Ecclesiae tangentibus Your Highness Wisdom and exceeding Judgment withal careful Providence needed not your Councils But yet so urgent Causes there were of this Parliament so important Considerations as that we may say for that we cannot judge never Parliament was so needful as now nor any so Honourable as this If I may be bold to say it I must presume to say that which hath been often said but what is well said cannot be too often spoken this sweet Council of ours I would compare to that sweet Commonwealth of the little Bees Sic enim parvis componere magna solebam The little Bees have but one Governour whom they all serve he is their King quia later a habet latiora he is placed in the midst of their habitations ut in tutissima turri They forrage abroad sucking Honey from ever Flower to bring to their King Ignavnm fuces pccus à praesepibus arcent The drones they drive away out of their Hives non habentes aculeos And who so assails their King in him immittunt aculeos tamen Rex ipse est sine Aculeo Your Majesty is that Princely Governour and Noble Queen whom we all serve being protected under the shadow of your Wings we live and wish you may ever sit upon your Throne over us And whosoever shall not say Amen for them we pray ut convertantur ne percant ut consundantur ne noccant Under your happy government we live upon Honey we suck upon every sweet Flower But where the Bee sucketh Honey there also the Spider draweth Poyson Some such venoms there be But such Drones and Door Bees we will expel the Hive and serve your Majesty and withstand any enemy that shall assault you Our Lands our Goods our Lives are prostrate at your feet to be commanded Yea and thanked be God and Honour be to your Majesty for it such is the power and force of your Subjects that of their own strength they are able to encounter your greatest enemies And though we be such yet have we a Prince that is sine Aculeo so full of that Clemency is your Majesty I fear I have been too long and therefore to come now to your Laws The Laws we have conferred upon this Sessions of so Honourable a Parliament are of two natures the one such as have life but are ready to die except your Majesty breathe life into them again the other are Laws that never had life but being void of life do come to your Majesty to seek Life The first sort are those Laws that had continuances until this Parliament and are now to receive new Life or are to die for ever The other that I term capable of life are those which are newly made but have no essence until your Majesty giveth them life Two Laws there are but I must give the Honour where it is due for they come from the Noble wise Lords of the Upper House the most Honourable and beneficial Laws that could be desired the one a confirmation of all Letters Patents from your Majesties most Noble Father of all Ecclesiastical Livings which that King of most renowned memory your Father took from those Superstitious Monasteries and Priories and translated them to the erecting and setting up of many Foundations of Cathedral Churches and Colledges greatly furthering the maintenance of Learning and true Religion The other Law to suppress the obstinate Recusant and the dangerous Sectary both very pernitious to your Government Lastly Your loving and obedient Subjects the Commons of the Lower House humbly and with all dutiful thanks stand bound unto your gracious goodness for your general and large Pardon granted unto them wherein many great offences are pardoned But it extendeth only to offences done before the Parliament I have many ways since the beginning of this Parliament by ignorance and insufficiency to perform that which I should have done offended your Majesty I most humbly crave to be partaker of your Majesties most gracious Pardon The Lord Keeper received Instructions from the Queen and afterwards replied unto the Speaker The former part of this Speech was an Answer almost verbatim to the Speakers Oration very excellently and exactly done And those things which follow are to this or the like purpose viz. That her Majesty did most graciously accept of these Services and Devotions of this Parliament commending them that they had imployed the time so well and spent it in so necessary affairs save only that in some things they had spent more time than needed But she perceived that some men did it more for their satisfaction than the necessity of the thing deserved She misliketh also that such irreverence was shewed towards Privy Councellors who were not to be accounted as common Knights and Burgesses of the House that are Councellors but during the Parliament whereas the other are standing Councellors and for their wisdom and great service are called to the Council of the State That the Queens Majesty had heard that some men in the Cause of great necessity and grant of Aid had seemed to regard their Country and made their necessity more than it was forgetting the urgent necessity of the time and dangers that were now imminent That her Majesty would not have the people seared with a report of great dangers but rather to be encouraged with boldness against the Enemies of the State And that therefore she straitly charged and commanded that the Mustered Companies in every Shire should be supplied if they were decayed And that their Provisions of Armor and Munition should be better than heretofore it hath been used That for this offer of three Subsidies her Majesty most graciously in all kindness thanketh her Subjects But except it were freely and willingly given she did not accept of it for her Majesty never accepteth any thing that is not freely given That if the Coffers of her Majesties Treasures were not empty or if the Revenues of the Crown and other Princely Ornaments could suffice to supply her wants and the Charges of the Realm in the word of a Prince she doth pronounce it she would not have charged her Subjects nor have accepted of this they give her The Lord Keeper's Speech being ended after some time of Intermission the Queen being set in her Chair of State used a Princely Speech unto the House of which the greatest part was to the effect and purpose following viz. THis Kingdom hath had many Wise Noble and Victorious Princes I will not compare with any of them in Wisdom Fortitude and other Vertues but saving the Duty of a Child that is not to compare with his Father in Love Care Sincerity and Justice I will compare with any Prince that ever you had or shall have It may be thought simplicity in me that all this time of my Reign I have not sought to advance my Territories and enlarge my Dominions for opportunity hath served me to do it I acknowledge that my Womanhood and weakness in that respect But
well thereof And thereupon made Choice of divers Lords whose names see at large on Thursday the 10 th day of this instant November foregoing And they of the House of Commons appointed their Speaker and all the Privy-Council of that House and so many others as in all with the Privy-Council made up the Number of 42. Persons to join with the said Lords And they altogether understanding first her Majesties pleasure for the time of their repair to her Highness presence which was signified to be on Saturday the 12 th day of November the Lord Chancellor in the name of the Lords and the Speaker in the name of the House of Commons declared unto her Majesty That both the Lords and Commons after often Conferences and long consultation had concluded to be humble Suitors unto her Majesty by way of Petition the effect whereof was then at good length opened unto her Majesty by the Lord Chancellor and Speaker and the Petition thereupon delivered unto her Majesty in writing And where it was before desired by them of the said House of Commons that presently upon the Agreement of the Form of the Petition it might be entered into the Rolls of the Parliament the Lords thought it better to stay the enterance thereof until it were presented unto her Highness which done the Lords ordered that this Friday the 25 th day of November the said Petition should be entered into the Parliament Roll in manner and form following viz. May it please your most Excellent Majesty Our must Gracious Soveraign We your humble loving and faithful Subjects the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled having of long time to our intolerable grief seen by how manifold most dangerous and execrable practices Mary the Daughter and Heir of James the Fifth late King of Scots Dowager of France and commonly called Queen of Scots hath compassed the destruction of your Majesties sacred and most Royal Person in whose safety next under God our chief and only felicity doth consist and thereby not only to bereave us of the sincere and true Religion of Almighty God bringing us and this Noble Crown back again into the Thraldom of the Romish Tyranny but also utterly to ruinate and overthrow the happy State and Common Weal of this most Noble Realm which being from time to time by the great mercy and providence of God and your Highness singular wisdom foreseen and prevented your Majesty of your exceeding great Clemency and Princely Magnanimity hath either most graciously passed over or with singular favour tolerated although often and instantly moved by your most loving and faithful Subjects to the contrary in times of your Parliaments and at many other times and hath also protected and desended the said Scottish Queen from those great dangers which her own people for certain detestable Crimes and offences to her imputed had determined against her All which notwithstanding the same Queen was nothing moved with these and many other your Majesties most gracious favours towards her but rather obdurate in malice and by hope of continual impunity imboldened to prosecute her cruel and mischievous determination by some speedy and violent course and now lately a very dangerous Plot being conceived and set down by Anthony Babington and others That six desperate and wicked persons should undertake that wicked and most horrible enterprize to take away your Majesties Life whom God of his infinite mercy long preserve she did not only give her advice and direction upon every point and all circumstances concerning the same make earnest request to have it performed with all diligence but did also promise assurance of large reward and recompence to the doers thereof which being informed to your Majesty it pleased your Highness upon the earnest Suit of such as tendred the safety of your Royal Person and the good and quiet state of this Realm to direct your Commission under the Great Seal of England to the Lords and others of your Highness Privy-Council and certain other Lords of Parliament of the greatest and most antient Degree with some of your principal Judges to examine hear and determine the same Cause and thereupon to give Sentence or Judgment according to a Statute in that behalf made in the twenty seventh year of your most Gracious Reign By vertue whereof the more part of the same Commissioners being in number thirty six having at sundry times fully heard what was alledged and proved against the said Scottish Queen in her own presence touching the said crimes and offences and what she could say for her defence and excuse therein did after long deliberation give their Sentence and Judgment with one consent that the death and destruction of your Royal Person was imagined and compassed by the said Anthony Babington with the privity of the same Scottish Queen And that she her self did also compass and imagine the death and destruction of your most Royal Person Now for as much as we your Majesties most humble loyal and dutiful Subjects representing unto your most Excellent Majesty the universal State of your whole people of all degrees in this your Realm do well perceive and are fully satisfied that the same Sentence and Judgment is in all things most honourable just and lawful And having carefully and effectually according to our most bounden duties weighed and considered upon what ground and cause so many Traiterous complots and dangerous practices against your most Royal Person and Estate and for the invading of this Realm have for the space of many years past grown and proceeded do certainly find and are undoubtedly perswaded that all the same have been from time to time attempted and practised by and from the Scottish Queen and by her Confederates Ministers and Favourers who conceive an assured hope to atchieve speedily by your Majesties untimely death that which they have long expected and whereof during your Life which God long preserve to our inestimable Comfort they despair to wit to place her the said Scottish Queen in the Imperial and Kingly Seat of this Realm and by her to banish and destroy the Professors and professing of the true Religion of Jesus Christ and the antient Nobility of this Land and to bring this whole State and Common-Weal to Foreign Subjection and utter ruin and confusion which their malicious and traiterous purpose they will never cease to prosecute by all possible means they can so long as they may have their Eyes and Imaginations fixed upon that Lady the only ground of their treasonable hope and conceits and the only Seed-plot of all dangerous and traiterous devices and practices against your Sacred Person And seeing also what insolent boldness is grown in the heart of the same Queen through your Majesties former exceeding favours and Clemencies towards her and thereupon weighing with heavy and sorrowful hearts in what continual peril of such like desperate Conspiracies and practices your Majesties most Royal and Sacred Person and Life more dear unto us than
our own is and shall be still without any possible means to prevent it so long as the said Scottish Queen shall be suffered to continue and shall not receive that due punishment which by Justice and the Laws of this your Realm she hath so often and so many ways for her most wicked and detestable offences deserved Therefore and for that we find that if the said Lady shall now escape the due and deserved punishment of Death for these her most execrable Treasons and offences your Highness Royal Person shall be exposed unto many more and those more secret and dangerous Conspiracies than before and such as shall not or cannot be foreseen or discovered as these her late attempts have been and shall not hereafter be so well able to remove or take away the ground and occasion of the same as now by Justice may and ought to be done We do most humbly beseech your most Excellent Majesty that as well in respect of the continuance of the true Religion now professed amongst us and of the safety of your most Royal Person and Estate as in regard of the preservation and defence of us your most loving dutiful and faithful Subjects and the whole Common-Weal of this Realm It may please your Highness to take speedy Order That Declaration of the same Sentence and Judgment be made and published by Proclamation and that thereupon direction be given for further proceedings against the said Scottish Queen according to the effect and true meaning of the said Statute Because upon advised and great consultation we cannot find that there is any possible means to provide for your Majesties Safety but by the just and speedy Execution of the said Queen the neglecting whereof may procure the heavy displeasure and punishment of Almighty God as by sundry severe Examples of his great Justice in that behalf left us in the Sacred Scriptures doth appear And if the same be not put in present Execution We your most loving and dutiful Subjects shall thereby so far as mans reason can reach be brought into utter despair of the continuance amongst us of the true Religion of Almighty God and of your Majesties Life and the Safety of all your faithful Subjects and the good Estate of this most flourishing Common-Weal Dominus Cancellarius continuavit praesens Parliamentum usque in diem Martis prox On Tuesday the 29 th day of November the Lords Spiritual and Temporal being Assembled Commissionar ' Reginae continuaverunt praesens Parliamentum usque in diem Veneris hor â nonâ On Friday the second day of December Commissionarii Reginae adjornaverunt praesens Parliamentum usque in decimum quintum diem Februarii prox Nota That the Parliament was Adjourned without any new Commission from her Majesty which had been used in the last Parliament in Anno 27 Regin Eliz. Anno Dom. 1584. where the Adjournment was from the 27 th day of December unto the 4 th day of February which was near upon the same intervenient time or space for which this present Parliament de Anno 28 29 Regin Eliz. was now Adjourned But the reason and cause is very plain why this Parliament was now Adjourned without any such Commission from her Majesty although she her self was absent and this was only in respect that her Highness Person was represented by Commissioners to whom at first she had by Commission under the Great Seal delegated full and absolute power not only to begin but also to continue Adjourn or Prorogue this instant Parliament ut vide on Saturday the 29 th day of October foregoing which said Delegates or Lords Lieutenants did here being present Adjourn the same accordingly Concerning which said Adjournment and these two Meetings of one and the same Parliament there hath been much mistake and difference both in the Original Journal-Book of the Upper House and in that also of the House of Commons in the very Rolls of the Statute of this Parliament transcribed by the Clerk of the Upper House into the Chancery and remaining in the Chappel of the Rolls and lastly in the very Printed Books of the Statutes thereof For in the first place M r Anthony Mason at this time Clerk of the Upper House Entereth these two meetings of this one and the same Parliament in two several Books as if they had been two several Sessions to which mistake he was the rather induced because divers Lords did send their new Proxies upon the second meeting of the two Houses on Wednesday the 15 th day of February Anno Regin Eliz. whereas it doth not appear that in the last Parliament de Anno 27 Regin Eliz. that any new Proxies were then returned upon the second meeting of the two Houses after a like Adjournment But the reason of this seemeth to be not only in respect of this Adjournment that it was somewhat longer than that former in the twenty seventh year of her Majesty which lasted not full two Months whereas this present Adjournment continued for the space of seventy five days or two Months and a Fortnight at the least But also because divers of the Lords both Spiritual and Temporal who were present at this first meeting being desirous as it should seem to hear that great business of the Scottish Queen debated and resolved on did after this Adjournment and their recesses into their several Countries get Licence of her Majesty to be absent from the second meeting of this Parliament which ensued on Wednesday the 15 th day of February following in Anno 29 Regin Eliz. and in which there were none but ordinary matters likely to be handled Execution and Justice being done upon the Scottish Queen the 8 th day of February immediately preceding the said second meeting and did thereupon send their several Proxies of which such as were unusual and extraordinary are set down in the Journal ensuing according to the several days on which they were returned In the second place touching the Original Journal-Book of the House of Commons these two meetings of one and the same Parliament are set down as two several Sessions the one by M r Fulk Onslow at this time Clerk of the House of Commons and the other by M r William Onslow his Kinsman who being a Member of the House was Licenced by it to supply the place of the said M r Fulk Onslow who by reason of his sickness was not able to attend who enters this second meeting of the House of Commons upon Wednesday the 15 th day of February in these words viz. This present Session of Parliament holden by Prorogation c. Whereas it had not been Prorogued but Adjourned and was no new Session but meerly a new meeting In the third place the Roll of Statutes transcribed by M r Anthony Mason into the Chancery and remaining in the Chappel of the Rolls is intituled as followeth Rotulus Parliament de Anno Regni Regin Elizabeth vicesimo octavo Whereas the words should likewise have been
we were so secure and never thought that the King of Spain would have set up his Rest for England Then sent he his Navy termed Invincible and was almost upon the Banks of us before we were aware Yea we were so slack in provision that it was too late to make resistance had not God preserved us His attempt against us by seeking to win the Low-Countries and to obtain Ireland being but trifles and partly devices which I mean not to trouble you with he hath now of late gone about to win France wherein he hath greatly prevailed as in Lorrain and in other parts as you have heard but specially in Britany having most part of the Port Towns in his Possession whither he still sendeth supply daily and reinforces them every four or five Months which part is always open and his men and forces never wanting This Province he especially desireth for it lyeth most fitly to annoy us whither he may send forces continually and there have his Navy in a readiness the which he could not so easily unless he had the wind in a bag Besides having this Province he might keep us from Traffick to Rochell and Burdeaux as he doth in the Straights from Tripoly and S t Jean de Lucc And so hinder us from carrying forth and bringing into this Land any Commodities from those parts whereby the Realm might be inriched and her Majesties Impost ever eased being one of the greatest Revenues of her Crown He hath also gone about with them of Stade and the King of Poland one of his own Faction and who by reason he cannot do in that Kingdom what he listeth he may not so easily command him to impeach or hinder our Traffick in those Eastern parts which if he could bring to pass you see how hurtful it would be to this Land But to descend yet lower into these latter Actions He hath seen it is but a folly to make Woodden Bridges to pass into Ireland therefore he hath found out a safer way and stronger passage into it by Land and that by Scotland which though it be not talked of on the Exchange nor Preached at Paul's Cross yet it is most true and in Scotland as common as the high-way That he hath procured unto him many of the Nobility It may be he hath sent thither no great Navy and that her Majesty would not suffer him to do yet do what she can some one Paltry Fly-Boat may escape her Majesties Ships and carry gold enough in her to make them Traytors and stir them to Sedition These things her Majesty understood before and Advertized the King thereof which the effect hath proved to be true For unless I be deceived the last Letter that came from thence might shew that the King is gone to make a Rode into the North and to bring back the Lord Bothwell and the Lord Huntley The King of Spain's malice thus daily increaseth against us and seeketh also to stir up Sedition amongst us by his Instruments The number also of Papists daily increaseth or at least wise becomes more manifest My advice is that you would consult how to withstand such imminent dangers which the greater they be the sooner they would be looked into and remembred Wherefore I would desire M r Speaker that he would appoint some Committees of the sufficientest and wisest men in the House to consider thereon Sir John Wolley spake to the like Effect saying that upon the Cause of the danger the Realm was now in and of the remedy his Speech should consist which he likened to a natural Body in which the more danger the principal Member was in the greater means there should be used for the preservation thereof Roan being made now Admiral of France by the League should say that he was a poor Admiral now but yet he doubted not ' but that shortly he should be able to bring such a Navy as should terrify the Queen of England Also he shewed how the Princes of the Holy League had conspired the overthrow of the Realm the extirpation of Religion and the confusion of her Majesty and her Loyal Subjects And exhorted the House now because the season of the year groweth on which calleth many of the Knights and Burgesses to be in their Countries besides the Sickness being in the Town so that many of that House he thought knew not whether they lodged in Houses infected or not that they would seek to dispatch and end the Parliament so soon as might be He also shewed how the Dunkirkers trouled our Fishermen in small Barks upon the Sea-coasts And so that this matter might be Committed to some of the sufficientest in the House He also exhorted the House to a speedy agreeing of a Subsidy which considering the dangers we were in and that it was for our own good as also for her Majesty's he hoped that no good Subject but would willingly agree to it Also he shewed that the Wars with the King of Spain had cost her Majesty a Million of Money but this he avouched that where it cost her Majesty one it cost the King of Spain three Then Sir John Fortescue spake and said They that spake before me spake sufficiently of the Authors of our trouble of the great danger which is now imminent insomuch that as it is come to that point now Non utrùm imperare sed utrùm vivere I will speak of nothing but that which concerns my Calling Her Majesty not being only careful for the preservation of Her own Realm but of her Neighbours also she hath not only defended her own Subjects from being invaded but also hath aided Strangers which wanted Money with whom otherwise it would have gone ill by this time both with them and ourselves Insomuch that the burthen of four Kingdoms hath rested upon her Majesty which she hath maintained with her Purse England France Ireland and Scotland For how could the French King at his first coming to the Crown have held out against those Leaguers had not her Majesty assisted him with her Men and Money which hath cost her Majesty about a hundred thonsand pound For 't is well known that the French King had not been able to withstand the Duke of Parma's coming into France had it not been for our Englishmen and Money As for the Low Countries they have stood her Majesty in yearly since she undertook the defence of them one hundred and fifty thousand pound All which her Majesty bestowed for the good of the Realm to free us from War at home Besides when her Majesty came to the Crown she found it four Millions indebted her Navy when she came to view it she found greatly decayed Yet all this hath discharged and thanks be to God is nothing indebted and now she is able to match any Prince in Europe which the Spaniards found when they came to invade as Yea she hath with her Ships compassed the whole world whereby this Land is made famous throughout all places
stood up her Train born by the Lady Strange assisted by the Lord Chamberlain and Vice-Chamberlain At the left hand of the Queen and Southside kneeled the Ladies and behind the Queen at the Rail stood the Lord Keeper on the right hand the Lord Treasurer on the left hand with divers young Lords and Peers Eldest Sons Then all being placed M r Onslow the Speaker was brought in between Sir Francis Knolles Vice-Chamberlain and Sir Ambrose Cave Chancellor of the Dutchy and after Reverence done proceeded down to the Wall and from thence came up to the Rail in the way making three Reverences and standing there made other three like Reverences and then began his Oration as followeth MOST Excellent and Vertuous Princess c. Where I have been Elected by the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of this your nether House to be their Mouth or Speaker and thereunto appointed and allowed by your Majesty to supply the same room to the bewraying of my wants specially that thereby I shall be forced utterly to discover the barrenness of my learning before this Noble Assembly which not a little grieveth me and would gladly be excused considering the true saying How there is no difference between a wise Man and a Fool if they may keep silence which I require But again considering your Majesties Clemency taking in good part the good will of the party for want of ability which putteth me in remembrance and good hope perswading me that you will not take your said Clemency from me contrary to your Nature Again when I consider my Office as Speaker it is no great matter being but a Mouth to utter things appointed me to speak unto you and not otherwise which consisteth only in Speaking and not in any other Knowledge whereby I gather how it is necessary I speak simply and plainly according to the truth and trust reposed in me And thus considering whose Mouth I am which chose me to speak for them being the Knights Citizens and Burgesses who were not also by the Commons chosen for their Eloquence but for their Wisdom and discretion by this means being fit men to whom the Commons have committed the care and charge of themselves Wives and Children Lands and Goods and so in their behalf to foresee and take order for all things necessary Thus they being Chosen by the plain Commons it is necessary they Elect a plain Speaker fit for the plain matter and therefore well provided at first to have such a one as should use plain words and not either so fine that they cannot be understood or else so Eloquent that now and then they miss the Cushion But now upon occasion of beholding your Grace and this Noble Assembly I consider the manifold and great benefits which God suddenly hath sent unto this Country for although God hath granted the benefit of Creation and Conservation with many other Commodities to other Nations of the World yet this our Native Country he hath blessed not only with the like but also with much more fruitfulness than any other of which great and inestimable benefit of Gods preferment which appeareth better by the want that others have of the same I am occasioned now to speak the rather to move and stir up our hearts to give most hearty thanks to God for the same Now to speak of Government by Succession Election Religion or Policy First if the Body should want a Head it were a great Monster so it is likewise if it have many Heads as if upon every several Member were a Head And to speak of one Head although in the Body be divers Members which be made of Flesh Bones Sinews and Joints yet the one Head thereof governeth wisely the same which if it should want we should be worse than wild Beasts without a Shepherd and so worthily be called a Monstrous Beast Again If the Body should be Governed by many Heads then the same would soon come to destruction by reason of the Controversy amongst them who would never agree but be destroyed without any Foreign Invasion therefore God seeth it is needful that the people have a King and therefore a King is granted them and so therefore the best Government is to be ruled by one King and not many who may maintain and cherish the good and Godly and punish the Ungodly and Offenders As for Government by Election in that is great variance partiality strifes and part-takings As for Examples amongst the rest take out one which is called the most Holy as that of the Pope and weigh how holily and quietly it is done called indeed holy and quiet but utterly unholy and unquiet with great part-takings and strifes Now touching Religion To see the Divine Providence of God how that many Nations be Governed by one Prince which were impossible but that God Ordereth it so by whom the Order of Regiment is appointed and that in his Scriptures wherefore the Subjects ought to obey the same yea although they were evil and much more those that be good So God hath here appointed us not a Heathen or unbelieving Prince as he might but a Faithful and one of his own Children to govern us his Children in which Government the Prince serveth God two ways as a Man and as a King In that he is a Man he ought to live and serve God as one of his good Creatures And in that he is a King and so Gods special Creature he ought to make Laws whereby God may be truly worshipped and that his Subjects might do no injury one to another and specially to make quietness amongst the Ministers of the Church to extinguish and put away all hurtful and unprofitable Ceremonies in any Case contrary to Gods word in which point we have in your Majesties behalf great thanks to give unto God in setting forth unto us the Liberty of Gods word whereof before we were bereaved and that you have reformed the State of the corrupt Church now drawing Souls out of dangerous errors which afore by that Corruption they were led and brought unto And concerning Policy God hath Committed to your Highness two Swords the one of which may be called the Sword of War to punish outward Enemies withal and the other the Sword of Justice to Correct offending Subjects in which point of Policy your Majesty is not behind your Progenitors for although at your Entrance you found this Realm in War and ungarnished with Munition and that with such store as never was before yet you have dislodged our antient Enemies which were planted and placed even upon the Walls of this Realm And concerning Policy in Laws as Bones Sinews and Joints be the force of a Natural Body so are good Laws the strength of a Common-Wealth And your Laws be consisting of two points the Common Laws and the Statutes And for the Common Law it is so grounded on Gods Laws and Natures that three several Nations governing here have all allowed the same which is not inferior
an Error to stand The said Speech therefore of the Lord Keeper pronounced by her Majesties Commandment was as followeth viz. THE Queens Majesty our most Dread and Gracious Soveraign Lady hath given me Commandment to declare unto you the Causes of the Summons of this Assembly for a Parliament to be holden here at this time wherein albeit I mean to imploy my whole endeavour to the uttermost of my power and understanding yet I must needs confess that neither shall you have it done as the Majesty of this presence neither as the gravity of the Cause requireth it to be done And yet the often Experience that I have divers and sundry times had of the Queens Majesties great benignity and gentleness in bearing with and well accepting the doings of those that to her Service put their good wills and diligences And besides all the proof of your Patience in the like matter hath so much encouraged me that as I trust it shall be done although not cunningly nor eloquently yet plainly and truly so as it may be well understood and easily born away and therewith also as briefly as the greatness of such a matter will suffer True it is the original and principal cause is that things there propounded may be orderly and diligently debated deeply considered and thereupon wisely concluded And to the end also that those Conclusions so made the rather for such an universal Consent as in Parliament is used remain firm and stable Now the matters that are in this Parliament to be proved do consist altogether in two parts The former is in matters of Religion for the better maintenance of Gods Honour and Glory The second in matters of Policy for the more perfect upholding and establishing of the Queens Majesties Royal Estate and the preservation of the Common-Weal committed to her Charge The Causes of Religion are again to be divided into two that is into matters of Doctrine and Discipline The thing of Policy I mean also to part into other two that is into matter concerning the good Government of the Subjects at home and into causes of defence against the Enemy abroad And thus by this Process you see you are as indeed you ought First To consider in this your Assembly of Gods cause which faithfully sincerely and diligently done like as it cannot but bring success to all the rest so likewise lukewarm deceitful and double-dealing therein cannot but breed nourish and bring forth Factions Divisions Seditions c. to the great peril and danger of all the rest And the greater that the personages be in Authority and Dignity that thus deal the greater of necessity must be the danger of the Common-Weal And because Gods Law and Doctrine being the first Law and branch must light upon our selves that ought to take the benefit of it as first and chiefly upon Ministers of this Doctrine either for not preaching and teaching by word and example of life so purely and reverently as they might or else not so diligently as they were bound And secondly upon us for not hearing it so desirously or else hearing it and forgetting it or not following it so effectually as we should Thirdly For that many of us of the Laity do not yield and give that estimation countenance and credit to the Ministers of his Doctrine which of right they ought to have and that many greatly hurt the setting forth of it For this one thing may be holden firm by the Rules of good Government that all Officers both Spiritual and Temporal that have Governance during the time of their Offices ought to be preserved in Credit and Estimation For how can any thing be well set forth by them that want Credit Marry for my part let the time of their Offices last as their doings do deserve Fourthly Because the want of the number of Ministers that ought to be and be not and for the insufficiency of those that be for diverse respects But therein the Queens Highness doubteth nothing but all that which the difficulty of time in so great a scarcity of men meet to be Ministers will suffer to be done shall by my Lords the Bishops be done in this behalf and that as speedily diligently and carefully as can be And if any person admitted or to be admitted to this Ministry shall hereafter either of Arrogancy or Ignorance show any strange Doctrine contrary or varying from that which by common consent of the Realm is published to the breach of Unity that he by those to whom it appertaineth sharply and speedily be reformed all favour and fear set apart Thus much for Doctrine You are most earnestly also to think and consider of the Discipline of the Church as one of the strong Pillars of Religion which doubtless at this time hath two great lacks The first the imperfection of Laws for the countenance of it which hath grown either by reason that sundry of the Ordinances made for that purpose be disused or otherwise have not their force or else for that most of the Laws that remain be such as for their softness few men make account of The second imperfection is the slothfulness corruption and fearfulness of the Ecclesiastical Ministers and Officers in the due Execution of those Laws that be good and yet continue True and too true it is that hereby at this present two great Enormities daily grow The former that men of wealth and power given to be evil may in their Countries live what dissolute and licentious life they list and both Temporally and Spiritually offend daily in all the branches of Simony the very Canker of the Church without feeling of this Discipline The second That many of the laudable Rites and Ceremonies of the Church or pertaining to the Ministers of the same agreed upon by common consent the very Ornaments of our Religion are very ill kept or at least have lost a great part of their Estimation And here through the many faults for want of Discipline to remember you of one particular matter of great moment How cometh it to pass that the common people in the Country universally come so seldom to Common-Prayer and Divine Service and when they do come be many times so vainly occupied there or at least do not there as they should do but for want of this Discipline And yet to the help of this there was at the last Parliament a Law made but hitherto no man no no man or very few hath seen it Executed as plainly to speak Laws for the furtherance of this Discipline unexecuted be Rods for Correction without Hands It cannot be denied but as Superstition is every way to be abhorred for fear of Idolatry so certainly the loss of this Discipline is always to be avoided lest else contempt that necessarily must follow may cause Irreligion to creep faster in than a man would think For of all other it is the most pestilent and pernicious thing never suffered nor allowed in anyCommon-Weal nay not amongst the
Heathens that were most barbarous But here it may be said the mischief appeareth where is the remedy and that it were better not opened in such a presence than opened without the remedy both devised and declared In mine opinion the remedies may easily be devised all the difficulty is in the well Executing of them As first if the chief Parsonages of this Realm both in Town and Country would give good Example it cannot be but it would be much to the remedying of a great part of this mischief Secondly The dividing every one of the Dioceses according to their greatness into Deaneries as I know commonly they be and the committing of the Deaneries to men well chosen as I think commonly they be not and then the keeping of certain ordinary Courts at their prescript times for the well Executing of those Laws of Discipline as they ought to be with a sure controulment of those inferior Ministers by the Bishop or his Chancellor not biennially or triennially but every year twice or thrice which use of necessity without very great difficulty may do much in very short time to the reformation of this the chief Officers Ecclesiastical all being very well and the Laws themselves being first made sufficient and perfect which in this Parliament may very well be brought to pass And because the proceedings of matters in Discipline and Doctrine do chiefly concern my Lords the Bishops both for their understanding and Ecclesiastical Function therefore the Queens Highness looketh that they being called together here in Parliament should take the chiefest care to confer and consult of these matters And if in their Conference they found it behooful to have any Temporal Acts made for the amending and reforming of any of these lacks that then they will exhibit it here in Parliament to be considered upon and so Gladius Gladium juvabit as before time hath been used foreseeing always that all Laws and Ordinances for this matter of Doctrine and Discipline be uniform and so one sort throughout the whole Realm And thus much concerning Religion being the first part Now to the second that is matters of Policy And herein first for the good Government of the Subjects at home the lacks and defaults whereof as in Discipline so in this stand altogether in the imperfection of Laws or else the fearfulness slothfulness and corruption of Temporal Officers that ought to see the due Execution of them For the help of the former you are to Examine whether any Laws already made are too sharp or too sore and so over-burthensom for the Subject or whether any of them are too loose or too soft and so over-dangerous to the State for like as the former may put in danger many an Innocent particularly so the second may put in danger both the nocent and innocent and the whole State universally You are also further to Examine the want and superfluity of Laws and whether crafty Covetousness and Malice have devised any means to defraud Laws already made or how to do any injuries for which there is no Law that hath his being to reform it or whether the Common-Weal and State of this Realm by reason of any imperfection or cause is like to fall to any danger or peril for the greater the danger is the greater would the care and consideration be for the remedy of it You are also to Examine whether there are too many Laws for any one thing which breedeth so many doubts that the Subject is sometimes to seek how to observe them and the Chancellor how to give advice concerning them As to the second imperfection which is the want of the due Execution of Laws because I cannot perceive but all the rest and all Laws made and to be made is but a vain matter therefore I have thought oft with my self what might be the best remedy if not to make all Laws perfectly Executed for that I can hardly hope of yet to make them in much better Case than now they be And when I had considered all things I could find no help but this The first by having great care in the choice of those Officers that have the Execution of Laws The second to do as much as may be for the banishing of sloth corruption and fears from them A third way there is which I leave to your judgments this it is there should be a triennial or biennial Visitation in this nature made of all the Temporal Officers and Ministers that by virtue of their Office have in charge to see the Execution of Laws By this I mean that the Queens Majesty should make choice every second or third year of certain expert and approved persons to whom Commission should be granted to try out and examine by all ways and means the offences of all such as have not seen to the due Execution of the Laws according to the offices and charges committed to them by the Prince And the offences so found and certified to be sharply punished without remission or redemption Of effect much like this and to the like end was the Visitation of the Church first devised whereof in the beginning of it came great good doubtless and reason I see none but the like good ought to follow upon like Visitation made amongst Temporal Officers And the old Commission of Oyer tended somewhat to this end I doubt certainly if the Laws and Statutes of this Realm should not indifferently uprightly and diligently be put in Execution as my trust is they shall especially in the great and open Courts of this Realm then my burthen I confess is equal with the greatest and yet for my part I would gladly every year hear of and yield to such a Comptroller Now to the last and greatest which is the defence against the Foreign Enemy abroad and his Confederates brought up and bred amongst us our selves because these matters be by reason now chiefly in hand and that the dealings of the outward Enemy be matters that go to the whole and that this presence you know representeth the whole Therefore in all congruity it seemeth reason that all we for and in the name of the whole consider carefully of this cause and give present assistance for the help of it And to the end you may be more able to give good Counsel and advice therein it hath been thought meet I should summarily and shortly make you privy of these proceedings which shall be the better understood if I begin at the root as I intend This it is The Queens Majesty at her coming to the Crown finding this her Realm in a ragged and torn State and yet in Wars with a mighty Enemy the Chief Fortress of the same lost to the Realms great dishonour and weakning her Frontier Towns not sufficiently fortified the Revenue of the Crown greatly spoiled the Treasure of the Realm not only wasted but the Realm also greatly indebted The Land of Ireland much out of order The Staple and Store of all kind
consideration of such as you shall think convenient And that you may the better judge of that which I shall propound it is requisite that I put you in remembrance First how the Queen found the Realm next how she hath restored and conserved it and thirdly how we stand now Touching the first no man can be ignorant how that our most gracious Queen at her Entring found this noble Realm by reason of the evil Government preceeding miserably over-whelmed with Popery dangerously afflicted with War and grievously afflicted with Debts the burthen of which three cannot be remembred without grief especially if we call to mind how this Kingdom being utterly delivered from the Usurped Tyranny of Rome and that many years together was nevertheless by the iniquity of later time brought back again into the former Captivity to the great thraldom both of Body and Soul of all the People of this Land A wretched time and wretched Ministers to bring to pass so wretched and wicked an Act to strengthen this Bondage of Rome We saw how there was brought hither a strong Nation to press our Necks again into the Yoke terrible this was to all the Inhabitants of this Land and so would have proved if their abode had been here so long as was to be feared from them and by their occasion came the War that we entred into with France and Scotland and not upon any Quarrel of our own but to help them forward to their great advantage and our great loss and shame by means whereof and of other disorders the Realm grew into great Debt both at home and abroad and so was left to the intollerable loss and charge of her Majesty and the State The Realm being thus miserably oppressed with Popery with War and with Debts the Queen our most Gracious Soveraign hath thus restored and conserved it she hath delivered us from the Tyrannous Yoke of Rome and restored again the most Holy Religion of the Gospel not slacking any time therein but even at the first doing that which was for the Honour of God to the unspeakable joy of all good Subjects But adventuring thereby the malice of the mighty Princes of the World her Neighbours being Enemies of our Religion whereby it did appear how much she preferred the Glory of our God before her own Quietness this done she made Peace with France and Scotland the one a mighty Nation the other though not so Potent yet in regard of their nearness and of their Habitation with us upon our Continent more dangerous which may easily appear by consideration of former times wherein it hath been seen how dangerous Scottish Wars have proved to this Realm above those of any other Nation But such hath been the Providence of our Gracious Queen as the Peace with Scotland which in times past was found very tickle is now become so firm as in no Age there hath been so long and so good Peace between them and us And that is brought to pass the rather for that her Majesty by two notable Exploits with her Forces the one to Lieth and another to Edenburgh-Castle hath both quieted that Realm and taken away all occasions of Hostility that might arise against this Country also by the first delivering Scotland from the French which had so great a footing there as without aid from hence they must needs in short time have Tyrannized over that Country to their perpetual servitude and to the peril also of this Country being so near them and they so ill Neighbours to dwell by And by the second ending and putting out the fire of the Civil Wars amongst them to the preservation of their young King and the perpetual quietness of that Realm both which as they have brought unto her Majesty great and immortal Honor and Renown and to this Country and that Peace and Surety So you cannot but think therewith upon the Charges which necessarily follow such two Journeys furnished by Land and by Sea as for the atchieving of so great Enterprizes was requisite What her Majesty hath done besides for the suppressing of a dangerous and unnatural Rebellion practised by the Pope the most principal and malicious Enemy of this State and put in ure by certain undutiful Subjects in the North parts of this Realm was seen so late even in your view as it needeth not to be remembred neither the charge that belongeth to a matter of such importance as did threaten the utter ruine to our most Gracious Soveraign and to all the People of this Land if God of his Mercy had not prevented it Notwithstanding all which costly Journies both into Scotland and within the Realm her Majesty hath most carefully and providently delivered this Kingdom from a great and weighty Debt wherewith it hath been long burthened A Debt begun four years at the least before the Death of King Henry the Eighth and not cleared until within these two years and all that while running upon Interest a course able to eat up not only private men and their Patrimonies but also Princes and their Estates but such hath been the care of this time as Her Majesty and the State is clearly freed from that eating corrosive the truth whereof may be testified by the Citizens of London whose Bonds under the Common Seal of the City of assurance of payment being usually given and renewed and which have hanged so many years to their great danger and to the peril of the whole traffick are now all discharged cancelled and delivered into the Chamber of London to their own hands By means whereof the Realm is not only acquitted of this great burthen and the Merchants free but also her Majesties credit thereby both at home and abroad greater than any other Prince for money if she have need and so in reason it ought to be for that she hath kept Promise to all men wherein other Princes have often failed to the hindrance of many Lastly for this point how the Justice of this Realm is preserved and ministred to her People by her Majesties political and just Government is so well known to all men as our Enemies are driven to confess that Justice which is the Band of all Common-Wealths doth so tie and link together all degrees of Persons within this Land as there is suffered here no violence no oppression no respect of persons in Judgment but Jus equabile used to all indifferently All which godly provident and wise acts in Government have brought forth these effects that we be in Peace and all our Neighbours in War that we be in quietness at home and safe enough from troubles abroad that we live in Wealth and all Prosperity and that which is the greatest we enjoy the freedom of our Consciences delivered from the Bondage of Rome wherewith we were so lately oppressed and thus we stand But for all this as wise Mariners in calm weather do most diligently prepare their tackles and provide to withstand attempts that may happen even
this House the summary cause of her Majesties calling and assembling of this great Council at this time which was he said not to make any more Laws as being many more already than well executed nor yet for any Subsidy albeit if need so required the same were convenient enough to be done but said he to consult for such matters as the like were never erst heard of nor any Parliament called for in former time that can be found or read of And so very excellently plainly and effectually made relation of the horrible and wicked practices and attempts caused and procured by the Queen of Scots so called meerly tending to the ruine and overthrow of the true and sincere Religion established in this Realm the Invasion of Foreign Forces into this Realm Rebellion and Civil Wars and dissension within this Realm yea and withal which his heart quaked and trembled to utter and think on the death and destruction of the most Sacred Person of our most Gracious Soveraign Lady the Queens Majesty to the utter desolation and conquest of this most Noble Realm of England And so discoursing of the matter and great execrable Treacheries and Conspiracies of the said Queen of Scots even from the first to the last in particularities very amply and effectually such of them at the least as have been hitherto discovered shewing also very manifestly and evidently the proofs and all other circumstances of the same Treachery and Conspiracies and so thinketh good for his part that speedy Consultation he had by this House for the cutting of her off by course of Justice for that otherwise our said Soveraign Lady the Queens Majesties most Royal Person cannot be continued with safety concludeth with this Sentence Ne pereat Israel pereat Absolon Which done M r Chancellor of the Exchequer M r Chancellor of the Dutchy and M r Secretary Woolley using each of them severally very effectual Speeches at large touching the said horrible Treasons and Conspiracies caused and procured by the said Queen of Scots the House did then rise the time being far spent with reservation nevertheless by M r Speaker remembred for further Speech therein to be had by others of this House to morrow again and a saving also till some other more convenient time for such of this House as shall please to speak to the said Bill of Inrollments upon the said second reading of the same accordingly Vide 7 th November Monday On Friday the 4 th day of November M r Recorder of London having made Declaration unto this House that divers of the Members of the same do find themselves grieved for that their Servants attending upon them are daily arrested contrary to the ancient Liberties and Priviledges of this House and having further moved also that a like Committee of this House may at this time be appointed as had been the last Parliament for the examining and reporting Cases of Priviledge It was resolved and agreed by the House that the same shall be exercised and done accordingly And for the performance thereof the said M r Recorder Sir Henry Gate M r Robert Wroth and M r William Fleetwood were appointed by the Authority of the House Upon the Motion of M r Speaker putting the House in remembrance of continuing and further prosecuting of the great Cause they dealt in yesterday divers Speeches were made to that effect by Sir James Croft Comptroller of her Majesties Houshold Sir Francis Knowles Treasurer of the same Sir William Herbert Sir Thomas Scot M r Francis Bacon M r Alford M r Throgmorton M r Barker M r Dalton M r Biynbrigg and M r Sollicitor by all which it was concluded That considering the late horrible Treasons and Practices conspired against the Life of the Queens Majesty and also for the procuring of Foreign Invasion in respect of the Attempt and also for endeavouring to raise Rebellion within the Realm for and by Mary late Queen of Scots therefore of necessity present remedy and provision must be had for preventing the like attempts and practices hereafter which could never be unless the said Scottish Queen did presently suffer the due Execution of Justice according to her deserts And then upon the further Motion of the said M r Sollicitor for a Committee of this House to be had to confer of some convenient and fit course to be taken by Petition and Suit to her Majesty in that behalf with request also unto the Lords to joyn therein with this House to her Highness if it please them thereupon this Committee following was nominated and appointed in that behalf accordingly viz. all the Privy Council of the House Sir William Herbert Sir Thomas Scot Sir Henry Gate Sir William Moore Sir Thomas Manners Sir Thomas Fairfax Sir Robert Jermin Sir John Petre Sir Henry Cock Sir Henry Cobham Sir Henry Knyvet Sir John Higham Sir Thomas Stanhope M r Fortescue Master of the Wardrobe M r Randal M r Osborne M r George Moore M r Cromwell M r Beale M r Wroth M r Burlace M r George Carie M r Doctor Stanhopp M r Dale Master of Requests M r Francis Hastings M r Sollicitor M r Attorney of the Wards M r Serjeant Snagg M r Morrice M r Sandes M r Dalton M r Bacon M r Alford M r Barker M r Bainbrigge M r Throckmorton M r Corbett M r Palmes M r Pate M r Skinner M r Amersam M r Edward Lukenor M r Thynne and M r Hellyard Recorder of York who were all of them appointed by the House to meet in the Exchequer Chamber at two of the Clock this Afternoon On Saturday the 5 th day of November M r George Moore entring into some discourse touching the great Cause concludeth after sundry great and weighty reasons first shewed that only Popery is the chief and principal root of all the late horrible and wicked treacheries and practices and the Queen of Scots a principal branch issuing from the same root and the most perillous and full of poyson of all the other branches thereof for that the Papists in very deed for the most part not knowing the Person of the said Queen of Scots do wish the Establishing of her in the Crown of this Realm rather in respect of Popery which she would set up than for any affection they bear to her Person and so likewise for the most part all of them either wish or could easily bear the death of our Soveraign Lady the Queens Majesty though perhaps they would not shew themselves to be Actors or Dealers therein He therefore moveth that it may be joyned in the Petition for the great Cause that her Majesty may be moved to retain no Servants about her Highnesses Person but such only as may be well known both to profess the true and sincere Religion and also to be every way true and faithful Subjects And further that the Laws already in force against Papists may be put in due Execution Which Speeches being ended M r Speaker shewed that the
Hospitality And therefore whereas these two meetings are placed in the Original Journal-Book of the House of Commons very incongruously in two distinct and several Journals as if they had been two distinct and several Sessions they are here rightly placed together and so the passages of the said second meeting do now follow in due course and order On Wednesday the 15 th day of February to which day the Parliament had been Adjourned by the Lords Commissioners aforesaid on Friday the 2 d day of December foregoing the two Houses met in their several places without any pomp or Solemnity this being as hath been before observed neither new Parliament nor new Session but a mere new meeting of either House upon the said Adjournment of the former meeting thereof which began on the 29 th day of October being Saturday in Anno 28 Reginae Eliz. as is aforesaid The Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the House of Commons being set M r Serjeant Puckering then Speaker thereof informed the House that M r Fulk Onslow Clerk of the Parliament was so weakned by Sickness that he could not at this present exercise his place Therefore he had appointed M r William Onslow his Knisman a Member of this House here present to supply it and therefore asked their allowance which they very willingly granted The same time M r Cromwell moved the House for that at their Petition her Majesty had done Justice upon the Scottish Queen to the greater Safeguard of her Majesties Person and the whole Realm he thought it fit that her Majesty might receive from them their humble thanks which motion was well liked but at this time it proceeded no further Two Bills had each of them one reading whereof the first was touching Fines and Recoveries before the Justices of the Common Pleas and the second for limitation of time touching Writs of Error growing by fraud The same day M r Vice-Chamberlain commanded as he said by her Majesty moved the House for that this Parliament was not expected to hold at this time many of the Nobility being Lieutenants in their Countries and others principal Members of this House were absent by occasion whereof those great weighty causes for which this Parliament is called cannot have such deep consultation as is fit Therefore he thought it convenient to have an Adjournment and therefore to move the Lords of the Upper House for the liking thereof Which motion being well liked M r Vice-Chamberlain and a convenient number of the House so many as would without nomination did attend him to the Lords who upon his return from the Lords made report that they having considered of the motion found the same want and therefore yielded to an Adjournment of the Parliament until Wednesday next being the 22 d day of this instant Month of February if this House would condescend unto it Unto which Adjournment this House also yielded which consent M r Vice-Chamberlain did there presently signifie to the Lords and upon his return the House brake up On Wednesday the 22 th day of February to which day the Parliament had been last adjourned upon Wednesday the 15 th day of this instant February foregoing the House again sitting the Right Honourable Sir Christopher Hatton Knight Vice-Chamberlain to her Majesty and one of her Majesties most Honourable Privy Council used this Speech in effect to the House viz. That it was her Majesties pleasure to have dangers disclosed and to have the House know that she thanked God for the goodness of the House that she wished the Session mistaken for Meeting to be short that men of Government might go home for matter of Government hospitality and defence and to take another time for making of Laws saving such as be now of necessity The dangers which her Majesty meaneth proceed of ancient malice and are to be prepared for and God called upon for aid The principal heads of the dangers The Catholicks abroad the Pope the King of Spain the Princes of the League the Papists at home and their Ministers The principal root hereof The Council of Trent which agreed to extirp Christian Religion which they term Heresie whereunto divers Princes assented and bound themselves in solemn manner Pope Pius Quint us sent her Excommunication against her Majesty Dr. Mourton and Mendoza a Spanish Ambassadour bestirred them a Northern Rebellion was bred the Pope and the rest practised for the Scottish Queen and she being acquainted proceeds by her means Pope Paulus the Thirteenth proceeds and sends Jesuits and Seminaries to England and Ireland and they proceed to inveagle the Subjects and disswade them from obedience Visko beginneth a Rebellion in Ireland James Fitz-Morris furthereth the Execution thereof Doctor Sanders and Desmond stir new Rebellion there and wrote into England c. Parry was moved to kill her Majesty and perswaded it was meritorious Pope Sixtus the Fifth imitateth the other Popes to execute their former devices and writeth to the Cardinal of Lorain and Guise that he will overthrow the Gospel which Mr. Vice-Chamberlain honourably termed the glorious Gospel and therefore moved them to join with the Princes of the League and to practise to win the King of Scots and to set up the Scottish Queen in England and made his reckoning of the Cantons that be Popish the Switzers the Duke of Savoy the Duke of Ferrara King of Spain and King of France A chief Instrument to work this was one Carew called also Father Henry He was sent into Germany and over Italy and France wrote to the Scottish Queen that the Powers will join to overthrow England and make known the effect of his labour to the Pope Invasion should have been made into England and Ireland the last year and not unlike to be attempted this year The Pope excommunicateth the King of Navar The Pope accounteth not of Popish preaching and perswasions that way but nevertheless moveth all to use the word and for maintenance thereof spareth his Treasure otherwise and withdraweth maintenance from Jesuits Seminaries and divers others Letters were found with the Scottish Queen which prove all these to be true If we serve Almighty God in sincerity of heart we need not to fear It is to be remembred that the King of Spain sought to recover some part of his Fathers credit by using our Treasure and force to get S t Quintines but he soon made his advantage of it and regarded not our Territories in France but suffered the loss of Calice and all our Territories and after the death of Queen Mary what he could Her Majesty sought for his good will sending the Lord Mountague the Lord Cobham Sir Thomas Chamberlain Knight M r Maun and others and they were but hardly used some of them were offered great indignity and M r Mauns Son forced by strength to do a kind of Penance He comforted the Queens Enemies he giveth colour of Wars he chargeth the Queen that her Subjects have aided his Rebels in the Low Countries with
countenancing Monsieur with Money at Cambray with sending her Nobility with him into the Low Countries with the actions of Sir Francis Drake with assistance of the Low Countries Of the purpose of the Combined Princes Their shew is to deal with the King of Navarr to extirp him but their drift is to ruinate Religion not only there but to set upon and to work the ruine of it here also Wherein the King of Spain and Guise are now very busie Their malice is the more for executing the Scottish Queen but their hope is the less The King of Spain his designments are to invade England and Ireland His Preparation Three hundred sixty Sail of Spain Eighty Gallies from Venice and Genoua One Galliass with six hundred armed men from the Duke of Florence Twelve thousand men maintained by Italy and the Pope Six thousand by the Spanish Clergy Twelve thousand by his Nobility and Gentlemen of Spain It is reported that ten thousand of these be Horsemen I think it not all true but something there is We must look to the Papists at home and abroad It hath touched us in the blood of the Nobility and the blood of many Subjects They practise to frame Subjects against all duty and bring in Doctrine of lawfulness and merit to kill the Queen and have sent their Instruments abroad to that purpose Two manner of forces are to be handled Assistance to the Low Countries defence by force otherwise That God may assist us in Justice in Right in Defence against those Princes The assistance is acceptable that will be profitable Her Majesty oweth relief there in Honour according to the Leagues especially between us and the House of Burgundy which Leagues differ from Leagues growing between Prince and Prince for they grew between the people and this State We are bound to help them in Honour according to the Leagues Many Marriages and many Secrecies have been long between us and the relieving of the afflictions of that people may not be omitted The heads of their miseries are The Spanish Inquisition by Placard using strange tortures not to be suffered great impositions without and against Law sending some of their people into Spain and there tyrannized over their Noblemen done away taking their Towns and setting Tyrants over them to use them like Dogs The purpose was to bring the Low Countries into a Monarchal seat and then vae nobis The Queens dealing there is warranted by God The Queen is occasioned of necessity for safety of her Dominions and us that that Country may be preserved that the English Commodities may be vented there with readiness with safety and with profit the recovery thereof will be good for this Country and Crown it may not be suffered that a Neighbour should grow too strong he uttered that as though it were not meet another Prince should have it for examples whereof he commended the Princes of Italy and especially the Duke of Florence for using that policy Henry the 7 th for aiding the Duke of Brittany with eight thousand men rather than the King of France after he had found great friendship of them both that the King of France might not grow too strong The King of Spain seeketh to be yet greater for he hath already a Seat in Council amongst the Princes of Germany by reason of Territories his Father got there And if he could he would frame the Low Countries to his desire As to the pretence of Injuries before remembred As to the first going over her Majesty misliked it and punished some of the Captains he named Sir Humfrey Gilbert for one Concerning Monsieur the first time her Majesty drew him from proceeding for the Low Countries The second time she consented that he should only assist the Low Countries which Monsieur afterwards abused contrary to her Majesties meaning Concerning M r Drakes first Voyage her Majesty knew it not and when he came home she seized the whole Mass of Substance brought by him to satisfie the King of Spain if cause so required and thereupon desired Certificate for Invasion into Ireland Concerning M r Drake's last Voyage it was to meet with the restraints and seisures in Spain and their purpose of War was thereupon discovered for there was found by the Master of M r Bonds Ship who took the Corrigedore and others a Commission from the King of Spain whereby he termed us his Rebels as he termed the Low Countries He then remembred another grievance not touched before which was the entertaining of Don Anthony Which he answered to be done in Honorable Courtesie because of his State who was a King anointed and crowned though his seat was not long untroubled and coming hither in honourable and courteous manner though something weakned required the entertainment he had Then he iterated that the great grief is Religion and said that all godly ones are bound to defend it He then said God endue us to fear him and all things shall prosper He said her Majesty protesteth sincere service to God and to leave the Crown in peace c. commended her courage against their malice esteeming it not less than the stoutest Kings in Europe M r Chancellor of the Exchequer after M r Vice-Chamberlain his speeches ended remembred some of the former and inferred and so concluded that the great preparations of War which was fit speedily to be thought of and provided would grow chargeable and therefore thought it fit with expedition that the House should appoint a convenient number of the same to set down Articles for a Subsidy Whereupon are appointed Committees for concluding and drawing of Articles for the Subsidy and other great Causes all the Privy Council being of this House the first Knight for every Shire and others who were appointed to meet in the Exchequer Chamber at two of the Clock in the Afternoon One Bill lastly being for the better payment of Debts and Legacies by Executors and Administrators was read the first time On Thursday the 23 d day of February three Bills of no great moment had each of them one reading of which the first being the Bill against delay of execution in Actions of Debt was read the first time The Committees appointed for Conference touching a Loan or Benevolence to be offered to her Majesty are M r Francis Bacon M r Edward Lewkenor and others On Friday the 24 th day of February four Bills of no great moment had each of them one reading of which the last being a Bill to avoid many dangers touching Records of Fines levyed in the Court of Common Pleas was upon the second reading committed unto M r Recorder of London M r Morrice M r Drew and others and the Bill was delivered to M r Recorder who with the rest was appointed to meet in Serjeants-Inn in Fleetstrect on Saturday next at two of the Clock in the Afternoon Sir Thomas Scot Sir Henry Knyvet M r Thomas Knyvet and M r Topclyffe are appointed by this House to search
that you receive them not until they be viewed and considered by those who it is fitter should consider of such things and can better judge of them To the persons all priviledge is granted with this Caveat That under colour of this priviledge no mans ill doings or not performing of Duties be covered and protected To the last free access is granted to her Majesties Person so that it be upon urgent and weighty Causes and at times convenient and when her Majesty may be at leisure from other important Causes of the Realm Nota That these several interlocutory Speeches of the Speaker and the Lord Keeper are not found in the Original Journal-Books of the Upper House or the House of Commons but are supplied out of a very Elaborate Journal of the Passages of the said Commons House taken by some Anonymous Member thereof this Parliament and are here inserted as was also the Lord Keepers Speech upon the first day of the same upon the reasons there alledged which see at large set down upon Monday the 19 th day of this instant February foregoing in fine diei Although the usual Custom in the Original Journal-Book of the Upper House is to place all Proxies upon what days soever returnable before the beginning of the Journal it self yet I have conceived it much more methodical to place all such returns in those days upon which they were delivered to the Clerk of the Parliament and always upon that day on which the first Return was to make some short observation of that if it be unusual and extraordinary and so to refer the view of the residue to their proper days On this instant Thursday therefore being the 22 th day of February and the second day on which the Upper House sat was returned only this one unusual Proxy 22 o Die Febr. introductae sunt Literae procuratoriae Johannis Episcopi Carliolen ' in quibus Procuratores suos constituit Johannem Archi-episcopum Cantuarien Johannem Episcopum London Matthaeum Episcopum Dunelmen ' Nota That this is one of those Proxies which I call unusual and extraordinary in respect that this Bishop of Carlisle did make or constitute three several Proctors whereas usually a Spiritual Lord nominateth but two conjunctim divisim and a Temporal Lord but one and that also of their own Order whence it is plain that these Proxies may not unfitly be stiled unusual whereby the Spiritual Lords do appoint Temporal Lords for their Proctors or but one Proctor a piece or more than two or when any Temporal Lord nominateth a Spiritual for his Proctor or constituteth more Proctors than one And therefore it is worth the observation that at this very time of nine Temporal Lords that sent their Proxies this Parliament by her Majesties Licence but one of them nominated two Proctors Which see upon Monday the first day of March ensuing all the rest constituting but one Yet the Proxies of the Spiritual Lords being six in number were all of them unusual and extraordinary which I conceive is not easily to be patterned in any other Parliaments except the first which was sent by Edmond Bishop of Norwich in which he constituted only John Bishop of London and Richard Bishop of Peterburgh his Proctors and returned on Monday the 19 th day of this instant February foregoing although it be there omitted as a thing usual and not worth the setting down at large But the other four extraordinary Proxies sent by so many several Bishops see afterwards according to their several Returns upon Saturday the 24 th day and on Tuesday the 27 th day of this instant February ensuing as also on Wednesday the 7 th day and on Wednesday the 28 th day of March next following Where also it may be noted that John Archbishop of Canterbury had this Parliament five Proxies viz. From John Bishop of Carliste John Archbishop of York Thomas Bishop of Winchester Matthew Bishop of Durham and Thomas Bishop of Chichester all which being extraordinary are at large set down in this present Journal in those several days upon which they were returned so that from this and many other Precedents of former and later Parliaments it is most plain that by the ancient Usages and Customs of the Upper House any Lord Spiritual or Temporal being a Member thereof is capable of as many single or Joint Proxies as shall be sent unto him Dominus Custos magni Sigilli ex mandato Dominae Reginae continuavit praesens Parliamentum usque in diem Sabbati prox ' futur ' On Saturday the 29 th day of February the Bill for restraining and punishing Vagrant and seditious Persons who under feigned pretences of Conscience and Religion corrupt and seduce the Queens Subjects was read primâ vice Eodem die retornatum est breve quo Richardus Wigorn ' Episcopus praesenti Parliamento interesse summonebatur idem Episcopus ad suum praeheminentiae sedendi in Parliament ' locum admissus est salvo cuiquam jure suo This day also was one extraordinary or unusual Proxie returned from a Spiritual Lord who constituted but one Proctor whereas usually no such Lord constituteth fewer than two which said Proxie is thus entred in the Original Journal-Book of this Parliament in the beginning thereof in manner and form following viz. 24. Febr. Introductae sunt Literae procuratoriae Johannis Eboracensis Archi-episcopi in quibus Procuratorem suum constituit Johannem Archi-episcopum Catuarien ' On Monday the 26 th day of February retornatum est breve quo Edwardus Dominus Cromwell praesenti Parliamento summonebatur interesse idem Dominus ad suum praeheminentiae sedendi in Parliamento locum admissus est salvo jure alieno The Writ was returned whereby Gilbert Earl of Shrewsbury was summoned c. The several Writs were also returned whereby George Bishop of Landaff William Lord Crompton and Edward Earl of Worcester were summoned It seemed by the Journal-Book that nothing else was done but the Parliament continued according to the usual form which is entred in the Original Journal-Book of the Upper House in these words following viz. Dominus Custos magni Sigilli continuavit praesens Parliamentum usque in diem Mercurii proximè futurum On Tuesday the 27 th day of February although the Upper House sat not yet was there one unusual and extraordinary Proxie returned from a Spiritual Lord who constituted but one Proctor which said Proxie was privately delivered in unto the Clerk of the said House and is entred by him in the Original Journal-Book of the same House in manner and form following viz. 27. Februarii Introductae sunt Literae procuratoriae Thomae Wintonien ' Episcopi in quibus Procuratorem suum constituit Johannem Archi-episcopum Cantuarien ' On Wednesday the 28 th day of February to which day the Parliament had been last continued two several Writs were returned whereby John Bishop of Bath and Wells and Matthew Bishop of Durham were summoned to come to this present Parliament
No M r Speaker said the Order of the House is that the I being for the Bill must go out and the No against the Bill doth always sit The reason is that the Inventor that will have a new Law is to go out and bring it in and they that are for the Law in possession must keep the House for they sit to continue it Thus far out of the aforesaid Anonymous Journal The further Passages of this day and part of the next do follow out of the Original Journal-Book it self M r Attorney General and M r Doctor Stanhop do bring from the Lords a Bill Intituled An Act for Explanation and Confirmation of her Majesties Title to the Lands and Tenements late of Sir Francis Englefield Knight Attainted of High Treason On Wednesday the 21 th day of March Three Bills of no great moment had each of them one reading of which the last being the Bill for the maintenance of the Haven in the Town of Colchester and for the paving of the same Town had its first reading The Amendments in the Bill touching the breadth of Plunkets Azures and Blues being twice read the Bill was upon the question Ordered to be ingrossed The Amendments in the Bill for the more speedy and due Execution of Process against Recusants being twice read the Bill was upon the Question Ordered to be ingrossed The Councel on both sides were this day heard at large in this House in the Bill against Aliens selling by way of retail any Foreign Commodities and afterwards sequestred Which done the Amendments intended by the Committees in the said Bill were read unto the House and after the reading Ordered upon the question to be inserted into the same Bill accordingly After which there followed divers long Speeches and Arguments on both sides both with the Bill and against the Bill which said Speeches being omitted in the Original Journal-Book of the House of Commons are in respect of the great weight of this matter touching Aliens now controverted supplied out of the aforesaid Anonymous Journal more particularly mentioned at the beginning of this present Journal in manner and form following viz. M r Francis Moore of the Middle-Temple being as it should seem at the Bar of Councel with the City of London and in their behalf to speak for the making of a new Law by the Order of the House spake first and did at large set forth the inconveniencies that grew to our Nation and Tradesmen by suffering I Tradesmen to retail First because that Strangers Wares are better than ours which causeth that our Retaylors have no sale of their Wares They sell cheaper though their Wares be as good as ours And this is by reason they have Factors beyond the Seas that are their Friends and Kinsfolks and so they save that Charge A thing to be noted And wheresoever they are our own native Retaylors are Beggars They receive Gentlemen and Yeomens Sons to be their Apprentices themselves being Retaylors and this is no Trade afterwards for them to live on So many Beggars be made consuming their time under them Their retailing Beggering our Retaylors makes a diminution of the Queens Subsidies Their riches and multitude makes our Estate poorer and weaker for they stick upon our wealth and carry it into Foreign Countries In the Statute Richard 3. Cap. 9. there appeareth the like Complaint that now is which being then made unto the King was then remedied as appeareth by the Statute And for the Objections made First that it were against Charity that Strangers sleeing hither for Religion and relief should be restrained from the means of getting their livings Secondly that their retailing 〈◊〉 seneth the prices of our Wares and encreaseth the number of Buyers and Thirdly that it were violating of their priviledge if we have them by their diminution The priviledge of S t Martins hath always been allowed and now not to be denied To Answer to these in Order First Charity must be mixt with Policy for to give of Charity to our own Beggering were but Prodigality and such Charity we use for we allow them all Trades that they have been brought up in but retailing is a thing that they were never brought up unto in their own Countries so no reason to allow it them here To the second they buy of us and sell as brought from beyond Seas and upon this opinion sell our own Wares dearer than we can do Their priviledge of Denization is not to be allowed above the priviledge of Birth and our Natives are not allowed to Retail and Merchandize as they do And it may appear by a former Statute that notwithstanding their Denization they have been bound under the Statute 34 H. 8. And though the Stranger Merchants pay double Subsidies yet Strangers Retaylors do not but are taxed by the place and that under value because their goods and wealth is secret but barr retailing and they will all of them be Merchants and so the Subsidy shall be doubled S t Martins was first allowed for a Sanctuary and for that Cause had his priviledge and not to be so ill a Neighbour to the City as to rob it as it doth and by former Statutes St. Martins hath been barred as by the Statute 21 H. 8. appeareth only the Statute of 1. H. 8. exempted it M r Proud of Lincolns-Inn being as it should seem at the Bar of Councel with the Strangers and in their behalf to speak made particular Answer to M r Moore for Strangers in resisting his Answers to the five Objections Then he offered if the Liberties of the Natives born might be granted to Strangers they would seek no more for they desired but to trade in all parts of the Realm M r Hill of Lincolns-Inn of Councel also with the Strangers spake next and said Make it Law that they shall not retail and the Merchants hereafter will require a Law that they may not use Merchandise and so the Shoo-maker Taylor and others that they may not use their Trades and in denying them one you take away all Upon this instant M r Speaker delivered a Bill which desired they might be barred of such Trades as to be Shoo-makers and such like But this Bill was thought to be put in by the Strangers themselves of Policy This I thought And besides these Retaylors themselves be not Aliens but far Foreigners such as have forsaken their own Countries and Liberties to live here in ours and home they dare not resort Further of the things they retail we have no Company or Trade here in England and therefore it were unreasonable to bar them of their said Retailing It should seem that these three last before-named were all of the Councel of either part that spoke at the Bar and that the Speeches following were all of them uttered by several Members of the House Sir John Wolley spake next as it should seem after the Councel of either part had been heard at the Bar and said This Bill
two thousand weight of strange Coin Now whereas it is so much urged to be against that Charity which is commended to us by Moses towards the Stranger let Moses tell us who is that Stranger even the Fatherless and Widow Wherefore from them we must not reap too clean but cast out some handfuls for them to gather up when we gather our Vintage or when we gather our Corn we must not gather too clean But shall we be put out to gleaning and give our Fields to them That were beyond Charity Wherefore let Moses be expounded by the same Spirit The Apostle saith That he that provideth not for his Family is worse than an Infidel Let us then have an Eye to our Country and our poor Country-men You be here as Patres Patriae you be here as amongst the Romans the Patres conscripti I beseech you have respect unto this City upon whose flourishing Estate the whole Realm dependeth Sir Walter Raleigh spake next and said Whereas it is pretended That for Strangers it is against Charity against Honour against profit to expel them in my opinion it is no matter of Charity to relieve them For first such as fly hither have forsaken their own King and Religion is no pretext for them for we have no Dutchmen here but such as came from those Princes where the Gospel is Preached and here they live disliking our Church For Honour It is Honour to use Strangers as we be used amongst Strangers And it is a lightness in a Common-Wealth yea a baseness in a Nation to give a liberty to another Na which we cannot receive again In Antwerp where our intercourse was most we were never suffered to have a Taylor or a Shoemaker to dwell there Nay at Millain where there are three hundred pound English men they cannot have so much as a Barber amongst them And for Profit they are all of the House of Almoigne who pay nothing yet eat out our profits and supplant our own Nation Custom indeed they pay paying fifteen pence where we pay twelve pence but they are discharged of Subsidies The nature of the Dutchman is to fly to no man but for his profit and they will obey no man long now under Spain now under Mounfort now under the Prince of Orange but under no Governour long The Dutchman by his Policy hath gotten Trading with all the World into his hands yea he is now entring into the Trade of Scarborough Fishing and the Fishing of the New-found Lands which is the stay of the West-Countries They are the people that maintain the King of Spain in his Greatness Were it not for them he were never able to make out such Armies and Navies by Sea it cost her Majesty sixteen thousand pound a year the maintaining of these Countries and yet for all this they Arm her Enemies against her Therefore I see no reason that so much respect should be given unto them And so to conclude in the whole cause I see no matter of Honour no matter of Charity no Profit in relieving them Sir Robert Cecill spake next and said When I first heard this Bill read I promised my self silence for it speaks of Trades wherein I have no skill But upon so great dispute as it hath received on both sides and that very throughly and wisely my understanding is cleared and I see that now which I saw not before What the word Retailing meant I understood not before but now it is brought to a matter of Charity to relieve Strangers and especially such as do not grieve our Eyes This hath brought great Honour to our Kingdom for it is accounted the refuge of distressed Nations for our Arms have been open unto them to cast themselves into our Bosoms But yet our Charity unto them must not hinder or injure our selves Now as the Bill is it is not sufficient for this purpose And if it be put to a Question it must either be dashed or put to ingrossing And for my own Conscience if the Question be now made I am not resolved to give my Voice It were not for the gravity of the House nor the credit of the Committees to have it rejected upon the sudden and as it is now it is not fit to pass in my conceit I see the Citizens themselves will be well assenting unto the reforming of the same for M r Recorder yesterday speaking with Zeal for the City yet with good regard thought the Bill might receive great moderation And thereupon the House was well pleased to stay the Bill and commit it again to the former Committees to whom were further added Sir Robert Cecill Sir Walter Raleigh Sir Henry Knivet M r Wroth and others who were appointed to meet with the former Committees who had been nominated on Tuesday the 6 th day of this instant March foregoing this Afternoon at two of the Clock in this House Now followeth the next days Passages and some others ensuing out of the Original Journal-Book On Saturday the 24 th day of March the Bill touching Clapboards and Casks was twice read and committed unto the Committees that follow viz. M r Treasurer M r Wroth M r Francis Bacon M r Finch and others and the Bill was delivered to M r Treasurer who with the rest was appointed to meet at two of the Clock this Afternoon in the Exchequer Chamber The Bill and Committees names touching the Lands late Sir Francis Englefields Knight Attainted of High Treason who had been nominated on Thursday the 22 th day of this instant March foregoing were delivered to M r Vice-Chamberlain The Bill for relief of maimed Souldiers and Mariners was upon the second reading committed unto the former Committees whose names see before on Monday the 12 th day of this instant March foregoing and Sir Robert Cecill M r Richard Brown M r Hubberd and others were added unto them and appointed to meet on Monday next at two of the Clock in the Afternoon in the Exchequer Chamber and the Bill and Committees names were delivered to Sir Robert Cecill Vicle plus March 28. M r Speaker being moved by M r Edgecombe to read the private Bill for the Town of Stonchouse and offering to have the Bill read first which came from the Lords touching Popish Recusants being a publick Bill and remembred from her Majesty It was upon the further arguing of Sir Edward Dymock put to the question of the House whether the same Bill for the Town of Stonchouse should be read or no and upon the Question made was Ordered no. Four Bills were sent up to the Lords by M r Vice-Chamberlain and others of which one was the Bill for Subsidy and the other touching the Sale of the Gray-Fryers in Cambridge M r Serjeant Owen and M r Doctor Stamhop do bring from the Lords a Bill intituled An Act to give liberty to the Lord Harrowden to sell certain Lands for the payment of his debts The Bill for restraining of Popish Recusants to some
Darcy de Chiche Dominus North. Dominus Shandois Dominus S t John de Bletso Dominus Buckhurst Dominus Compton These Lords Spiritual and Temporal being sat and her Majesty placed in her Chair of Estate the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the House of Commons upon notice thereof repaired thither and being as many as conveniently could let in Sir Thomas Egerton by her Majesties Commandment spake as followeth viz. THE Queens most Excellent Majesty my most Gracious and Dread Soveraign hath commanded me to declare unto you my Lords and others here present the Causes which have moved her Highness to summon this High Court of Parliament at this time Which before I can express I must confess truly That the Royal presence of her Majesty the view of your Lordships and this honourable Assembly together with the consideration of the weightiness of the service and my own weakness do much appal me and cause me to fear Wherefore if either through fear I forget or through the many wants and imperfections which I have I fail to perform that duty which is required I do most humbly crave pardon of her Majesty and beseech your Lordships to bear with me The great and Princely Care which her Highness now hath as heretofore she hath ever had to preserve her Kingdoms in Peace and Safety from all Foreign Attempts hath caused her at this present to assemble this honourable and great Council of her Realm to advise of the best and most needful means whereby to continue this her peaceable happy Government and to withstand the malice of her weighty and implacable Enemies which hitherto by the space of many years through her provident and Princely Wisdom hath been performed to the great and inestimable benefit of her Subjects as that the simplest amongst them could not but see and the wisest but admire their happiness therein the whole Realm enjoying Peace in all Security wherein our Neighbour Countries have been torn in pieces and tormented continually with cruel and bloody Wars This her Majesty is pleased to ascribe to the mighty Power and Infinite Mercy of the Almighty And therefore it shall well become us all of all sorts most thankfully upon the Knees of our Hearts to acknowledge no less unto his holy name who of his infinite goodness still preserves her Highness and send her many years over us all in Happiness to Reign In this her blessed Government her Highness chief care and regard above all hath been of the Honour and Service of Almighty God that true Religion might be planted and maintained in the hearts of her people through all the parts of her Realms and as well in that behalf as for the peace and benefits of her Subjects she hath from time to time established many good Laws to meet with the disorders and to punish the offences of wicked and ungodly men that continuing in their bad ways they might not be hardned and go forward in their wickedness For Mora in peccato dat incrementum sceleri And whereas the number of Laws already made is very great some of them being obsolete and worn out of use others idle and vain serving to no purpose some again over-heavy and too severe for the offence others too loose and slack for the faults they are to punish and many so full of difficulty to be understood that they cause many Controversies and much trouble to arise amongst the Subjects You are to enter into a due consideration of the Laws and where you find superfluity to prune and cut off where defect to supply and where ambiguity to explain that they be not burthensome but profitable to the Common-Wealth Which being a Service of importance and very needful to be required yet as nothing is to be regarded if due mean be not had to withstand the malice and the force of those professed Enemies which seek the destruction of the whole State this before and above all is to be thought of and with most endeavour and care to be provided for For in vain are Laws made and to little purpose will they serve be they never so good if such prevail as go about to make a Conquest of the Kingdom Wars heretofore were wont to be made either of Ambition to enlarge Dominions or of revenge to quit injuries But this against us is not so in this the Holy Religion of God is sought to be rooted out the whole Realm to be subdued and the precious life of her Excellent Majesty to be taken away Which hitherto by the powerful hand and great goodness of the Almighty hath been preserved mauger the Devil the Pope and the Spanish Tyrant and all the mischievous designs of all her Enemies Wherefore it is high time that this be looked unto and that no way be left unsought nor means unused which may serve for defence thereof Her Majesty hath not spared to disburse a Mass of Treasure and to sell her Land for maintenance of her Armies by Sea and Land whereby with such small helps as from her Subjects have been yielded she hath defended and kept safe her Dominions from all such forcible attempts as have been made Which being still to be performed by infinite charge her Majesty doth notwithstanding hear of nothing more unwillingly than of Aids and Subsidies to be returned from her people though what she doth receive she doth carefully bestow and infinitely more of her own The Taxations at this day howsoever they seem are nothing so great as heretofore in the Reign of former Kings they have been In the time of Edward the third the two next before him and those three which succeded after him the payments of the Commons did far exceed any that have been since her Majesties Reign which is of Record in Histories to be seen but never cause so great to imploy great sums of Money as now Now therefore you are to consider how to provide needful and convenient Aid in some measure to maintain and support her Majesties exceeding charge which at this present she is at and is to continue for the defence of the Realm He cannot be well advised who in this case will not be forward to contribute and bestow whatsoever he hath For if with the Common-wealth it go not well well it cannot be with any private or particular person that being in danger He that would seek to lay up Treasure and so inrich himself should be like to him that would busy himself to beautify his House when the City where he dwelleth were on fire or to deck up his Cabbin when the Ship wherein he saileth were ready to drown so as perish he must of necessity either with it or for it To spare in that Case is to spare for those which seek to devour all and to give is to give to our selves her Majesties part only being carefully to bestow what is delivered into her hands Wherein men performing their Duties there is no Cause at all to fear for this War is just
man comes into his Country will be better satisfied when they shall know they have spared no man nor made any disjunction It was said by a Member of the House that he knew some poor people pawn'd their Pots and Pans to pay the Subsidy It may be you dwell where you see and hear I dwell where I hear and believe And this I know that neither Pot nor Pan nor Dish nor Spoon should be spared when danger is at our Elbows But he that spake this in my Conscience spake it not to hinder the Subsidy or the greatness of the Gift but to shew the Poverty of some Sessed and by sparing them to yield them relief But by no means I would have the three pound men exempted because I do wish the King of Spain might know how willing we are to sell all in defence of Gods Religion our Prince and Country I have read when Hannibal resolved to sack Rome he dwelt in the Cities adjoining and never feared or doubted of his Enterprize till word was brought him that the Maidens Ladies and Women of Rome sold their Ear Rings Jewels and all their necessaries to maintain War against him I do take my self in duty bound to acquaint this House with the modesty of the Committee at the Proposition that where first this House never stuck to commit it they never stuck understanding the reasons to grant it I do perswade my self that the bonus genius of this House did not wish a more resolved unity than we had unity in resolution And of this great Committee it may be said de majoribus Principes consultant de minoribus omnes Thus by your Commandments have I undergone this Charge and will be ready to do the like duty whensoever you command me Then after Consultation had of the great occasions it was put to the Question whether the double Tenths and Fifteenths should be paid by the first day of February viz. for this fourth Subsidy before the third begin and that the first payment of the first three Subsidies should be brought in by the 10 th of June viz. half a Subsidy And all said Yea and not one No. Then was a Motion made by Sir Robert Wroth that this new Subsidy might be drawn in a Bill by it self to which should be annext a Preamble of the great necessities the willingness of the Subject and that it might be no Precedent but that would not be yielded unto Then M r Speaker asked the House if they would appoint Committees so they appointed the Queens Councel and all the Serjeants of the House and no more M r Francis Moore moved that that which was done might be compleatly done and the Subsidy gathered by Commission and not by the old Roll for peradventure some were dead others fallen to Poverty others Richer and so deserved to be inhansed c. And withal he said that the granting of this Subsidy seemed to be the Alpha and Omega of this Parliament M r Wingfield moved the Honourable of the Councel Members of this House That seeing the Subsidy was granted and they yet had done nothing it would please her Majesty not to dissolve the Parliament till some Acts were passed Serjeant Harris said The Motion of the Gentleman that last spake is not now to be discussed we are to speak touching the Subsidy M r Francis Bacon after a Repetition of some of what was done Yesterday that the three pound men might not be excluded he concluded that it was Dulcis tractus pari jugo therefore the Poor as well as the Rich not to be exempted Sir Walter Raleigh said I like not that the Spaniards our Enemies should know of our selling our Pots and Pans to pay Subsidies well may you call it Policy as an Honourable Person alledged but I am sure it argues Poverty in the State And for the Motion that was last made of Dulcis tractus pari Jugo Call you this par jugum when a poor man pays as much as a rich and peradventure his Estate is no better than he is set at or but little better when our Estates that be thirty pound or forty pound in the Queens Books are not the hundred part of our Wealth Therefore it is not Dulcis nor pari M r Secretary Cecill That now seeing one of the weightiest matters and causes of Calling this Parliament was agreed upon he doubted not but we should have both a quick Parliament and speedy payment But for that the Gentleman said on my right hand that the Subsidy was the Alpha and Omega of this Parliament I think he spoke it not simply out of humour but rather upon probability for I can assure you her Majesty is as respective over you touching her Laws which she desireth may be perused and amended that she meaneth not to Dissolve this Parliament till some things be amended For that that I said touching the Spaniards knowing of our sale of our Pots and Pans and all we have to keep him out which should be a matter of Policy to which the Gentleman on my left hand Sir Walter Raleigh took Exceptions I say it is true and yet I am mistaken I say it is good the Spaniards should know how willing we are to sell our Pots and Pans and all we have to keep him out Yet I do not say it is good he should know we do sell them that is I would have him know our willingness to sell though there be no need but not of out Poverty in selling or of any necessity we have to sell them which I think none will do neither shall need to do Then all the House cryed No No as much as to say no man did so Sir Arthur Gorge moved that it would please the Council that Order might be taken that Justices of the Peace might be Sessed according to the Statute viz. at twenty pound Lands whereas there be few Justices that be above eight or ten pound by M r Secretary noted in his Table Book Then Serjeant Heyle stood up and made a Motion saying M r Speaker I marvel much that the House will stand upon granting of a Subsidy or the time of payment when all we have is her Majesties and she may lawfully at her Pleasure take it from us Yea she hath as much right to all our Lands and Goods as to any Revenue of her Crown At which all the House hemm'd and laughed and talked Well quoth Serjeant Heyle all your Hemming shall not put me out of Countenance So M r Speaker stood up and said It is a great disorder that this should be used for it is the antient use of every man to be silent when any one speaketh and he that is speaking should be suffered to deliver his Mind without interruption So the said Serjeant proceeded and when he had spoken a little while the House hemm'd again and so he sate down In his latter Speech he said he could prove his former Position by Precedent in the times of
said Motion or any other tending to the safety of her Majesties Person may be very well delivered and remembred to the Committees in the great Cause by any member of the House M r Dennis Hollis offereth a Bill to this House in the behalf of the Curriers of London Whereupon M r Speaker put the House in remembrance of her Majesties pleasure before signified unto this house to forbear the making of new Laws and to spend the time in the great Causes for which this Parliament was specially summoned yet because in the mean time of dealing in the said great Cause in Committee or otherwise there should be nothing to occupy the House withal it is thought good at such times to have some Bills read in the House reserving always due regard and place to the said great Cause And thereupon the said Bill was read accordingly The Bill touching the Curriers was read the first time The Bill also for limitation of time touching Writs of Error growing by fraud had its first reading M r Chadley one of the Knights returned for the County of Devon offereth a Bill to this House touching Cloth-making within the said County out of Cities Market Towns and Corporate Towns Whereupon the said Bill was then read accordingly The Bill touching Clothiers in the County of Devon had its first reading Edmund Moore of Shoreditch in the County of Middlesex Tallow-chandler and John Turner of the same Butcher being both of them in the Serjeants Custody for presuming to come into this House sitting the House and being no Members of the same it is upon opinion that they did it of ignorance and meer simplicity and not of any pretended purpose and also upon their humble submission of themselves unto this House and like humble request and Petition of Pardon for the same Agreed by this House that they shall be discharged and set at Liberty taking first the Oath of Supremacy openly in this House which they so then did and afterward departed On Munday the 7 th day of November The Bill touching Fines and Recoveries levied before the Justices of the Common Pleas whereunto any of the said Justices are parties was read the first time Sir William Herbert being returned into this House Knight for the County of Monmouth offereth a Bill into this House for the relief of certain Orphans within the said County of Monmouth and prayeth that the same Bill may be read which was so then read accordingly The Bill for relief of certain Orphans in the County of Monmouth had its first reading M r Bulkely offereth a Bill unto this House touching Clothes made in this Realm to be shipped and transported over the Seas and prayeth the same may be read which was thereupon so done accordingly The Bill touching Clothes made to be transported over the Seas had its first reading Sir Robert Jermin likewise offereth another Bill touching Clothiers and Cloth-making in the Counties of Suffolk and Essex and prayeth the reading thereof which in no wise he would have moved if the House should have been any ways occupied in the great Cause the speedy course and proceeding whereof he most earnestly desireth and prayeth The Bill touching Clothiers and Clothes made in the Counties of Suffolk and Essex was read the first time M r Vice-Chamberlain shewed that the Committees in the great Cause did meet according to the Commission therein of this House unto them and that then also they did appoint another Meeting therein to be this Afternoon and shewed withal That some of the Committees of this House being of the Privy Council do understand that the Lords will not in this great and weighty Cause any way deal or meddle amongst themselves nor in any other matter besides until they shall have first heard therein from this House for Conference to be prayed with them by this House and therefore moved That now whilst their Lordships do yet sit the Privy Council with some few others of this House be presently sent to their Lordships to move for Conference and to know their Lordships pleasure for the time and place of Meeting Whereupon for that purpose it was ordered That all the Privy Council being of this House Sir Henry Gate M r Sollicitor and Sir William Moore should presently repair to their Lordships to the higher House who did so accordingly It should seem that in the mean time after the going up of M r Treasurer and the rest and before their return from the Lords these matters following were handled viz. The Bill touching Orford-Haven was read the second time and thereupon committed unto Sir Robert Jermin Sir John Higham Sir Henry Cobham M r Cromwell M r Layer and all others that were Committees in the same Cause the last Parliament to meet to morrow in the Afternoon in the Middle Temple Hall at three of the Clock After sundry Speeches to the Bill touching Inrollments upon the second reading thereof and being then reserved to convenient time and this present time falling out to be convenient for that purpose it is upon the question both for the committing and ingrossing quite dashed and rejected The Bill touching Curriers had its second reading M r Treasurer and the residue of the Committees being returned from the Lords as it should seem much about the time that the House had finished the disputing and reading of the foresaid Bills he shewed that he and the residue have according to the Appointment of this House moved the Lords for Conference touching the said great Cause which their Lordships did very well like of and have appointed that the former Committees of this House in the said Cause do meet this Afternoon in the Parliament-Chamber with such Committee of their Lordships as their Lordships for that purpose do appoint which he saith he thinketh to be twenty or thereabouts And so thereupon were the Names of the said Committees of this House read and they required to give their Attendances therein at the said time and place accordingly On Tuesday the 8 th day of November M r Doctor Turner shewed unto this House That he is fully perswaded that her Majesties safety cannot be sufficiently provided for by the speedy cutting off of the Queen of Scots unless some good means withal be had for the rooting out of Papistry either by making of some good new Laws for that purpose or else by the good and due Execution of the Laws already in force which as he greatly wisheth and referreth to the grave consideration of this House so concluding in his own Conscience that no Papist can be a good Subject he did offer a Bill to this House containing as he thinketh some convenient form of matter tending to the effect of his Motion and prayeth the same may be read Whereupon M r Speaker finding the Title of the said Bill to purport the Safety of her Majesties Person putteth the House in remembrance that by their own appointment and direction that matter was referred to certain Committees