ— Coke and now to acquit my self of my former engagement unto you I will impart unto you the manner and power oâ— the Parlements of Great Brittain and Ireland I confesse 't is more properly the businesse of a Lawyer which I am none otherwise then what nature hath madâ— me so every man is a Lawyer and 〈◊〉 Logitian also who was the first Lawyer as he is born the child of reason foâ— Law and Logic are meerly founded upon reason This discoursive faculty of Reason comes with us into the world accompanied with certain general notions and natural principles to distinguish right from wrong and falshood from truth But before I come to the English Parlement a word or two of the Parlementâ— of Scotland and Ireland In Scotland about three weeks before the Parlement begins Proclamation is made throughout the Kingdome to deliver unto the Kings Clerk or Master of the Rols all bils to be exhibited that Sessions then are they brought to the King and perused by him and only such as he allows are put in the Chancelors hand to be proponed in Parliament and no others and if any man in Parlement speak of any other matter then is formerly allowed by the King the Chancelor tels him there is no such bill allowed by the King When they have passed them for laws they are presented to the King who with the Scepter put into his hand by the Chancelor ratifies them but if there be any thing the King mislikes they raze it out before The Parlement in Ireland is after this manner No Parlement is to be held but at such a season as the Kings Deputy there doth certifie the King under the Great Seal of the land of the causes considerations and necessity of a Parlement The causes being approved of by the King a Licence is sent under the broad Seal of England to summon a Parlement in Ireland provided that all such bils that shall be proposed there in Parlement be first transmitted hither under the Great Seal of that Kingdome and having received allowance and approbation here they shall be put under the Great Seal of this Kingdome and so return'd thither to be passed in that Parlement this was called Poinings Act in the time of King Philip and Mary Having thus given a concise account of the usage of Parlement in our neighbour Kingdomes I will now passe to that of England Every Freeholder who hath a voice in the election of Knights Citizens and Burgesses to sit in Parlement ought to know well and consider with what power he trusts those whom he chooseth in regard the power of the House of Commons is derived from that trust Now that which gives authoritie for the Freeholders to make their election is the Kings Writ directed to the Sheriff of the County in which is expressed not only the Sheriffs duty in point of summoning but the Writ contains also the duty and power of such Knights and Burgesses that shall be elected therefore to know the full extent of the power of Parlement you must have an eye and observe well the words of the Writ for the Freeholders cannot transfer a greater power then is compriz'd in the Writ to those that they appoint their servants in Parlement The Writ being us'd to be in Latin few Freeholders God wot understood it or knew what they did I will faithfully render the said Writ to you in English The King to the Vicount or Sheriff Greeting WHereas by the advice and assent of our Council for
he willeth to be observed of all his subjects high and low 3. Edwardi primi the title of the Statute is These are the Acts of King Edward and after it it follows The King hath ordained these Acts the first chapter begins The King forbiddeth and commandeth that none do hurt damage or grievance to any religious man or person of the Church and in the 13. chapter The King prohibitetâ—s that none do ravish or take away by force any Maid within age 6. Edward the first it is said our Soveraign Lord the King hath Established the Acts commanding they be observed within this Realm and in the 14. chap. the words are The King of his special grace granteth that the Citizens of London shall recover in an Assize damage with the land The Statute of Westmin 2. saith Our Lord the King hath ordained that the Will of the Giver be observed and in the 3. chapter Our Lord the King hath ordained that a woman after the death of her husband shal recover by writ of Entry The Statute of Quo Warranto saith Our Lord the King at his Parliament of his special grace and for affection which he beareth to his Prelates Earls and Barons and others hath granted that they who have liberties by prescription shall enjoy them In the Statute De finibus lâ—vatis the Kings words are We intending to provide remedy in our Parliament have ordained c. 28. Edward the first The King wills that the Chancellour and the Justices of the Bench shall follow him so that he may at all time have some neer unto him that be learned in the Laws And in the 24. chapter the words are our Lord the King after full conference and debate had with his Earles Barons and Nobles by that consent hath ordâ—ined The Statâ—â—e de Tallagio speaks in the Kings person no Officer of ours no â—allage shall be taken by us We will and 〈◊〉 1. Edward the second begins thus Our Lord the King willeth and commandeth The Statute of the 9. of the same King saith Our Lord the King by the assent of the Prelates Earls and other great States hath ordained The Statute of Carlile saith We have sent our command in writing firmly to be observed 1. Edwardâ— 3. begins thus King Edward the third At the request of the Comminalty by their Petition before him and his Council in Parliament hath granted c. And in the 5. chapter The King willeth that no man be charged to arm himself otherwise then he was wont 5. Edward the third Our Lord the King at the request of his people hath establâ—shâ—d these things which he wills to be kept 9. Of the same King there is this title Our Lord the King by the assent and advice of his Councel being there hath ordain'd c. In the 10 year of the same King it is said Because our Lord the King hath receiv'd by the complaints of the Earls Barons also at the shewing of the Knights of the Shires and the Commons bytheir Petition in his Parliament c. hath ordain'd by the assent and at the request of the said Knights and Commons c. But very remarkable is that of 22 of Edward the third where it is said The King makes the laws by the assent of Peers and Commons and not the Peers and Commons The Statute of â—Ric â— hath this beginning Richard the second by the assent of the Prelates Dukes Earls and Barons and at the instance and special request of the Commons hath Ordained As for the Parliaments in Henry the fourth Henry the fifth Henry the sixth Edward the fourth and Richard the thirds Reign most of them do all agree in this one title Our Lord the King by the advice and assent of his Lords and at the special instance and request of the Commons Hath Ordained The Statutes in Henry the seventh days do for the most part agree both in the Titles and Bodies of the Acts in these words The King by the assent of the Lords spiritual and Temporal and the Commons 〈◊〉 Parliament assembled hath Ordained But very remarkable it is That the House of Commons was never Petitioned unto till Henry the sevenths reign and 〈◊〉 was about the middle thereof which Petition is inserted among the Statutes but though the Petition be directed to the House of Commons in point of Title yet the Prayer of the Petition is turn'd to the King and not to the Commons The Petition begins thus To the right Worshipful Commons in this present Parliament assembled shews to your discreet wisdoms the Wardens of the Fellowship of the Craft of Upholsters within London c But the conclusion is Therefore it may please the Kings Highnesse by the advice of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and his Common iâ—â— Parliament c. Thus it appears that in our fore-fathers days it was punctually expressed in all laws that the Statutes and Ordinances were made by the King And withall it is visible by what degrees the stiles and titles of Acts of Parliament have been varied and to whose advantage The higher we look the more absolute we find the power of Kings in ordaininâ— laws nor do we meet with at first so much as the assent or advice of the Lords mentioned Nay if one cast hiâ— eye upon many Statutes of those that be of most antiquity they will appear to be no other things but the Kings pleasure to whom the punishments of most offences were left The punitive part which is the chiefest vigour of the Law we find committed by the Statutes themselves to the Kings meer wil and pleasure as if there were no other law at all witnesse these precedents 3. Edward the first the ninth Chapter saith That Sheriffs Coronets and Bayliffs for concealing of Felonies shall make grierous fines at the Kings pleasure Such as shall be found culpable of ravishing of women shall fine at the Kings pleasure The penalty for detaining a Prisoner that is mainpernable is a fine at the Kings pleasure Offenders in Parks or Ponds shall make fines at the Kings pleasure Committers of Champarty and Extortioners are to be punished at the Kings pleasure Purveyors not paying for what they take shall be grievously punished at the Kings pleasure The King shall punish grievously the Sheriff and him who maintains quarrels Taker away of Nuns from Religious houses to be fined at the Kings Will If a Goldsmith be attainted for not assaying touching and working vessels of Gold he shall be punished at the Kings pleasure There is a notable saying declar'd in the 8. yeer of Henry the fourth viz. potestas principâ—s non est inclusa legibus the Power of the Prince is not curb'd by law In the 2. yeer of Henry the fifth there was a Law made wherein there is a clause that it is the Kings Regality to grant or deny such Petitions as he please 6. Henry the sixth an Ordinance was made to induâ—e as long as it should please the King
Some Sober INSPECTIONS Made into the CARRIAGE And CONSVLTS Of the Late Long-Parliament Whereby Occasion is taken to speak of PARLIAMENTS in former Times and of MAGNA CHARTA With some Reflexes upon Government in general Cupio ut rectè Capiar London Printed for Ric. Lownds at the White Lyon in St. Pauls Churchyard near the West-end 1656. To His HIGHNESSE The Lord Protector My Lord AMong the multitude of mighty Atchievements which your Highnesse hath performed so much to the astonishment of Mankind The Dissolving of the late Long Parliament may well deserve to bee rank'd in the numbe For thereby your Highnesse Hercules-like may be said to have quell'd a Monster with many heads such a Monster that was like to Gormandize and Devour the whole Nation as will appear in the ensuing Discourse which though small in Bulk yet the Subject matters is of the greatest Concernment otherwise I had not ventured on so high a Dedication for it treats of the power and practise of English Parliaments in former times with the first Rise of the House of Commons and of Magna Charta c. which will bee found to have had but hard births There was matter enough to have Compil'd a far greater Volumn but I have woon'd it upon a small Bottom in regard that besides my natural hatred to superfluities and circumlocutionss I would not bee so unmannerly as to hold your Highnesse too long who have suca world of high businesses perpetually in your thoughts One thing I humbly promise your Highnesse that the quotations here produc'd whereof there are many are all true and extracted out of Authentick Records but what consequences soever are drawn from them the Judgement is still reserv'd for your Highnesse Endernier ressort There is a memorable saying of Charles Martell in that mighty Revolution in France when hee introduc'd the second Race of Kings That in the pursuit of all his actions he used to say that He followed not the Ambition of his Heart as much as the Inspirations of his Soul and the designs of Providence This may be applied to your Highnesse in the Conduct of your great Affairs and admirable successes So craving pardon for this high presumption and the boldnesse of the Subject for which I humbly beg your protection I rest in the lowliest posture of obedience At your Highness command I. H. To the Knowing READER Touching The Method of this Discourse THere are various wayes for the conveyance of knowledge to the understanding and to distil it by degrees into the Cels of humane brain It may be done either by a down-right Narration and continued Discourse or by Allegories Emblemes and Parables Or by way of Dialogue Interlocutions and Conference The first is the Easiest and most Usual way The second is the most Ingenious and Difficult The last the most Familiar and Satisfactory When one doth not onely inform but remove and answer all objections and quaeries that may intervene all along in the pursuit of the matter It is the mode and method of this Treatise which discoursing of the affairs of England proceeds by way of Colloquy 'twixt Philanglus and Polyander The first a good Patriot and great lover of the English The other a person who had seen much of the world abroad and studied men as both their names do intimate Conveniunt Rebus Nomina saepe suis I. H. Some Inspections made into the Cariage and Consults of the late long PARLEMENT c. In a Colloquy 'twixt Philanglus and Polyander Gentle Sir Philanglus HOw glad am I to see you so well return'd to England after so long a separation having breath'd air under so many diffeâ—ing Climes convers'd with Nations of so many differing complexions and made so many hazardous voyages and itinerations both by land and Seas as I understand you have Polyander 'T is true there is a kind of hazzard that hovers over our heads wheresoever we pass in this transitory incertain world the Morning cannot presage what the Evening may produce some odd thing may happen 'twixt the cup and the lip but the danger of forrein travel or peregrination is nothing so great as 't is commonly apprehended one may travell all Europe with as much security and accommodation as any part of England one may goe from Calis to Constantinople as safely as from Bristol to Berwick one may passe from Vienna to Venice from Paris to Prague from Madrid to Magdenburgh as securely as from London to Lancaster or from Saint Davids head to Dover 'T is true that before Negotiation and Commerce made mankind more communicâ—ble it was an uncouth thing to travel or make removes far from home In this Island not an age since if one were to make a journey from Wales to London much more from London to France it was usual for him to make his last will but now the world growing still more populous and people more sociable by mutua traffique and knowledge of languages the case is altered In my whole ten years travel I thank my Creator I never rancounterd any danger or difficulty but I might have met with the like in England if one observes these three small Imperatiss audi cerne tace hear see and be silent he need no other passeport to travel the world But dear Sir now that I am return'd to breath English air again I hold it one of the best welcomes to find you so well after so long an absence and I embrace you with both my arms giving you a thousand thanks for the fair respects and litteral correspondence you kept with me while I wandered abroad for it was my greatest comfort Philanglus Sir you teach me what I should say to you in this point but truely you should have had a more frequent account of matters here but that of late years it hath been usual to intercept and break up letters which is a baser kind of burglary then to break into ones house or chamber for this may be a plundering onely of some outward pelf or baggage of fortune but he who breaks open one Letters which are the Ideas of the minde as is spoken elsewhere may be said to rifle the very brain and rob one of his most precious thoughts and secret'st possessions But Sir now that I have the happinesse to re-enjoy you what doe they say abroad of these late revolutions in England Polyander They say that the English are a sturdy terrible and stout people that the power and wealth of this Island was never discovered so much before both by Land and Sea that the true stroke of governing this Nation was never hit upon till now Politicians new and old have beaten their brains and shot at rovers in writing of divers sorts of Governments but the wisest of them concur in this opinion that there is no Government more resembling Heaven and more durable upon Earth or that hath any certain principles but Monarchy and such a Monarchy that hath an actual visible Military strength
but how was it possible for the King to subsist so long considering the mighty advantages the Parliament had of him Philanglus There were mighty advantages indeed For they had all the tenable places and Towns of strength both by Land and Sea They had all the Navy Royal They had the Tower of London with all the Ammunition and Arms of the Crown They had the Imposts and Customs Poundage and Tonnage they had the Exchequer at their devotion with the Revenues of King Queen and Prince They had the City of London which may be called the great Magazin of men and money where there is a ready supply of all things that may feed cloath or make them gay and gallant to put them in heart and resolution Polyander Then they had Sea City and Scot on their side But how came the Scot to be so against the King or to levy Armes without his Commission considering the late great Protestations and Oaths they had made not to do it by reviving the Act of Parliament to that effect which they said they did in recognition of those Royal recent favours and unparalleld mighty Concessions and Acts of grace which he had done them by their own Confessions Philanglus They were indeed mighty or rather monstrous Acts of grace that he had passed unto them which did so trench upon the Royal Prerogative and so deâ—ude him of all power that it mought have been said of him ever after that he was King of Scotland no otherwise then he was King of France titular only Polyander How did the Scots expresse their thankfulnesse to their King and Country-man afterwards for such transcedant favours Philanglus They proved the greatest Monsters of Ingratitude of any upon earth specially the Kirk-men whom he had obliged in an extraordinary manner For the King being informed of the mean condition of Church-men in that Kingdom who by their holy function have a care of the noblest part of man and being told what poor pittances or rather benevolences oneâ—y they had and for those also how they depended upon the will and pleasure of the Laic By a special Commission to that purpose he found a way not onely to augment but to ascertain those Salaries of Church Ministers upon good firm rent whereby they might be free from that servile kind of Clientele and Dependency they had upon their secular Patrons Polyander Questionlesse this was a mighty general advantage to the Clergy of Scotland both in point of esteem and subsistence but what returns did these royal favours receive Philanglus Those foolish Kirk men grew afterwards his greatest enemies by virulent seditious Preachments and Pasquils to corrupt and lessen the hearts of the Subjects towards him nay when he made himself a Prisoner to the Scots Army at Newark and Newcastle those Kirk-men did so little resent his hard condition that they did Preach up and down against his comming to Scotland c. Moreover Whereas The common sort of Freeholders who were bound to pay Tithes to the Impropriation or Lords of the Erection as they stil'd themselves were us'd to be much incommoded and oftentimes damnified because they could not take in their Corn till the secular Lord had fetched away his Tithe which he would sometimes delay of purpose to shew his Passion or Power whereby the whole Crop for not taking the advantage of the weather oft-times did suffer The King for relief of the Country Husbandman appointed certain Commissioners to take this grievance into consideration who after much pains taken in the businesse found out a legal and indifferent way to purchase those Tithes and bring the Impropriator to take a pecuniary set valuable Rent which was also an advantage to Him in regard of the certainty of it Polyander It was doubtlesse an advantage to both parties but how did they carry themselves towards the King afterwards Philanglus Just as the Kirk-men did But you shall hear more when the King as I told you before had in a full Parliament confirm'd unto the Scot all the priviledges of Kirk and Kingdom when he had made an oblation to them of all the Bishops Lands conferred many honours and offices and done them many other obliging Acts of Grace and all this gratis the English Parliaments using alwaies to answer their Kings favours in this kind with a supply of Treasure I say in having done all this gratis He before his departure desired them to continue their allegiance and live in peace for they had not now the least grievance to complain of and if any difference should fall out betwixt him and his English Subjects which he hoped God would avert He desir'd them not to intermeddle for whereas he might expect and demand aid of them if the case requir'd yet he would not trouble the repose of that his Native Countrey This they all did not onely promise to do but they did solemnly oblige their Souls thereunto by revival of the Act I told you of before at the publishing whereof one of their Grandees fell on his knees and lifting up both his Arms wish'd they might rot to his body before death if ever he would heave them up hereafter or draw sword against his gid King yet for all this they intruded themselves into the Kings affairs convok'd a Parliament without his summons sent Commissioners to Oxford and thrust themselves to be Vmpires They made besides a strict League with the English Parliament and at last rush'd into England again with an Army in the dead of Winter which Army they had levied not onely without but expresly against the Kings Commission and Countermands that wretch who had publickly vowed never to draw Sword again without his Majesties Commission c. comming General of the said Army But for Martial exploits the little credit that Army got by storming Newcastle was not countervailable to that which they lost before Hereford where the Welchmen bang'd them to some purpose from before the Town and made their General after 9 weeks siege to trusse up his pack and away sending him a fat Sow with a Litter of Piggs after her and a blew Bonnet upon her head for his Breakfast I must inform you farther that the King being reduced to much extremity in Oxford by crosse successes and Councils he got away in a Serving-mans disguise to the Scots Army neer Newark as his last refuge which plot was managed by the subtilety of the French Agent then residing here A man would have thought that Nation would have deemed it an eternal honour to have their own King and Country man to throw himselfe thus into their Armes and repose so singular a confidence in them upon such an exigent But they corresponded not with him as he expacted For though at first when the English Parliament sollicited their Dear Brethren for a delivery of the Kings Person unto them their note was then that if any stranger Prince had put himselfe so upon them they could not with honour deliver him
onely certified their proceedings to the Parliament Now Sir you must know that presently upon the taking of Exceter his whole estate was sequestred and continuing so above 7 years he being not allow'd a peny to put bread in his mouth hee visibly lost above 30000 l. which he humbly prayed might satisfie for his Composition which would not have amounted to the sixth part so much according to Article He was not onely denied that but a nigrum Theta a black Bill was voted for selling away his whole Estate A little after an Act being passed and Commissioners appointed for the relief of Prisoners upon Articles in time of War Sir John made his addresses unto them and after above ten moneths debate of the business the whole Court consisting of eight Commissioners delivered their opinions cleerly that Sir John Stawel was within the Articles of Exon that he had not broken any of those Articles ever since but exactly observ'd and perform'd them that consequently Hee was not onely to have his person unmolested and his whole Estate restored him but to have satisfaction for the great losses he had received while his Estate lay under Sequestration c. This clear and positive Judgement being pronounced solemnly by the Court of Articles and the Demurres which the Trustees appointed to sell forfeited Estates and the Pourchasers of Sir John Stawâ—ls Lands had made being ovâ—r ruled yet the Parliament resumed the business reversed the sentence of that Court they themselves had Authorized and Voted that the Pourchasers should quietly enjoy and occupy according to their several Contracts what they had bought of Sir John Stawels Estate Pâ—lyander Good Lord what a world of hardships did that noble Knight undergo as to be so tossed from Prison to Prison from Bar to Bar yet to be found guilty no where but to be pronounced Râ—ctus iâ—curia nevertheless to have a sentence of Civil death pronounced against him viz the loss of so fair and noble an Estate as any in the west of England by the mischievous practice of a Member of the House who as I heard professed most friendship unto him But was there no more care to observe Articles of War which is held a sacred thing among Pagans and Infidels The Tâ—rk and Tartar in this point will keep faith with the Sword as well as with the Cimiter with the Hat as well as with the Turban or Shash Philanglus Herein a difference may be said to have been 'twixt Generals for the Presbyterian Generals did not much care how their Articles were broke or kept but his Highness who is now Lord Protector was very carefull for the observation of what Articles he made and clash'd about it more then once with the Parliament Polyander Truely Sir you have related many horrid things which might make the Word Parliament merit the same fate that befel Tyrant Sophister and others which were good in their first institution but afterwards came to be odious and reproachful and will continue so to the worlds end But 't is much that the Parliament which should be the great Physitian of the Common wealth should become such a Mountebank that in lieu of making up the ruptures 'twixt King and people and closing the leaks in the great Vessell of the State they should cause more that like Banbury Tinkers in lieu of stopping one hole they should make two There is a saying that Infaeliciter agrotat câ—â— plus-mali venit à medico quam à morbo That Patient is in a sad case who receives more hurt from the Physitian then from the Disease more mischief from the remedy then from the malady t is better for one to endure a little head-ach then to have his pate broken Philanglus There breaths not a soule Inter quatuor maria betwixt Englands foure Seas who hath a more venerable opinion of Parliaments then I having had the honour to have been a good while a small part thereof They were used to be the bulwark of our liberties the main banks and boundaries which kept us from slavery from the inundation of Arbitrary Rule and unbounded Will-Government This high superintendent Court at its first Constitution was used to be compared to the Macrocosm the Great World it self The Soveraign Magistrate was compared to the Sun the Nobles to the fixed Stars the Judges other Officers who went with Messages 'twixt both Houses to the Planets the Clergy to the Element of Fire the Commons to the solid Mass of Earth And as the Heavenly bodies when three of them meet in Conjunction use to produce some admirable effects in the Great world so when the three States did use to convene and assemble in one solemn Junta some notable and extraordinary things were used to be brought forth tending to the wellfare of the whole Kingdom Now there were three essential properties that belonged to Parliament viz. fairness of Election fulness of Members and freedom of Speech 'T is too well known how little of all three were found in the late long Parliament specially the last to wit liberty of speech For none was permitted to speak unless he spoke still to the sense of the House to the sense of the House which was a pure restraint what a deale of time was spent in bandying of answers in Remonstrances in Replies Rejoynders and descanting upon words so that the first 16. months were spent meerly in chopping Logick with the King and nothing at all done For fulness of Members they were purg'd at last very low so that there was scarce the tenth part of what they should have been in number The King offered to give them a little purge of five or six Drams but it was furiously cast away because there was too much Basilicon in it Then there was a purge of eleven drams given them wherein there was some unguentum Armarium that cures a far off which made some of them to flie t' other side of the Sea where one Member as soon as he put foot on shore fell sick of the Plague and so was buried no better then in the Town ditch because he had first infected the place At last they had a good sound purge as big as a drench administred them which purg'd away above a hundred Members at once yet all this would not do for some Members were grown so corrupt and putrid that nothing could cure the House but an utter Dissolution according to the old saying Immedicabile vulnus Ense recidendum Which great Dissolution was made without one tear or drop of bloud as the Portugal Embassadour sent word to Lisbon , for England had been long weary of her Physicians who had they continued longer might have made Her say as Alexander the Great did on his death bed Perii Turba Medicorum I die of too many Physicians Polyander Touching fullnesse of Members I heard it censur'd by some Criticks beyond the Seas for a Solaecism in the English Government that they are so many but specially that
Parliament And we ingage our selves further not to obey any Rules Order or Ordinance whatsoever concerning any Militia that hath not the Royall Assent To this was subjoined another We whose naâ—es are under written in obedience to his Majesties desire and ouâ— of the duty we ow to his honour and to truth being here on the place and witnesses of his Majesties frequent and earnest Declarations and Professions of his abhorring all designs of making war upon the Parliament And not finding any Councels that might reasonably beget the belief of any such design We do promise before God and testifie to all the World that we are fully perswaded his Majesty hath no such intention but that all his indeavours tend to the â—â—rm and constant settlement of the true Religion and the just priviledges of Parliament the Libâ—rty of the Subject with the Laws Peace and Prosperity of this Kingdom But all this would not serve the turn for neither Parliament nor people would give credit to any thing that drop'd from King or Peers specially the City of London where the Presbyterians played their parts notably by inciting the people to a War for preventing the introduction of Slavery and Supâ—rstition so unusual voluntary collections were made both in Town and Country the Seamstress brought in her silver thimble the Chamber-maid her Bodkin the Cook his silver spoon the Vintner his Bowl into the common Treasury of War and they who contributed to so pious a work were invited more then others in some Churches to come to the Holy Communion in the very time of administration And observed it was that some sorts of Females were freest in those contributions as far as to part with their Rings and earings as if some Golden Calf were to be molten and set up to be idolized which prov'd true for the Covenant a little after was set up which may be said to have been a kind of Idol as I shall make it appear hereafter Thus a fierce funestous civil War was a fomenting in the very bowels of England which broke out into many storms and showers of blood The fatal Cloud wherein this storm lay long ingendring though when it began to condense first it appeared but as big as a hand yet by degrees it did spread to such a vast expansion that it diffused it self through the whole Region and obscur'd that fair face of Heaven which was used to shine upon this part of the Hemisphere The King fell to work then in good earnest and made choice of the Earl of Linzey for General of the Infantry which choice was generally cried up of all Prince Rupert was made General of the Horse but that election did not find such an applause The first incounter that Prince Rupert had with his Godfather the Earl of Essex was near Worcester where he defeated some of the flower of the Parliaments horse The King having remov'd from Nottingham to Derby and so to Strafford his forces increas'd all along but passing by Chartly the Earl of Essex house the Souldiers hop'd to have had some plunder there but a strict command was given by the Kings own mouth that nothing should be touch'd not as much as a Buck whereat their teeth 〈◊〉 water as they march'd through his Park So he came to Shrewsbury where the Coâ— kept above a month at which time the Army multipâ—i'd exceedingly to neer upon â—o Mâ— men and the Welchmen coming so thicâ— down the Mountains did much animate thâ—English From Shrewsbury the King took a resoâ—â—tion to remove to Oxford but after seveâ—â— daiâ—s tiresome march hee understood the Parliaments Army were within six mile of him so he went out so far to find theâ— out and fac'd them on a Sunday morninâ— from Edgâ— Hil as they lay in Kinton fieldâ— where their Colours were displayed A sight of the Royal Army they discharge some peeces of Ordnance in Defiance so both Parties prepared for Battel aâ—â— the Sun had declined above two hours the afternoon before the Cannons aâ— Kings Infantry could get into the bottom Being put there in a fighting posture and having the wind favourable the King gave command to let fly the Cannons to begin Battail Thus a most furious Engagement began which lasted about three houres till night parted them and some old French and German Commanders who were there employed in the Royal Army reported afterwards they never saw such a manful fight in all their lives Prince Rupert springing ore a low hedge lind thick with the enemies Musqueteers pursued their Horse very far and did notable execution upon them all the way and had he not worried them so far and deserted the Infantry or had not his German Souldiers fallen a plundring too soon matters might have gone better with the King Polyander I heard it reported that this Battail was fought just the same day twelve month that the Rebellion and Massacre began in Ireland It was so being the 23. of October a day fatal for blood Now though this Battail of Edg-Hill may be said to be sudden inexpected and unpitched yet for position of ground 't was fought in as indifferent and a fit place for a battail as possibly could be lighted upon for the Combatants had scope enough to fight and the Spectators whereof there were multitudes upon the rising adjacent grounds might behold all as plainly as a Tragedy acted upon a Stage or Cock fighting in a Pit The Parliaments Army had the advantage of the Kings in point of Infantry who were very good Fire-locks most of them having been trained up in London and so left their Wares to follow the Wars They had also the advantage of the King in point of Arms for scarce three parts of four were Armed in his Army But for Cavalry the Royalists had the greater advantage for the flower of most of the English Gentry was there in so much that the life-Guard of the Kings was computed to above one hundred thousand pounds sterling of yearly Revenue About the evening of the day following both parties retired from the field the Parliaments back towards Northampton the Kings to their former road towards Oxford and in the way they took Banbury where there was a strong Garison for the Parliament which sure as the Cavaliers gave out the Earl of Essex had preserved had he been then Master of the field After this battail of Edge-Hill there happened diverse other traverses of war 'twixt King and Parliament for about four years in which revolution of time there were more skirmiges and battails fought then happened in those last thirty years wars of Germany or fourscore years wars 'twixt Spain and Holland Polyander This shews that the English have still the same old innated valour that they had when they made the gray Goose wing fly through the heart of France which made Comines one of their greatest Authors to confeâ—s that no Nation is more greedy of battail and more impatient of delayes that way then the English