House to begin with those who were of most importance as being now in execution and very much pressing and exhausting the Common-Wealth He began with the Tonnage and poundage and other impositions Tonnage Poundage 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 promise 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 other charge might be laid upon us without common consent in Parliament this was acknowledged by the Conqueror ratified in that contract which hee made Acknowledged by the Conqueror Sometimes broken by other Kings but never denyed Those breaches repaired by succeeding Parliaments with this Nation upon his admittance to the Kingdome declared and confirmed in the Lawes which he published 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 were very sensible of all the breaches made upon the common libertie and by the opportunitie of frequent Parliaments pursued them with fresh complaints and for the most part found redresse and procured the right of the subject to be fortified 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 nowchaleÌ„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 arliament that they At first variously limited in respect of time and persons Afterwards Confirmed to the King for life No contrary practise between Ed. 3 and Q Mary 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 and so continued for divers descents yet still as a gift and grant of the Commons 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 Pretended equity for the Custome upon cloth 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 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 by one Bates a Merchant and upon a suit in the Exchequer was The judgement therein for the King adjudged for the King The manner of which judgement was thus There were then but three Indges 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 supersluous 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 supersluous orno 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 the power of imposing all the impositions 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 impositions 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 aslumed 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
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 edicts 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 griefe hath been often exercised for the enjoyning and maintaining For the erecting of Monopolies 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 on 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 grievance 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 Courts have forced a great many of his Majesties Subjects to forsake By forcing his subjects to leave the kingdome 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 Amoâ—gst 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 iâ— 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 pales 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
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 he would observe this order 1. To mention those which were against the priviledge of Parliaments 2. Those which were prejudiciall to the Religion established in the Kingdome 3. Those which did interrupt the justice of the Realme in the liberty of our persons and propriety of our estates The priviledges of Parliament were not given for the ornament The necessitie importance of the priviledge of Parliament or advantage of those who are the members of Parliament they have a reall use and efficacy towards that which is the end of Parliaments we are free from suits that we may the more intirely addict our selves to the publike services we have therfore liberty of speech that our Counsels may not bee corrupted with feare or our judgements perverted with selfe respects those three great faculties and functions of Parliament the Legislative Judiciary and Consiliary power can not be well exercised without such priviledges as these The wisdome of our Lawes the faithfulnesse of our Counsels the righteousnesse of our judgments can hardly be kept pure and untainted if they proceed from distracted and restramed mindes It is a good Rule of the Morall Philosopher Et non laed as mentem gubernatricem omnium actionum These powers of Parliament are to the body politike as the rationall faculties of the soule to a man That which keepes all the parts of the Common-wealth in frame and temper ought to be most carefully preserved in that freedome vigour and activity which belongs to it selfe Our predecessors in this house have ever bin most carefull in the first place to settle and secure their priviledges and he said he hoped that we having had greater breaches made upon us than heretofore would bee no lesse tender of them and forward in seeking reparation for that which is past and prevention of the like for the time to come Then he propounded diverse particular points wherein the Priviledge Particular breaches of priviledge 1 Restraint of speech 2 Interdict of questions of Parliament had bin broken First in restraiaing the members of the House from speaking Secondly in forbidding the Speaker to put any Question These two were practised the last day of the last Parliament and as was alledged by his Majesties command and both of them trench upon the very life and being of Parliaments for if such a restraining power as this should take root and be admitted it will be impossible for us to bring any resolution to perfection in such matters as shall displease those about the King Thirdly by imprisoning diverse Members of the House for matters Imprisonment of members Iudiciall proceedings Order to be bound to the good behaviour done in Paâ—liament Fourthly by indictments informations and judgments in ordinary inferiour courts for speeches proceedings in Parliaments Fifthly the disâ—racefull order of the Kings Bench whereby some members of this House were injoyned to put in security of the good behaviour and for refusall thereof they were continued in prison diverse yeares without any particular allegation against them one of them was freed by death others not dismissed till his Majestie had declared his intention to summon this Parliament And this he noted not onely as a breach of priviledge but as a violation of the common justice of the Kingdome Sixthly by the sudden and abrupt dissolution of Parliaments contrary Abrupt dissolutions of Parliament to the Law and custome It hath bin often declared in Parliaments that the Parliament should not be dissolved till the petitions bee answered This hee said was a great grievance because it doth prevent the redresse of other grievances It were a hard case that a private man should bee put to death without being heard As this representative body of the Commons receives a being by the summons so it receives a civill death by the dissolution Is it not a much more heavie doome by which we lose our being and have this civill death inflicted on us in displeasure and not to be allowed time and liberty to answer for our selves that we should not only dye but have this marke of infamy laid upon us to be made Intestabiles disabled to make our wils to dispose of our busines as this House hath alwayes used to do before Adjournments or dissolutions yet this hath often bin our case we have not bin permitted to powre out our last sighes and groanes into the bosome of our deare Soveraigne the words of dying men are full of piercing affections if we might be heard to speak no doubt we shold so fully expresse our love faith fulnes to our Prince as might take off the false suggestions aspersions of others at least we should in our humble supplications recommend some such things to him in the name of his people as would make for his honour and the publike good of his Kingdome Thus he concluded the first sort of grievances being such as were Grievances concerning Religion against the priviledge of Parliament and passed on to the next concerning Religion all which he conveyed under the foure heads 1 The first was the great incouragement given to popery of Incouragement of popery Suspension of Lawes which he produced these particular evidences 1 A suspension of all Lawes against Papists whereby they enjoy a free and almost publike exercise of that Relâ—gion and those good Statutes which were made for restraint of Idolatry and superstition are now a ground of security to them in the practice of both being used to no other end but to get money into the Kings purse which as it is clearely against the intentions of the Law so it is full of mischiefe to the Kingdome By this means a dangerous partie is cherished and increased who are ready to close with any opportunitie or disturbing the peace and safety of the State Yet he said he did not desire any new lawes against popery or any rigorous courses in the execution of those already in force he was far from seeking the ruine of their persons or estates onely hee wisht they might bee kept in such a condition as should restraine them from doing hurt It may be objected there are moderate and discreet men amongst There can be no security from papists them men of estates such as have an interest in the peace and prosperity of the Kingdome as well as we These he said were not to be considered according to their owne disposition but according to but In their disability the nature of the body whereof they are parties The Planets have severall and particular motions of their owne yet they are all rapt and transported into a contrary course by the superior Orbe which comprehends them all
A DECLARATION Presented to the Honourable House of COMMONS With A Speech delivered at conference with the LORDS Ianuary 25. 1641. By occasion of the Petitions from the City of London and the Counties of Middlesex Essex and Hartford BY IOHN PYM Esquire Published by Order of the House of COMMONS and enlarged in the end since the last Edition by the Author Whereunto are annexed two Orders of the said House The one containing the thankes of the House given to those of HARTFORD-SHIRE The other for punishing of those who Printed a false Copie of that Petition and other libellous Pamphlets Published by a true Copie February 22. 1641. LONDON Printed for Richard Lownes at his Shop next without LVD-GATE 1641. 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 further 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 because there wanted not some who pretended that these things wherewith the Common-Wealth is now grieved are much for the advantage of the King and that the redresse of them will be to His Majesties great disadvantage and losse hee said hee doubted not but to make it appeare that in discovering the present Publike grievances disadvantagious to the King great distempers and disorders and procuring remedy for them we should be no lesse serviceable to his Majestie who hath summoned us to this great 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 hartfull 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 might mitigate the shâ—rpenes and bitternes of those things whereof Sharp matters to bee mitigated in the expression The K. can do no wroÌ„g 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 Iustied 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 noy some 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 under the pretence of Royall Pretogatives 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 interposed 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 or his tongue should slip into a particular mistake hee would Submission to reformation 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 which he submitted himselfe with this protestation that he desired no reformation so much as to reforme himselfe The greatest liberty of the kingdom is Religion thereby we are Religion steed from spiritual evils and no impositions are so grievous as those that are laid upon the soule The next great libertâ— is Justice wherby Iustice 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 overwhelme all The third great liberty consists in the power and priviledge of Parliaments this is the fountaine of law the great Councell Priviledge of Parliament 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 â—nd use this may justly claime the The order
The Principles of Popery are such as are incompatible with any other RELIGION there may bee a suspension of violence for some by respects but the ultimate end even of that moderation is that they may with more advantage extirpate that which is opposite to them Laws will not restraine them oaths will not the Pope can dispence with both these and where there is occasion his command wil act them to the disturbance of the Realme against their owne private disposition yea against their own reason and judgment to obey him to whom they have especially the Jesuiticall party absolutely and intirely obliged themselves not only in spirituall matters but in temporall as they are in order ad Spiritualia H. the 3 d. and H. the 4 th of France were no Protestants themselves yet were murthered because they tolerated the Protestants by which and many other presidents it appeares that the King that the Kingdome can have no security but in their weaknesse and disabilite to doe hurt 2 A 2 d. incouragement is their admission into places of power Admission into places of power and trust in the Common-wealth whereby they get many dependants and adherents not only of their own but even of such as make profession to be protestants 3 A third their freedome of resorting to London and the Court Free resort to London the court whereby they have opportunity not only of Communicating their Counsels and designes one to another but of diving into his Majesties Counsels by the frequent accesse of those who are active men amongst them to the tables and company of great men and under subtile pretences and disguises they want not meanes of cherishing their owne projects and of indeavouring to mould and biasse the publike affaires to the great advantage of that partie 4 A 4 th that as they have a Congregation of Cardinals at Rome to consider of the aptest wayes and means of establishing the Popes authority and Religion in England so they have a Nuncio here to act and dispose that party to the execution of those Counsels and by the assâ—stance of such cunning and Jesuiticall spirits as swarm in this towne to order and mannage all actions and events to the furtherance of that maine end 2 The second grievance in Religion was from those manifold innovations lately introduced into severall parts of the Kingdome all Innovations in matters of Religion inclining to Popery and disposing and fitting men to entertaine it the particulars are these 1 Divers of the chiefest points of Religion in difference betwixt Maintenance of popish tenets us and the Papists have bin publikely defended in licensed Books in Sermons in Vniversity acts and disputations 2 Diverse Popish Ceremonies have bin not only practised but Practice of popish ceremonies countenanced yea little lesse than injoyned as Altars Images Crucifixes bowings and other gestures and observances which put upon our Churches a shape and face of popery He compared this to the dry bones in Ezekiel first they came together then the sinewes and the flesh came upon them after this the skin covered them and then breath and life was put into them so he said after these men had moulded us into an outward forme and visage of popery they would more boldly endeavour to breath into us the spirit life of popery 3 The third grievance was the countenancing and preferring those Preferment of men popishly inclined Discouragment of true professors Inlargment of differences among our selves men who were most forward in setting up such Innovations the particulâ—rs were so well knowne that they needed not to be named 4 The fourth was the discouragement of those who were known to be most conscionable and faithfull professors of the truth some of the wayes of effecting this he observed to be these 1 The courses taken to inforce and inlarge those unhappy differences for matters of small moment which have bin amongst our selves and to raise up new occasions of further division wherby many have bin induced to forsake the land not seeing the end of those voluntary and humane Injunctions in things appertaining to Gods worship whereas those who are indeed lovers of Religion and of the Churches of God would seeke to make up those breaches and to unite us more entirely against the common enemy 2 The over rigid prosecution of those who are scrupulous in using Over-rigid prosecution of the scrupulous for things indifferent some things enjoyned which are held by those who enjoyn them to be in themselves indifferent It hath bin ever the desire of this House exprest in many Parliaments in Q. Elizabeths time and since that such might be renderly used It was one of our petitions delivered at Oxford to his Majestie that now is but what little moderation it hath produced is not unknowne to us all any other vice almost Vnjust punishments for matters not by law Reading the Booke The Table set Altar-wise Comming to the railes Preaching upon the Lords day Varying from the catechisme Abuse of Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction may be better indured in a Minister than Inconformitie 3 The unjust punishments and vexations of sundry persons for matters required without any warrant of Law as For not reading the book â—oncerning recreation on the Lords day For not removing the Communion Table to bee set Altarwise at the East end of the Chancell For not comming up to the Railes to receive the Sacrament For preaching the Lords day in the afternoone For Catechising in any other words and manner than in the precise words of the short catechisme in the Common Prayer booke The fifth and last grievance concerning Religion was the incroachment and abuse of Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction the particulars mentioned are these 1 Fining and imprisoning in cases not allowed by Law 2 Their challenging their jurisdiction to be appropriate to their In fining imprisoning Claiming jurisdiction to be Iure Divine Articles of the Visitations order which they alledge to be jure Divine 3 The contriving and publishing of new articles upon which they inforce the Churchwardens to take oathes and to make inquiries and presentments as if such articles had the force of Canons and this he said was an effect of great presumption and boldnesse not only in the Bishops but in their Archdeacons Officials and Chancellors taking upon themselves a kind of Synodall authority and the Injunctions of this kinde might well partake in name with that part of the common Law which is called the Extravagants Having dispatcht these severall points hee proceeded to the third Grievances concerning the liberty of persons and estates part of grievances being such as are against the common justice of the Realm in the liberties of our persons and proprietie of our estates of which he said he had many to propound In doing whereof he would rather observe the order of time wherein they were acted than of consequence but when hee should come to the cure hee should then perswade the
conduct 10 The not questioning those many thousands of unknown persons who are sheltered in Covengarden and there abouts which do not imploy themselves in any lawfull calling and it s very probable lye in a readines to adventure upon some desperiue attempt to the indangering of the welfare peace and safety of the Kings Majestyâ— Parliament and City 11 The misunderstanding betweene the King and Parliament the not vindicating the privileges of Parliament the not suppressing of Protections the not punishing of Delinquents and the not executing of all Priests and Jesuits legally condemned while others contrary to privilege of Parliament have bin illegally as the Petitioners conceive charged wiâ—h Treason to the deferring of worthy Members from discharging their duties and to the destroying of the very being of Parliaments do exceedingly fill the minds of men well affected to the publike with many feares and discouragements throughout the Kingdom and so disable them from that cheerfull assistance which they would be glad to afford 12 By means of the premisses there is such decay of Trading and such scarciâ—y of Money neither of which can be cured till the former Evils be removed as iâ— is lâ—kely in very short time to cast innumerable mulâ—itudes of poore Artifiâ—ers into such a depth of poverty and extremity as may enforce them upon some dangerous and desperate attempts not fiâ— to be expressed much lesse to be justified Which they leave to the wisdome of this House speedily to consider and prevent THese are the Evils under which the Petitioners doe exceedingly labour and languish which they humbly conceive to have sprung from the employing of ill affected persons in places of Trust and Honour in the State and neere to the sacred person of his Majesty and that these Evils are still continued by meanes of the Votes of Bishops and Popish Lords in the House of Peeres And now that the Petitioners have faithfully represented the true Reasons which doe really enforce them to return this Answer most of which have beene formerly The Copy of Middlesex Petition was never printed and therefore not inserted offered to this Honorable House in sundry Petitions and that they have done all that in them lyes even beyond all president to serve the King Parliament and Kingdome They humbly crave leave to protest before God and the High Court of Parliament that if any further miseries befall their deare Brethren in Ireland or if any mischiefe shall breake in upon this Kingdome to the endangering or disturbing thereof it ought not to be imputed to the Petitioners but only to such as shall endevour to hinder the effectuall and speedy cure of the evils before recited that so much disable and discourage the Petitioners from doing that which by this Honorable House is desired To the Honorable the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the House of Commons assembled in Parliament The humble Petition of the Knights Gentlemen Free-holders and other the Inhabitants of the County of Hertford Sheweth THat this Church and Kingdome being by the Prelates those multitudes of corrupt and scandalous Ministers their Creatures and the Popish party concurring with them on the one hand and by wicked Counsellors evill Ministers of State and great swarms of Projectors and others ill affected to the peace of this Realme on the other hand brought to a sad and almost desperate condition and thereby the splendour of his Majesties Crowne and Dignitie dangerously weakned and eclypsed It pleased his Majesty having repect to the Petitions of Nobles and people in that behalfe to call this present Parliament the only able means under God to reforme the many pressures and grievances of the Church and Kingdome and to remove the causes thereof In which Parliament to the honour of his Majesty and comfort of his good Subjects exemplary Justice hath beene executed Arbitrary Courts Ship-money Monopolies and other illegall Impositions removed the shedding of much bloud prevented by the late union betweene the two Kingdomes of England and Scotland and further hopes given us of perfecting what remayns by the happy continuance and much desired progresse of this Parliament And although that malignant party of Prelats and Papists and their adherents whose present standings and the happy successe of this Parliament as the Petitioners humbly conceive are inconsistent have by their manifold wicked practices and designes endevoured to hinder all thorow Reformation in Church and Common-wealth to stifle in the birth and progresse all those good Bils and other preparations made by this Honorable Assembly for that purpose and especially for the reliefe of the Kingdome of Ireland the ruine whereof will endanger this Kingdome also To stop the insluence of his Majesties Royall favour in giving life thereto to divide betweene his Majestie and this Honorable Assembly and to render you not onely contemptible but also burthensome to the people yet the Petitioners and as they verily believe all well affected to his Majestly and the peace and prosperity of this Kingdom have and still shall continue an high and honorable esteem of this worthy Assembly and of your great and unwearied endevours and do with the utmost expressions of their thankfulnes acknowledge the same and the progresse and perfecting therof to be of great consequence and deepe necessity to the peace and welfare of this Church and Kingdom and such as without which not onely a refluxe of the former calamities but even utter ruine and desolation like that being too long continued in sad and much lamented Ireland will apparently ensue From the sense whereof and of the great and unheard of breaches lately made upon â—he privileges of Parliament even to the endangering of the being thereof wherein your Petitioners and their poste itie are much concerned The Petitioners take upon them the humble boldnesse â—o declare their readinesse and great engagements according to their Protestation to stand to and defend to the utmost perill of their lives and Estates the Kings Majesty and high Court of Parliament withall the power and privileges of the same and all your Honorable proceedings for the common good against all Popish and other malignant opposers who endevour either by evill Counsell secret Plots or open force to hurt or prejudice the same or to make divisions between his Majesty and the Parliament And the said Petitioners humbly pray that the Papists may be fully disarmed the Laws against them executed the Kingdome and especially this County according to their late Petition in that behalfe put into a posture of war for their defence the Forts and strength of this Kingdome put into safe hands which the Parliament may conside and trust in the privileges of Parliament repaired and throughly vindicated and that this Honorable Assembly as hath been lately desired of you by the Citizens of London will be a means unto his Majesty and House of Peeres that life may be speedily given to your good endevours by their concurrence with you in taking away of the Votes of Popish