Prerogative And though those dismal calamities which after befel his Son were ampliated doubtless by a superfetation of causes yet was their first and main existency derivative from those recited grounds Let Court-Pens extol the calmness of his Halcion Reign with all the artifice of Rhetorick Let them conclude the Parable and tell us God gave King James also as he did Solomon rest from all his enemies round about yet can they never truly deny but that admired severity had its set in a cloud and that he left to his Successor a Crown of Thorns as being engaged to contend with two puissant Enemies First the mighty Monarch of the West the King of Spain Secondly the more invincible of the two an empty purse For that King who hath this Enemy to encounter shall never archieve any thing of glorious production The death of this Famous Monarch caused no other interregnum than of joy his Son Charles being immediately by Sir Edward Zouch then Knight Marshal proclaimed at the Court-gate King of Great Britain France and Ireland His first Act of Regality was to dispatch Aviso's of his Fathers decease to Foreign Princes and States his Correspondents with whom he was in Amity Next he took into care the becoming Obsequies of the Royal Corps which removed from Theobalds to Denmark-house in London April the 23d was thence the 7th of May conveyed to Westminster and there inhum'd with the greatest Solemnities and most stately Ritualities could be devised Though grief had taken up the principal Lodgings of King Charles his heart yet did it not quite turn love out of doors but he had still an eye to France and held himself concern'd to let his Agents know he was mindful of the stock he had going there and to rear a firm assurance of his serious intentions He sent over Letters of Procuration for the Duke of Chevereux to espouse the Lady Henrietta Maria only he added this especial precaution That those Letters should not be resigned up until May the 8th when the Celebrities of his Fathers Funeral would be over for he would not that grief and joy things incompatible should justle But these instructions for what cause I know not were not in all points precisely observed for on May the 11th as others and the first as we compute six days before King James his Obsequies the Espousals were solemnized in the Church of Nostredame in Paris the Queen being given by her two Brothers the King and Monsieur the Nuptials past the Royal Bride prepared for England and to wait upon her with the greater splendor his Majesty dispatcheth over the Duke of Buckingham with the Earl of Montgomery and other Persons of Quality May the 24th they arrived at Paris and June the 2d the Queen after the iteration of most affectionate adieux reciprocated and interchanged between the King and her self set forward for Amiens where being attended with a most Princely retinue she was under the restraint of a Magnificent Entertainment till the 16 of that Month thence she dis-lodged for Bulloigne where she was to Embarque for England the Contagion then being much at Calais there she found ready to receive her 21 tall Ships sent from her dearest with a gallant Convoy of the Dutchess of Buckingham and other Ladies of Honour and Eminence to serve her June the 22d she set Sail for England and Landed safe at Dover after a turbulent and tempestuous passage His Majesty lay that night at Canterbury and next morning with joy incredible greeted his Royal Consort and conducted her to Canterbury where the Marriage was finally compleated the Duke of Chevereux his Majesties former Representative consigning up his precious charge to the King c. I have heard some who undertake to mate all events with their proper causes passionately ascribe Englands Calamities to those Internuptials and fetch that ireful stroke of Divine vengeance upon his late Majesty from his Marrying a Lady of mis-belief Grant I do that both England's and his Majesties Sufferings may in some sort be reductive to the casualty of that Match but that there was any intrinsick noxiousness in it either as French or Popish I am not yet convinced The same time while His Majesty was thus busied in his Amorous Negotiation abroad he plyed as well his Interest at home and while he Wooed his Royal Mistriss there he made Love to his People here by Summoning a Parliament that League being not more important to him as Man than this as King for as Man is without a female Consort so is a King without his Supreme Council an half-form'd steril thing the natural Extracts of the one procreated without a Wife are not more spurious than the Laws the politick Descendents of the other without was commenced at VVestminster June the 18th At first interview it appeared under the scheme and fashion of a Money-Wedding and in truth the publick affairs did then implore no less Upon the opening the Parliament the King imparted his mind to the Lords and Commons to this effect My Lords and Gentlemen YOU are not ignorant that at your earnest intreaty March 23. 1623 my Father of happy Memory first took up Arms for the recovery of the Palatinate for which purpose by your assistance he began to form a considerable Army and to prepare a goodly Armado and Navy-Royal But death intervening between him and the atchievement the War with the Crown is devolved upon me To the prosecution whereof as I am obliged both in Nature and Honour so I question not but the same necessity continuing you will cherish the action with the like affection and farther it with a ready contribution True it is you furnished my Father with affectionate supplies but they held no symmetry or proportion with the charge of so great an enterprize for those your Donatives are all disburs'd to a penny and I am enforced to summon you hither to tell you That neither can the Army advance nor the Fleet set forth without your aid Consider I pray you the Eyes of all Europe are defixt upon me to whom I shall appear ridiculous as though I were unable to out-go Muster and Ostentation if you now desert me it is my first attempt wherein if I sustain a foil it will blemish all my future Honour If mine cannot let your Reputations move deliver and expedite me fairly out of this War wherewith you have becumbred let it never be said whereininto you have betrayed me I desire therefore your speedy supply speedy I call it for else it will prove no supply The Sun you know is entring into his declining point so it will be soon too late to set forth when it will be rather not too soon to return Again I must mind you of the Mortality now Regnant in this City which should it and so it may and no breach of priviledge neither arrest any one Member of either House it soon would put a period both to Consultation and Session so that your own
agreed to give him five Subsidies whereof Secretary Coke was the first Evangelist and Porter of that good news to the King who received it with wondrous joy and asked the Secretary by how many Voices it was carried Sir John replyed but by one At which perceiving the Kings countenance to change Sir said he your Majesty hath the greater cause to rejoyce for the House was so unanimous therein as that they made but one voice whereupon the King wept and bad the Secretary tell them He would deny them nothing of their Liberties which any of his Predecessors had granted The stream of affairs running thus smoothly The Subjects Libetty under debate without the least wrinkle of discontent on either side the House of Commons first insisted upon the Personal Freedom of the People and resolved for Law That no Freeman ought to be imprisoned either by the King or Council without a legal Cause alledged This opinion of the House was reported to the Lords at a Conference by Sir Edward Coke Sir Dudley Diggs Mr. Selden and Mr. Littleton Sir Dudley Diggs citing Acts 25. vers 27. It seemeth an unreasonable thing to send a Prisoner and not withal to signifie the Crimes laid against him This business stuck very much in the Lords House The Lords nice in the business who were willing that the Nails should be pared not the hands tyed of the Prerogative several and great Debates there were about it The Attorney pleading eagerly though impertinently for the King and the ancient Records were so direct for the People and so strongly enforced as the Attorney had no more to say but only I refer my self to the Judgment of the Lords and when these Lords were to give Judgment concerning it the Ducal or Royal party for they were both one were so prevalent as they who leaned the other way durst not abide the Tryal by Vote but calling the Lord-Keeper down moulded the House into a Committee until the Lord Say made a motion That they who stood for the Liberties being effective about fifty might make their Protestation and that to be upon Record And that the other opposite party should also with Subscriptions of their Names enter their Reasons to remain also upon Record that so Posterity might not be to seek who they were who so ignobly betrayed the Freedom of our Nation and that this done they should proceed to a Vote At which the Court-party were so daunted as that they durst not mutter one syllable against it Personal Liberty being thus setled next they fall upon Liberty of Goods the unbilleting of Soldiers and nulling of Martial-Law in times of Peace and finding Magna Charta and six other Statutes explanatory of it to be expresly on their side they Petitioned the King to grant them the benefit of them whereupon he declared Himself by the Lord-Keeper unto them in his Verbis That He did hold the Statutes of Magna Charta and the six other insisted upon for the Subjects Liberty to be all in force and assured them that he would maintain all his Subjects in the just freedom of their Persons and safety of Estates and that he would govern according to the Laws and Statutes of the Realm and that his People should find as much security in his Royal Word and Promise as in any Laws they could make so that hereafter they should have no cause to complain and therefore he desired no doubt nor distrust might possess any man but that they would proceed speedily and unanimously on with their business This Message begat a new Question Whether or no his Majesty should be trusted upon his Royal Word Some thought it needless because of his Coronation-Oath binding him to maintain the Laws of the Land That Oath was as strong as any Royal Word could be Others were of opinion That should it be put to Vote and carried in the Negative it would be infinitely dishonourable unto him in Foreign parts who would be ready to say The People of England would not trust their King upon his Royal Promise At length in the height of this Dispute stands up Sir Edward Coke and thus informed the House We sit now in Parliament and therefore must take his Majesties Word no otherwise than in a Parliamentary-way that is The King sitting on his Throne in his Royal Robes his Crown on his Head his Scepter in his Hand in full Parliament both Houses being present all these Circumstances observed and his Assent being entred upon a Record make his Royal Word the Word of a King in Parliament and not a word delivered in a Chamber or at second hand by the mouth of a Secretary or Lord-Keeper therefore his Motion was That the House should More Majorum according to the custom of their Predecessors draw a Petition De Droict of Right to His Majesty which being confirmed by both Houses and assented unto by the King would be as firm an Act as any This Judgment of so great a Father in the Law The Petition of Right presented by this Parliament at this time ruled all the House and accordingly a Petition was framed and at a Conference presented unto the Lords the substance whereof after the recital of several Statutes relating to the Priviledge of the Subject was reduced to four Heads The Petition being presented to his Majesty after two several Answers thereunto which did not please the Parliament he did the third time give them this Answer the Petition being read thereunto Le droict soit faict comme il est desire This I am sure is full yet no more than I granted you in my first Answer you see now how ready I have shewed my self to satisfie your Demands so that I have done my part wherefore if this Parliament have not an happy conclusion the sin is yours I am free The King having ended the Houses testified their joy with a mighty shout and presently the Bells rung and Bonefires were kindled all the City over Nor was the true cause so distinctly known for many apprehended at first that the King had delivered the Duke up to them to be sent to the Tower on which misprision some said the Scaffold on Tower-hill was instantly pulled down the People said his Grace should have a new one It is said that the House of Lords made Suit to the King upon this happy accord That he would be pleased to receive into Grace those Lords who were in former disfavour which he readily yielded unto And admitted the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Bishop of Lincoln the Earls of Essex Warwick Bristol and the Lord Say to kiss his hand The Petition thus granted the Commissions of Loan and Excise were instantly out-lawed and at the entreaty of the House of Peers cancell'd in the Kings presence Having thus secured the faults they removed the faulty and resolved upon a large Remonstrance to the King ripping up the Grievances themselves and the Authors of them This Remonstrance consisted of six Branches
For to Redress All Grievances both more or less Which in our Church and State have been E'er since our Blessed Virgin Queen Vntil this day Which make us bleed And cry We want some nursing seed To Cool us in our Scarlet Feaver This is the time or else for ever Adieu to Peace War will begin In this our Land The man of Sin Begins to Rant And to declare Against us all He will make War Who will not stoop unto his Power The Sword or Smithfield shall devoure Such Northern Bastards which have done Such Mischief to his Triple Crown But when our Prince King CHARLES the Great Shall Dissipate this Southern Heat And when our Trustees shall declare A War against Saint Peters Chair And him that doth Possess the same Whom Christ himself at last shall blame And so secure us from those Brats Which to the Church and State are Rats And still do Plot to keep us under And Gnaw our Church and State in sunder Oh! then Sweet Peace shall Enter in And after that the Man of Sin Shall soon be Routed out from hence By the Powerful Charms and Influence Of Prince and People Joyn'd in one Like to the Father and the Son Till then and not till then will here insue A Lasting Peace till then Reader Adieu And know till then that I am well content To suffer for an Honest Parliament So long as they shall prove so Loyal As we of late have had the Tryal Although miscalled all Bugbears By some proud Rascals whose soft Ears May yet in time perchance to feel The Dint of their Provoked Steel And make them stop their mouths for fear A Triple Tree should them besmear Who have so boldly here of late Belcht out against our Triple State Such Spite and Venome in one hour Enough say some for to devour Our Triple League within our Land Where CHARLES the Second doth Command By Laws Establisht with Consent Of three Estates in Parliament King Lords and Commons Oh this State Cannot be Crusht without a broken Pate Given to some who still do Lurke Within our Bowels who much like the Kirk In other Countries and would straightway bring All to their Bow and likewise every thing Which Thwarts their Humors And whose fair pretence Is still their Zeal unto Omnipotence Although in this Heaven knows they are all evil And Pope and they may shake hands with the As all infallible in their own proud sence God keep us from their power and Influence Within our Land and let all Christians say To this Amen And here wee 'l part the Fray Although continue Praying Till we see This Vnity made visible in Three And that you may see as unlikly a Wonder and Prediction may come to pass I will relate unto you who have not already seen or heard of it a strange and most wonderful Prediction the most part whereof is already come to pass and that within our Times and Remembrance the which said most wonderful Prediction is of many hundred years standing the which I did formerly take out of a Book the Title whereof is Britains Genius Printed here in London about 1646. or 1647. long before His Majesties most wonderful Restoration and some space of time before His late Majesties most inauspicious and most astonishing Decolation The contents of the said most wonderful and antient Prophecy out of the said Book you may please to peruse as followeth viz. WHen here a Scot shall think his Throne to set Above the Circle of a British King He shall a dateless Parliament beget From whence a furicus Armed brood shall spring That Army shall beget a wild Confusion Confusion shall an Anarthy beget That Anarchy shall bring forth in Conclusion A Creature which you have no name for yet That Creature shall Conceive a Sickly State Which shall an Aristocracy produce The many-headed Beast not liking that To raise Demoeracy shall rather chuse And then Democracies Production shall A Moon Calfe be which some a Mole do call So acting for a while few men shall know Whether among them there be a Supream or no. Five of them shall subdue the other five And then those five shall by a doubtful strife Each others Death so happily Contrive That they shall Die to live a better life And out of their corruption rise there shall A true Supream Acknowledged by ail His Majesties Restanration plainly foretold In which the power of all the Five shall be With Vnity made visible in Three King People Parliaments with Priests and Peers Shall be a while your Emulous Grandees Make a Confused Pentarchy some years And leave off their distinct Claims by degrees And then shall Righteousness ascend the Throne Then Love and Truth and Peace Re-enter shall Then Faith and Reason shall agree in One And all the Virtues to their Councel Call Then timely after this there shall arise That Kingdom and That happy Government Which is the Scope of all those Prophecies That further Truths obscurely Represent But how this shall be done few men shall see For wrought in Clouds and Darkness it shall be And ere it comes to pass in Publick View Most of these following Signs shall first Ensue A King shall willingly himself Vnking And thereby grow far greater than before The Priests their Priesthood to Contempt shall bring And Piety shall thereby thrive the more A Parliament it self shall overthrow And thereby shall a better being gain The Peers by setting of themselves below A more Enobling Honour shall obtain The People for a while shall be Enslaved And that shall make them for the future free By Private Loss the Publick shall be saved An Army shall by yeilding Victor be Then shall God own his People and their Cause The Laws Corruption shall Reform ths Laws And Bullocks of the Largest Northern breed Shall fatted be where now scarce Sheep can feed And here although I cannot Divine heither dare I assume to my self so much boldness as to prescribe the way and means in order to the accomplishment of this most strange and wonderful Recited Prophecy yet I am apt to Conjecture and do perswade my self if ever it shall come to pass That it will be in a very Critical time of Common and Eminent Danger peradventure the Dread of a Popish Successor and the Dismal Consequence thereof when some good Prince or other shall be so far graciously pleased to condescend to his grand Council as to make three Kingdoms by his Royal Fiat aut Le Roy Le Veult for the future Elective and so they may still introduce the Royal Blood and Legitimate Line ad Infinitum that are truly Protestants And now Courage most Noble Loyal and Curteous Readers what say you if his present Majesty of Great Brittain should be this Person of Quality here intimated and described in this most wonderful and Antient Prophecy a Prediction I must needs Confess most proper for such wonderful times as we now live in would you not all
Knife which was a Tenpenny Coutel in his Body Some now thought that though his Majesty disliked the mode of this great mans dispatch yet with the thing he was well enough satisfied as if Providence had thereby rid him of the Subject of his so great perplexity whom he could not preserve with safety nor desert with honour but such as these were soon convinced of their error when they observed how his Majesty did treat his relations with so intense respect But whatever satisfaction the King received thereby certain it is the Common man was well enough pleased thereat For though Christianity and the Law found the Act Murder yet in vulgar sense it rather past for an Executioner of a Malefactor and an Administration of that Justice dispenced from Heaven which they thought was denied on Earth And because all those storms or publick miscarriages generated in the lower Region of the Parliament had of late been terminated in him as their grand efficient every man would now be wise and forespeak fair weather and a sweet harmony between the King and his Subjects but how truly a few Months will discover November the 29th Felton having been arraigned and found guilty at the Kings-Bench-Bar suffered at Tyburn His Confession was as sincere and full of remorse as could be wished the fact he much detested and renounced his former error in conceiving it would be for his glory to sacrifice himself for his Countreys good And whereas other Motives were suggested by report he protested upon his Salvation that he had no other inducement thereunto than the Parliaments Remonstrance His body was from thence transmitted to Portsmouth and there hung in Chains January the 26th The Parliament meet 1628 the Parliament meet again who soon found they were like to have work enough for Complaints came thronging in especially against the Customers for taking and distraining Merchants Goods for Tonnage and Poundage which the King taking notice of called them to the Banqueting-house and told them viz. That the occasion of that Meeting was a complaint made in the lower House for staying of some mens Goods for denying Tonnage and Poundage which difference might be soon decided were his words and actions rightly understood For if he did not take those Duties as an Appendix of his Hereditary Prerogative and had declared he challeng'd them not of right and only desired to enjoy them by the gift of his People Why did they not pass the Bill as they promised to him to clear his by-past actions and future proceedings especially in this his time of so great necessity Therefore he did now expect they should make good what they promised and put an end to all questions emergent from their delay The House of Commons said That Religion is above Policy God above the King and that they intend to reform Religion before they engage in any other consideration Nor was it agreeable to the Liberty of Consultation to have their Transactions proscribed so that they would at present lay aside the Bill of Tonnage and Poundage till they thought convenient and they were as good as their words For the first thing they resolved upon was the appointment of Committees which the Courtiers called an Inquisition one for Religion another for Civil Affairs and these to represent the abuses in both The Abuses then in the Church and likewise in the State as represented to the Commons by their Committees you may read at large Page 97 98 99 100 101. in the said Narrative But the distempers continued so long and with so quick and high a pulse as the King having every day notice of them He forthwith sent for the Serjeant of the Mace but the House would not permit him to depart but taking the key of the door from him gave it to Sir Miles Hobart a Member of the House to keep The King deeply incensed at these Exceedings of contempt sent Maxwell Usher of the Black Rod to Dissolve the Parliament but neither he nor his Message would be admitted Whereupon the King much enraged sent for the Captain of the Pensioners and the Guard to force an entrance But this passion that shut out the King yet let so much reason in as perswaded them it was good sleeping in a whole skin and understanding the Kings intentions they suddenly voided the House Soon after this the King came that very morning into the House of Lords and making a short though smart Speech unto them Commanded the Lord-Keeper to Dissolve that Parliament The King having thus Dissolved this Parliament The King sends forth a Declaration or rather broke up School those whom he now called Vipers had not in the House of Commons spit up all their Malignity but reserv'd some to disperse and dispose of in the Country whereby an ill odour might be cast upon his Government and the hearts of his People alienated from him As an antidote therefore against that poyson and to anticipate all misunderstanding he speedeth out a Declaration setting forth to all his Subjects the Motives perswading him to Dissolve the Parliament and a breviate of all the Transactions in this and the former Session withal minding them in the close of all that the Duke of Buckingham was decried while he lived as the solitary cause of all bad events in former Parliaments that he is dead and yet the Distempers not in the least abated which he takes as an argument that they were mistaken in the cause and that it was rather resident in some few Members of Parliament The King having as he hoped disabused his Subjects by his late Declaration next intended to proceed severely against those who had offended him and whose punishment he said he reserved to a due time upon this account the 18th of this Month he sent for Ten of the late Members to appear at the Council-Table viz. Mr. Hollis Mr. Selden Sir Miles Hobart Sir John Elliot Sir Peter Hayman Mr. Stroud Mr. Coriton Mr. Valentine Mr. Long Mr. Kirton These appearing Mr. Hollis was interrogated Wherefore contrary to his former use he did the morning the Parliament was Dissolved place himself by the Chair above divers of the Privy-Councellors He answered That he had some other times as well as then seated himself in that place and as for his sitting above the Privy-Councellors he took it to be his due in any place whatsoever unless at the Council-Board and for his part he came into the House with as much zeal for his Majesties Service as any one whatsoever and yet nevertheless finding his Majesty was offended with him he humbly desired that he might rather be the subject of his mercy than of his power To the which the Lord Treasurer answered You mean rather of his Majesties Mercy than of his Justice Mr. Hollis replyed I say of his Majesties Power my Lord. Sir John Elliot was next called in who was questioned for words he spake in the lower House of Parliament and for producing the late Remonstrance
himself by Letter desires the King to pass the Bill 40. Censures upon the Kings passing the Bill for the Parliaments continuation 41. The Kings Letter in behalf of the Earl to the House of Lords and their answer thereunto 42. The Earl brought to the Scaffold and his last Speech before his Execution 43. The Earls Character Here I must refer you at large to Sir Richard Baker p. 511. c. 44. The Earls Children restored to their Honour and Estates 45. The Earls of Hartford Essex Bedford Warwick Lord Say with some others made Privy-Councellors 46. The Lord Treasurer and other great Officers resign up their places 47. The Star-Chamber abolished and the high Commission Court put down 48. Ship-money relinquish'd by the King 49. Five Judges for Ship-money Impeached of high Misdemenours and Berkly accused of high Treason 50. Several Laws passed by the King for regulating abuses and disclaiming Priviledges 51. The Treaty between the two Kingdoms confirmed 52. The Earl of Holland made General of the English Army and a Pole raised for the payment of them 53. Both Armies are Disbanded and the King takes a Journey into Scotland and there confers honours upon several persons of that Kingdom 54. A Bloody Rebellion breaks forth in Ireland 55. Owen O Conally an Irish Protestant discovers the Plot prevents the seizure of Dublin Caestle 56. The Earl of Leicester chosen Deputy of Ireland 57. The Irish Rebellion occasioned by the insurrection in Scotland 58. The King receives Intelligence of what hapned in Ireland and sends Sir James Stuart with instructions thither and moves the Parliament of Scotland for Aid which they Excuse 59. The Irish pretend the Kings Commission for what they did thereby to dishearten the English and also feigned Letters that the Parliament would compell them to Protestancy 60. The Irish Rebells possess themselves of all strong places in Vlster 61. They contrary to Articles of Surrender Massacre the poor English but save the Scots 62. The Parliament of England designs Money for Ireland 63. Forces raised to go against the Rebells 64. The Earl of Ormond made Lieutenant-General of the Forces there 65. A Regiment sent to Ireland under Sir Simon Hartcourt 66. The King returns out of Scotland and the Parliament present a Remonstrance to him at Hampton-Court as also a Petition with the Remonstrance 67. An Act published in Scotland against Levying Arms without the Kings Commission 68. The King receives the Parliaments Petition but desires them not to publish the Remonstrance 69 The Remonstrance is Ordered to be published in all parts of the Kingdom and the King answers the Petition and Vindicates himself from the Aspersions of the Remonstrance 70. The Commons pass a Bill for disabling all in Holy Orders to exercise temporal Jurisdiction 71. The tumult upon the Lords slighting the Bill comes to their House and clamour againg the Bishops and some of the Commons justifie those tumults 72. The Lords sends a Writ directed to the Sheriffs and Justices to suppress those tumults 73. Whereupon the Constables and Justices are sent for by the Commons 74. The Bishops Protestations against the actions of the Parliament and they are charged with high Treason and committed to the Tower where they continued about four Months 75. The Parliament Petition the King for a Guard 76. The King denies the Petition and chargeth Kimbolton and five Members more of the Commons with high Treason 77. The Commons justifie the accused Members 78. The King comes to the House to demand the Delivery of the five Members and the Commons Vote this a breach of Priviledge 79. The King removes to Hampton-Court and sends a Message to the Parliament 80. The Commons Petition the King for the Militia to be put into their hands 81. The Queen accompanies the Princess Mary into Holland and the King removes to York and there issues out Commissions of Array And so Finis Coronat Opus I have proceeded to the last day of 1641. For I find March 28. 1642. The King and Parliament differ about who shall be chief Commander at Sea where I am willing to leave them and dare not launch out any farther as to the Merits of the Cause And now in the close of all if you will please to give me leave faithfully to examine and compare together the Transactions Principles and Practices of the Commons of England in particular as being Assembled in Parliament Anno Domini 1640 and 1641 as also Anno Domini 1680 and 1681. whose Transactions Debates and Speeches are all so lately Printed that I need not here insert the Particulars but refer you unto the Debates themselves And I do clearly find the same English Spirit so far as 1641. pray take notice I proceed no further in this Multum in Parvo runs almost exactly Parallel with the present years of 80 and 81. And when you have perused and seriously considered them within your selves I do presume and am very apt to conjecture that you who are of a sober mind and wish from your Heart and Soul all Peace Prosperity and Happiness to your King and Country That you will say with me That although they are not enough to satisfie and silence an high Tory and bloody Papist yet they are Arguments and Demonstrations strong enough in Conseience to convince any Atheist in his sober mind of the Reality and good Intentions against Popery and Slavery many times slily introduced by some unworthy Sycophants and corrupt Ministers of State of the before-mentioned precedent Parliaments And although we live at present in an Age of Wonders viz. of wonderful Signs wonderful and most prodigious Comets and Blazing Stars and wonderful Apparitions for a particular whereof viz. of such as have happened in the last year 1680 pray read Mr. Christopher Ness his late Book the Title whereof is Wonderful Signs for Wonderful Times yet I say the major part of us do turn all these things into perfect Ridicule and Scorn and are far from deterring us from the evil of our ways but do still run on Jehu-like and persist in our accustomed Sins and Dalilah-like Provocations against God and are all of us the Lord of Heaven knows in a very unprepared frame temper and disposition to meet him and to kiss the Rod in the ways of his Judgments when they shall come suddenly upon us like an armed Man and there shall be none to deliver us out of his avenging hand Him that hath an Ear to hear let him hear And among the many Wonders which we have already had I have made bold here to insert one more which for ought I know may suddenly come to pass in the midst of us and pray pardon my plainness and well-meaning and hearty wishes therein the which you may please to peruse in manner and form as followeth viz. A Wonder strange I will you tell From Heaven 't will be and not from Hill When as King CHARLES shall be content In Love to meet his Parliament And let them sit
pattern in the Mount and of these Loyal persons that had been of the forlorn hope and had marched in the front of the battel and being weighed in the ballance of the Sanctuary I do not neither dare I say in the ballance of the Scriptures and right reason they were found too light and for the which they have a mark and a stamp put upon them by way of distinction I had almost said like unto that Revel 13.15 16 17. whereby they are branded and stigmatized as factious and disloyal Subjects Sed affirmatis est probare and are therefore registred and recorded to be conveyed down by the Pens Militant to future posterity as persons disloyal and disaffected to the present Government and to all those Noble Emoluments and Priviledges which our Forefathers never yet saw nor did enjoy as some of the Addresses do most happily and emphatically word it in so plentiful a measure as under the present Reign of His most Sacred Majesty whom God long preserve The which I must needs say is a very hard case to those poor Petitioners and many of them good Gentlemen able Citizens and Persons of Quality who peradventure did all mean well though their luck was bad and therefore all the comfort that I can give them in this particular in regard Solamen miseriis is a very acceptable companion is only this That they would be pleased to consider That if their hearts and hands went together and had no base nor rebellious nor factious design therein whatsoever and that they were conscious to themselves that they did their King and Country good service in their late Humble Addresses and Petitions although misconstrued and misinterpreted That our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ when he was upon Earth although the best person that ever breathed in the common air yet he could not escape reflections and hard censures from his Countreymen the Jews upon the like account For some of them said and but a few God knows in comparison of the whole Nation that he was a good man when others of a more dissolute and loose conversation said Nay but he was a Mountebank and an Impostor and deceived the people therefore what shall we say to all things but only Monstrum horrendum c. But to proceed and come yet a little nearer unto the matter in hand according to the Contents of the Title-page viz. most faithfully and impartially to examine and compare together the Principles Practices and Transactions of the English Nation but more especially by their Representatives Assembled in Parliament Anno Domini 1640 and 1641. and Anno Domini 1680 and 1681. The compleat and exact distance of time the Children of Israel the peculiar People of God were wandring rebelling and provoking his Divine Majesty in the Wilderness before they were actually possessed of the land of Canaan And wherein persons and things do now look and represent themselves almost with the very same face nay I had almost said with a Ten-times more ominous ill-featured and dismal aspect than formerly But yet notwithstanding I can by no means apprehend the same dreadful fate and consequence will ensue now as did de facto in those preceding years viz. a Nation wading and wallowing over head and ears in hot Christian blood and sheathing the naked sword in each others bowels and appealing to Law of Arms to decide the grand Controversie in those days which so unfortunately hapned between the Commons of England Assembled in Parliament and his late Majesty of deplorable Memory the chief Magistrate thereof although the true Phanatick Tory and Tantivy-men of the Age both in Press and Pulpit do endeavour Might and Main and leave no stone unturn'd in order thereunto to possess our Governours and those that sit at the Helm with this vain frivolous and I hope ridiculous belief But blessed be God there are yet some few Wise men among us who are of the contrary perswasion and can penetrate as far into a Millstone as themselves and who understand their black designs and meanings herein well enough and how that they would willingly and with all their hearts and souls be warming themselves at such a fire And there is a just and righteous God above who will at the last as he hath in some good measure done already countermine bring to light destroy and confound all their Plots and Sham-plots of this and the like nature whatsoever and will make them to be rendred in his own good time the very off-scum scorn contempt and derision of our English Israel and shall be handled and translated down to future posterity as the firebrands and principal fomentors of all our animosities and unhappy divisions And here to come to a right understanding of those precedent Transactions we must make a Digression and by a retrograde step take a transient view of the many Precursors of our late unhappy Troubles and Revolutions and which were engendring and fomenting in the Body Politique from the time of the Death of King James until the beginning of those years wherein by reason of a Long long long Interval of Parliements or rather as some would have it a long interregnum of two vital parts of the Constitution it self our English Monarchy although the best and well-temper'd Government when the exercise of the vital parts thereof be not obstructed in its due circulation this day in the Christian World received for some time among us its Mortal wound And herein as I would not for my right hand vindicate or justifie any Illegal Unwarrantable or any Tyrannical Proceedings of any particular Number or numbers of men whatsoever and who were actually concern'd in those late most dismal and most deplorable revolutions so on the other side I would not altogether condemn all them who were then in the Vogue of the people the esteemed Patriots of their Lives Liberties and Properties and the grand Assertors of the Kings Majesties most Legal and Just Prerogatives both in Church and State and those that are yet inter vivos of them do most solemnly protest and declare That in process of time Persons and Transactions were stretched forth to preternatural Dimensions and Diametrically opposite to the primary intentions and inclinations of the House of Commons themselves and His present Majesty that now Reigneth whom God long preserve in the midst of us was pleased from Breda most graciously to observe viz. That through mistakes and misunderstandings many inconveniencies were produced which were not intended And that the Long Parliament so called although there hath been a much longer since had no design in the least measure in their primary thoughts and intentions to shake off the Monarchy although there are some particular men at this present conjuncture of time in the Pulpit that make them to be all King Ahab's and that Naboth's Vineyard and Inheritance was their principal design although slily couched under the specious and godly pretence of Liberty and Property wherein I think they are
Protestation which Mr. Glanvill stood up and declared to this effect First To give his Majesty Thanks for his Gracious Answer to our Petition for Religion Next For his care of our health in giving us leave to depart this dangerous time Lastly A dutiful Declaration of our affections and loyalty and purpose to supply his Majesty in a Parliamentary-way in a fitting and convenient time This being done the Speaker took the Chair and admitting the Usher he declared his Message from the Lords concerning the Dissolution of the Parliament Now had the King an opportunity for his Summers past-time but that his own progress might not impede that of his affairs his Council were commanded to go along with him By whose general advice two things were most considerably resolved upon First That the Fleet should speedily be put to Sea Secondly That a more strict Amity should be enter'd into with the States of the United Provinces Several were the Descants of such as pretended to judicious censure as fancy and affection swayed the ballance some blamed the Parliament for not supplying the Kings necessities whereby the Fleet put forth too late some reflected finisterly upon the Duke saying It never was nor never will be well with England while the Sea is under the Command of an Admiral so young and withal so unexperienc'd others also made deduction from this miscarriage of Gades Voyage in reference to the King that because Commencements do often forespeak the qualification of future contingencies in the series and row of succeeding affairs they much feared this was but the earnest of some inauspiciousness which would attend the residue of his Reign Nor among the rest was Captain Brett's conjecture vain who told the Duke That the Fleet was never like to speed better wherein there went a long Bag without Money Cook without Meat and Love without Charity for so were the three Captains named and a great default there was doubtless of sufficient pay of wholesome meat and unanimity The Michaelmas-Term was by reason of the infection at London translated to Reading from whence the King according to late Answer in Parliament issued out in November a Commission to the Judges to see the Laws against Recusants put in Execution This Commission was read in all the Courts of Judicature at Reading and withal a Letter was directed to the Archbishop of Canterbury enjoyning him to take special care within his Province for the discovery of Jesuits Seminary-Priests and other Recusants offenders against the Laws It was in truth high time for severe Proceedings against them they having contracted so much insolence and presuming upon protection by reason of the late Match that at Winchester and many other places they frequently passed through the Churches in time of Divine Service hooting and hallowing not only to the disturbance of that duty but to the scorn of our Religion yea and one Popish Lord when the King was at Chappel was heard to prate on purpose louder in a Gallery adjoyning than the Chaplain prayed whereat the King was so moved that he sent this Message too him viz. Either let him come and do as we do or else I will make him prate farther off On February the 2d this year Anno Domini 1625 the King was Crowned at Westminster with the usual though I cannot say Magnificent Ceremonies and Solemnities The Coronation being past the King prepareth for a Parliament now approaching the last he thought was somewhat uncivil towards the Duke and the Delinquents as he thought must be made examples Upon this account the Lord-Keeper Williams soon after the Dissolution of the late Parliament fell and his place was disposed of to Sir Thomas Coventry c. On the 16th of this February the Parliament met the Commons began their work where they last broke off at Oxford making Religion their first and which was their superlative care recollecting what a full and satisfactory Answer the King gave to their Petition against Recusants and his Commission issued out in pursuance of that Answer appointed a Committee for Religion impowring them most strictly to examine what abuses of his Majesties Grace had occurred since that time and who were the Authors and Abettors of the same The House of Commons being in expectation of some Discovery from their Committee at length Mr. Prin made a report of a Letter written to the Lord Mayor of York for reprieving some Jesuits Priests and other Recusants This Letter being under the Signet a sub-Committee was ordered to search the Signet-Office and compare it with the Original These Proceedings inwardly much displeased the King yet he smothered the indignity for a time though he did after intimate the same unto them among his other regrets And plying his more important affairs with a most steady temper he sent a Message unto them by Sir Richard Weston to this effect viz. That his Fleet is returned and their Victuals spent the Men must of necessity be discharged and their wages paid them or else mutiny will follow which may be of dangerous consequence That he hath in readiness about 40 Ships to be set forth upon a second service which want a present supply of moneys That the Armies quartered on the Coasts want Victuals and Cloaths and they will Disband if not furnished The Companies of Ireland lately sent must speedily be provided for else they may be subject to rebel Lastly The season for providing healthful provision will be past if this Month of March be suffered through negligence to elapse And therefore he desired to know without more ado what present supplies he must depend upon from them that so accordingly he might shape his course Instead of a supply to his Message Mr. Clement Coke Son to Sir Edward Coke a Member of the House of Commons let fly this reply It is better to dye by a Foreign Enemy than to be destroyed at home and as if the Prerogative had not been sufficiently alarm'd by that expression one Turner a Doctor of Physick re-assaults it in these six Queries 1. Whether the King hath not lost the Regality of the Narrow Seas since the Duke became Admiral 2. Whether his going in the last Fleet as Admiral was not the cause of ill success 3. Whether the Kings Revenue hath not been impaired through his immense liberality 4. Whether he hath not ingrossed all Offices and preferred his kindred to unfit places 5. Whether he hath not made sale of places of Judicature 6. Whether Recusants have not dependance upon his Mother and father-in-Father-in-law This was uncouth language to a Princes Ear but who can expect that in so vast a Body and Mass of men all parcels should take salt alike and that no part should have rancidity in it Yet perhaps this clamour and noise might be the rudeness of some few newly admitted into that great School of Wisdom the greater part continuing it's possible sincere and loyal therefore the King sends Sir Richard Weston to them requiring satisfaction But the
one word I am commanded by the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons House to present unto your Lordships their most affectionate Thanks for your ready condescending to this Conference which out of confidence in your great Wisdoms and approved Justice for the service of his Majesty and the welfare of this Realm they desired upon this occasion The House of Commons by a fatal and universal concurrence of Complaints from all the Seabordering parts of this Kingdom did find a great and grievous interruption and stop of Trade and Traffick The base Pirates of Sally ignominiously infesting our Coasts taking our Ships and Goods and leading away the Subjects of this Kingdom into Barbarous Captivity while to our shame and hinderance of Commerce our Enemies did as it were Besiege our Ports and Block up our best Rivers Mouths our Friends on slight pretences made Embargoes of our Merchants Goods and every Nation upon the least occasion was ready to contemn and slight us So great was the apparent diminution of the ancient Honour of this Crown and once strong reputation of our Nation wherewith the Commons were more troubled calling to remembrance how formerly in France in Spain in Holland and everywhere by Sea and Land the Valours of this Kingdom had been better valued and even in latter times within remembrance when we had no Alliance with France none in Denmark none in Germany no Friend in Italy in Scotland to say no more united Ireland not setled in peace and much less security at home when Spain was as ambitious as it is now under a King Philip the Second they called their Wisest the House of Austria as great and Potent and both strengthned with a Malicious League in France of persons ill-affected when the Low-Countries had no being yet by constant Councels and Old English ways even then that Spanish pride was cool'd that greatness of the House of Austria so formidable to us now was well resisted and to the United Provinces of the Low-Countries such a beginning growth and strength was given as gave us Honour over all the Christian World The Commons therefore wondring at the evils which they suffered debating of the causes of them found they were many drawn like one Line to one Circumference of Decay of Trade and Strength of Honour and Reputation in this Kingdom which as in one Centre met in one great man the cause of all whom I am here to name the Duke of Buckingham Here Sir Dudley Diggs made a stand as wondring to see the Duke present yet he took the Roll and read the Preamble to the Charge with the Duke's Titles which I shall here for the Readers Satisfaction insert and so proceed For the speedy Redress of the great evils and mischiefs The Preamble to the Impeachment against the Duke of Buckingham and of the chief causes of those evils and mischiefs which this Kingdom of England now grievously suffereth and of late years hath suffered and to the honour and safety of our Soveraign Lord the King and of his Crown and Dignities and to the good and welfare of his People The Commons in this present Parliament by the Authority of our Soveraign Lord the King assembled do by this their Bill shew and declare against George Duke Marquess and Earl of Buckingham Earl of Coventry Viscount Villers Baron of Whaddon Great Admiral of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland and of the Principality of Wales and of the Dominions and Islands of the same of the Town of Calais and of the Marches of the same and of Normandy Gascoin and Guyen General Governor of the Seas and Ships of the said Kingdoms Lieutenant-General Admiral Captain-General and Governor of his Majesties Royal Fleet and Armado lately set forth Master of the Horse of our Soveraign Lord the King Lord Warden Chancellor and Admiral of the Cinque-Ports and of the Members thereof Constable of Dover-Castle Justice in Eyre of all Forests and Chases on this side of the River of Trent Constable of the Castle of Windsor Lieutenant of Middlesex and Buckinghamshire Steward and Bayliff of Westminster Gentleman of his Majesties Bed-Chamber and one of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Council in his Realms both of England Scotland and Ireland and Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter The Misdemeanors Misprisions Offences Crimes and other matters comprized in the Articles following And him the said Duke do Accuse and Impeach of the said Misdemeanors Misprisions Offences and Crimes And now my Lords This lofty Title of this mighty man methinks doth raise my Spirits to speak with a Paulo majora canamus and let it not displease your Lordships if for Foundation I compare the beautiful Structure and fair Composition of this Monarchy wherein we live to the great work of God viz. the World it self in which the solid Body of incorporated Earth and Sea as I conceive in regard of our Husbandry Manufactures and Commerce by Land and Sea may well resemble us the Commons and as it is encompassed with Air and Fire and Spheres Celestial of Planets and a Firmament of fixed Stars all which receive their heat light and life from one great glorious Sun even like the King our Soveraign so that Firmament of fixed Stars I take to be your Lordships those Planets the great Officers of the Kingdom that pure Element of Fire the most Religious Zealous and Pious Clergy and the Reverend Judges Magistrates and Ministers of Law and Justice the Air wherein we breathe all which encompast round with cherishing comfort this Body of the Commons who truly labour for them all and though they be the Footstool and the lowest yet may well be said to be the setled Centre of the State Now my Lords if that glorious Sun by his powerful Beams of Grace and Favour shall draw from the bowels of this Earth an Exhalation that shall fire and burn and shine out like a Star it needs not be marvell'd at if the poor Commons gaze and wonder at the Comet when they feel the effects and impute all to the corruptible matter thereof But if such an imperfect Meteor appear like that in the last Age in the Chair of Casiopea among the fixed Stars themselves where Aristotle and the old Philosophers conceived there was no place for such corruption The Meteor in 1680. is worth your observation upon this very account then as the learned Mathematicians were troubled to observe the irregular motions the prodigious magnitude and the ominous Prognosticks of that Meteor so the Commons when they see such a Blazing-Star in course so exorbitant in the affairs of this Common-wealth cannot but look up upon it and for want of Perspectives commend the nearer examination to your Lordships who may behold it at a better distance Such a prodigious Comet the Commons take this Duke of Buckingham to be And so the Commons do the Duke of York now cum multis aliis c. Anno Domini 1680 and 1681. and
To this he answered That whatsoever was said or done by him in that place and at that time was performed by him as a publick Man and a Member of that House and that he was and ever will be ready to give an account of his Sayings and Doings in that place whenever he should be called unto it by that House where as he taketh it he is only to be questioned and in the mean time being now but a private man he would not now trouble himself to remember what he said or did in that place as a publick Man Sir Miles Hobart was also questioned for locking the Parliament House Door and putting the Key in his Pocket to which he pleaded the Command of the House The other Gentlemen were questioned for reproving the Speaker and not permitting him to do that the King commanded him who all alledged in defence the Priviledg of the House After this they were committed some to the Tower and some to the Gatehouse and some to the Fleet And May the first the Attorney sent a Process out against them to appear in the Star-Chamber and to answer an information to be entred there against them but they refused as denying the Jurisdiction of that Court over offences done in Parliament which created the greatest and longest Controversie in Law that had been started in many years April the tenth Anno Domini 1630 dyed William Earl of Pembroke Lord High Steward of England of an Apoplexy He was the very Picture and vive Effigies of Nobility His Character His Person rather Majestick than Elegant his presence whether quiet or in motion full of stately gravity his mind generous and purely heroick often stout but never disloyal so vehement an opponent of the Spaniard as when that Match fell under consideration he would sometimes rowze even to the trepidation of King James yet kept in favour still for that King knew well enough that plain dealing was a Jewel in all men so in a Privy Councellor was an ornamental duty and the same true-heartedness commended him to King Charles with whom he kept a most admirable Correspondence and yet stood the firm confident of the Commonalty and not by a sneaking cunning but by an erect and generous prudence such as rendred him unsuspected of Ambition on the one side or of Faction on the other This universality of Affection made his loss most deplorable but men are lost when all turns to forgotten-dust That affection would not that he should be so nonpluss'd but kept his noble Fame emergent and alose and if this History shall bear it up I shall esteem it not more his felicity than my own April the twenty fifth of this year was Arraigned Convicted Anno 1631. Condemned and on May the fourteenth Executed upon Tower-Hill Mervin Lord Audley Earl of Castle-Haven for Rape and Sodomy In England fell two great Favourites of different parties Anno 1634. of the Commonalties one and of the Kings another Of the Commonalties Sir Edward Coke who died about the latter end of this Summer Sir Edward Coke departeth this life full of days he died most whereof he had spent in eminent place and honour His abilities in the Common Law whereof he passed for an Oracle raised him first to the dignity of Attorney-General to Queen Elizabeth Then of Lord Chief Justice of the Kings-Bench under King James His advancement he lost the same way he got it viz. by his Tongue so rare it is for a man very eloquent not to be over loquent long lived he in that retirement to which Court-Indignation had remitted him yet was not his recess inglorious for at improving a disgrace to the best advantage he was so excellent as King James said of him he was like a Cat throw her which way you will she will light upon her feet And finding a Cloud at Court he made sure of fair weather in the Country applying himself so devoutly to popular Interests as in succeeding Parliaments the Prerogative felt him as her ablest so her most active Opponent upon which account he was 1 Caroli made High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire on purpose to exclude him the ensuing Parliament there being an especial Nolumus and clause in his Commission prohibiting his Election not withstanding which Elected he was in Norfolk and those words of Restraint upon the debate of the Question in the House of Commons Voted void On the Kings the Great Lord Treasurer Sir Richard Weston Sir Richard Weston Lord Treasurer of England dieth Earl of Portland this year and he almost expiring together he ending this life March the thirteenth a sad loss to the King and the sadder because he thought it irreparable The truth is he was a Person very able for the Office and the Exchequer was in the mending hand while he enjoyed that place for he had a most singular Artifice both in improving the incomes and in a frugal moderation of his Masters expence But the Kings forrow was not so extreme for him but the Peoples joy was full as great for there was now grown so sad an antipathy between his Majesty and his Subjects that like those two Emperors Antonine and Geta they were always of contrary Senses and Minds rarely agreeing in any one particular The deportment whereby he so much disobliged the Commonalty was his promoting Monopolies and other advantages of Regality The Archbishop and he were usually at great odds this vacant place was at present entrusted to Commissioners until the King should otherwise dispose thereof September the 29th the Earl of Arundel brought up to London out of Shropshire one Robert Parr as the wonder of our times for long life he having attained to the age of near 160 and probably might have continued longer had not so tedious a journey and over-violent agitation of his aged Body accellerated his end so that it may be said he sacrificed some years to others curiosity In Michaelmas-Term was canvassed and debated the grand Controversie between the King and Subject about Ship-Money Anno 1635. The great Debate about Ship-money for the Ship-Writs having been issued out August the 11 to divers Counties many Inhabitants and among the rest Mr. Hambden of Buckingham-shire assessed by the Sheriff made default of payment whereupon the King equally hating to be either flattered into or frighted from the belief of its Legality wrote a Letter to the Judges demanding their Opinions upon the case stated To which the Judges delivered their Opinions as followeth May it please your most Excellent Majesty WE have according to your Majesties Command severally and every Man by himself and all of us together taken into our serious consideration the Case and Questions signed by your Majesty and inclosed in your Letter And we are of opinion That when the good and safety of the Kingdom in general is concerned and the whole Kingdom in danger Your Majesty may by Writ under your Great Seal of England Command all the
Subjects of this your Kingdom at their charge to provide and furnish such number of Ships with Men Victual Munition and for such time as your Majesty shall think fit for the defence and safeguard of the Kingdom from such peril and danger and that by Law your Majesty may compel the doing thereof in case of refulsal or refractoriness And we are also of opinion That in such case your Majesty is the sole Judg both of the danger and when and how the same is to be prevented and avoided John Bramston John Finch Humphrey Davenport John Denham Richard Hatton William Jones George Crook Thomas Trever George Vernon Robert Barkley Francis Crauly Richard Weston These Opinions being subscribed by all the Judges and inrolled in all the Courts in Westminster-Hall the King thought he had now warrant sufficient to proceed against all defaulters and especially against Mr. Hambden who being summoned by process appeared and required Oyer of the Ship-Writs which being read he demurred in Law and demanded the Opinion of all the Judges upon the Legal sufficiency of those Writs This great Case coming to be argued in the Exchequer the Major part of the Judges delivered their Opinions in favour of the Writs and accordingly gave Judgment against Mr. Hambden yet did not the question altogether so repose but Mr. Hambden observing some Judges viz. Crook and Hatton of a contrary sense held up the Contest still though all in vain all his inquietude not gaining him the least acquittal until an higher Power interposed About the beginning of January this year Anno 1639. Sir Thomas Coventry dyeth dyed Sir Thomas Coventry Lord-Keeper of the Great Seal of England a Dignity he had Fifteen years enjoyed if it be not more proper to say That Dignity had enjoyed him so long this latter affording not one every way of more apt qualifications for the place His front and presence bespake a venerable regard not inferior to that of any of his Ancestors His train and suit of followers was disposed agreeably to shun both envy and contempt not like that of the Viscount St. Albans or the Bishop of Lincoln whom he succeeded ambitious and vain His port was State their 's Ostentation they were indeed the more knowng men but their Learning was extravagant to their Office of what concerned his Place he knew well enough and which is the main acted according to his knowledg for in the administration of Justice he was so erect and so incorrupt as captious malice stands mute in the blemish of his fame a miracle the greater when we consider that he was also a Privy Councellor A Trust wherein he served his Master the King most faithfully and the more faithfully because of all those Councils which in those times did so much deceive his Majesty and I pray God there were fewer at this juncture of time than there is he was an earnest disswader and did much disaffect those Sticklers who rather laboured to make the Prerogative tall and great as knowing that such men loved the King better than Charles Stuart so that although he was a Courtier and had for his Master a passion most intense yet had he also always of passion some reserve for the publick welfare An Argument of a free noble and right principled mind for what both Court and Country have always held as inconsistent is in truth erroneous and no man can be truly Loyal who is not also a good Patriot nor any a good Patriot the Ballance indispensably ought to be kept even who is not truly Loyal To this worthy Gentleman succeeded Sir John Finch formerly Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. The Heer Somerdick An Embassador from the States of Holland Embassador from the States of Holland in the Month of January had Audience of the King He had with him Count William of Nassaw and the Rhine-Grave with a very splendid train his business was to give his Majesty satisfaction concerning the late Attack made upon the Spaniards by the Dutch Fleet in the Downs and the Embassy was sweetned by some overture of Marriage between the young Prince of Orange and the Kings Eldest Daughter On the Thirteenth of April A Parliament fits in England after near 12 years interval April 1640. A Parliament met and sate and the Deputy of Ireland being not long before Created Earl of Strafford and made Lord Lieutenant of that Kingdom was lead into the upper House by two Noblemen where he gave an account of his service in Ireland where he had obtained the grant of four Subsidies for the maintenance of an Army Mr. John Glanvil was chosen Speaker of the House of Commons and generally the choice of Members to that House was so good that great probabilitles were given of a happy Union betwixt the King and the Parliament Some few days after a Report was made to the Lords by the Lord Cottington who with Windebank and the Attorney General were sent by the King to the Lord Lowden to examine him concerning a Letter before mentioned that the Lord did acknowledge the Hand-Writing to be his and that it was framed before the pacification at Berwick and was never sent to the King but only prepared in a readiness should need require and that it was supprest upon that pacification nevertheless it was thought fit he should continue in the same state until clearer Evidence should be given either for or against him Soon after the King sent a message to the Lower House about Supplies representing unto them the intolerable indignities and injuries wherewith the Scots had treated him and withal declared unto them that if they would assist him sutable to the exigency of his sad occasion he would for ever quit his claim of Shipmoney and into the bargain give them full content in all their just demands But they replied as being somewhat deliberate in this affair of Money that they expected first security from his Majesty in these three particulars viz. 1. For the clearing the Subjects Property 2. For the Establishment of Religion 3. For the Priviledg of Parliament Many Conferences there was had between the Lords and Commons as to this old Contest which should precede The Lords after a strong division among themselves at length Voted for the King and the Commons for the Subject But it was not long before this unhappy difference was unhappily decided For Secretary Vane who was employed to declare the particulars of the Kings desires required twelve Subsidies whereas it was said his express order was for only six some there are who suspect this mistake to have been not involuntary but industrious in him as to his Majesties service but leaving that undetermined the House of Commons was raised by this Proposition to such animosity as the King advising with his Juncto The Parliament dissolved May the fifth 1640. having sate about 3 weeks their complyance was represented to him so desperate as that May the fifth he ordered the Dissolution of
leave him and his Tory Crew And now proceed to what doth here ensue Tuesday Novemb. 3. being the day prefixt and the Parliament assembled His Majesty bespake them in these words My Lords THE knowledge that I have of the Scotish Subjects was the cause of my calling of the last Assembly of Parliament wherein if I had been believed I do most sincerely think that things had not fallen as We now see but it is no wonder that men are so slow to believe that so great a Sedition should be raised upon so little ground But now My Lords and Gentlemen the Honor and Safety of this Kingdom lying so heavily at stake I am resolved to put My Self freely upon the Love and Affections of my English Subjects And had His Majesty kept close to this resolution some think things had ne'er come to that extremity that afterwards they did as those of my Lords that waited upon me at York very well remember I there declared Therefor my Lords I shall not mention Mine own Interest or that Support I might justly expect from you till the Common Safety be secured though I must tell you I am not asbamed to say those Charges I have been at have been meerly for the securing the good of this Kingdom though the Success hath not been answerable to My desires Therefore I shall only desire you to consider the best way for the Security of this Kingdom wherein there are two things chiefly considerable 1. The chasing out the Rebells 2. That other in satisfying your just Grievances wherein I shall promote you to concur so heartily and clearly with you that all the World may see my intentions have ever been and shall be to make this a glorious and flourishing Kingdom There are onely two things more that I shall mention to you the one is to tell you That the Loan of Money which I lately had from the City of London wherein the Lords that waited on me at York assisted me will only maintain my Army for two months from the beginning of that time it was granted Now my Lords and Gentlemen I leave it to your Consideration what Dishonour and Mischief it might be in case for want of Money my Army be Disbanded before the Rebels be put out of this Kingdom Secondly The securing the Calamities the Northern People endure at this time and so long as the Treaty is on foot And in this I may say Not only they but all this Kingdom will suffer the harm therefore I leave this also to your Consideration for the ordering of the Great Affairs whereof you are to Treat at this time I am so confident of your Love to me and that your Care is such for the Honour and Safety of the Kingdom that I should freely leave to you where to begin Only this that you may know the better the State of all Affairs I have commanded my Lord Keeper to give you a short and free Account of those things that have happened in this Interim with this Protestation That if his Account be not Satisfactory as it ought to be I shall whensoever you desire it give you a Full and Perfect Account of every Particular One thing more I desire of you as one of the greatest means to make this an Happy Parliament That you on your part as I on mine lay aside Suspition one of another as I promised my Lords at York It shall not be my Fault if this be not a Happy and Good Parliament The King having ended the Lord Keeper in pursuance of His Majesty's Commands gave them a Summary Account and Relation of all Things relating to the Scottish Invasion I dare not say Rebellion for that the King represented them under that Disgustful Character was very ill resented by some considerable Peers whereof His Majesty having notice told the Parliament two days after He must needs call them Rebels so long as they have an Army that does invade England The remainder of this Week was spent partly in settling Committees for General Grievances and partly in set Speeches Rhetorically declaiming against and dissecting them The remainder of the particular Transactions of this year of the Commons of England Assembled in Parliament and of the year succeeding 1641. I shall not here relate at large but refer you to the Annals of King Charles the First written by this ingenious Author from whom I have borrowed and transcribed the major part of my precedent Relations who ends at the Death of the Earl of Strafford which was May the 12th 1641. And after that I must refer you for the remainder of that year unto Sir Richard Baker's Chronicle of the Kings of England c. But the particular heads of those Transactions as to matter of fact I shall be willing here to recite for your Courteous Readers present satisfaction in manner and form as followeth viz. 1. Several Petitions against Grievances 2. Priviledges of the Lords House Vindicated 3. The Lieutenant of Ireland Impeached of high Treason 4. The Northern Armies in want 5. Bishop of Lincoln Enlarged 6. Justice Howard assaulted by a Papist 7. Prinn and Bastwick enter London in Triumph 8. Secretary Windebanck flieth 9. Votes against Ship-money 10. The London Petition against Bishops 11. The late Canons Damn'd 12. The Lord-Keeper Finch defends his Innocency 13. He is Voted Traitor upon four Considerations and thereupon he flyeth beyond Sea 14. The Kings Speech for Bishops 15. One Goodman a Priest reprieved 16. A Remonstrance against Goodman the Priest 17. The Kings Answer to that Remonstrance 18. The Scottish Commissioners Demands and the Answer thereunto 19. A Match propounded between the Lady Mary and the Prince of Orange 20. The Kings Speech to the Lords concerning that Match 21. Some Plots of the Papists 22. The Earl Berkly Impeacht of High-Treason 23. The King passeth a Bill for Trienial Parliaments and his Speech concerning it 24. The Bill of Subsidies passeth at the same time and Bonefires and other tokens of joy were made that night in the City of London by Order of Parliament 25. William Laud Arch-Bishop of Canterbury accused of high Treason in fourteen Artieles 26. The Lord Digbyes Speech for Episcopacy 27. The Charge against the Earl of Strafford is given and his Answers thereunto and Westminster-Hall is appointed for his Trial. 28. The Commons justifie their Charge by Law 29. The Earl answereth by Councel 30. The Commons Vote him guilty of High-treason 31. The Commons Petition the King against Papists and the King's Answer 32. The Kings Speech to the Parliament in defence of the E of Strafford 33. The Prince of Orange Marryeth the Lady Mary 34. A Tumult in Westminster crying for Justice against the Earl 35. A Protestation framed by the Commons 36. A Bill propounded for the continuation of the Parliament 37. The Earl of Strafford Vored by the Lords House guilty of High Treason 38. Two Bills tendered to the King who is much perplext what Answer to return 39. The Earl