The Principles of Popery are such as are incompatible with any other RELIGION there may bee a suspension of violence for some by respects but the ultimate end even of that moderation is that they may with more advantage extirpate that which is opposite to them Laws will not restraine them oaths will not the Pope can dispence with both these and where there is occasion his command wil act them to the disturbance of the Realme against their owne private disposition yea against their own reason and judgment to obey him to whom they have especially the Jesuiticall party absolutely and intirely obliged themselves not only in spirituall matters but in temporall as they are in order ad Spiritualia H. the 3 d. and H. the 4 th of France were no Protestants themselves yet were murthered because they tolerated the Protestants by which and many other presidents it appeares that the King that the Kingdome can have no security but in their weaknesse and disabilite to doe hurt 2 A 2 d. incouragement is their admission into places of power Admission into places of power and trust in the Common-wealth whereby they get many dependants and adherents not only of their own but even of such as make profession to be protestants 3 A third their freedome of resorting to London and the Court Free resort to London the court whereby they have opportunity not only of Communicating their Counsels and designes one to another but of diving into his Majesties Counsels by the frequent accesse of those who are active men amongst them to the tables and company of great men and under subtile pretences and disguises they want not meanes of cherishing their owne projects and of indeavouring to mould and biasse the publike affaires to the great advantage of that partie 4 A 4 th that as they have a Congregation of Cardinals at Rome to consider of the aptest wayes and means of establishing the Popes authority and Religion in England so they have a Nuncio here to act and dispose that party to the execution of those Counsels and by the assâ—stance of such cunning and Jesuiticall spirits as swarm in this towne to order and mannage all actions and events to the furtherance of that maine end 2 The second grievance in Religion was from those manifold innovations lately introduced into severall parts of the Kingdome all Innovations in matters of Religion inclining to Popery and disposing and fitting men to entertaine it the particulars are these 1 Divers of the chiefest points of Religion in difference betwixt Maintenance of popish tenets us and the Papists have bin publikely defended in licensed Books in Sermons in Vniversity acts and disputations 2 Diverse Popish Ceremonies have bin not only practised but Practice of popish ceremonies countenanced yea little lesse than injoyned as Altars Images Crucifixes bowings and other gestures and observances which put upon our Churches a shape and face of popery He compared this to the dry bones in Ezekiel first they came together then the sinewes and the flesh came upon them after this the skin covered them and then breath and life was put into them so he said after these men had moulded us into an outward forme and visage of popery they would more boldly endeavour to breath into us the spirit life of popery 3 The third grievance was the countenancing and preferring those Preferment of men popishly inclined Discouragment of true professors Inlargment of differences among our selves men who were most forward in setting up such Innovations the particulâ—rs were so well knowne that they needed not to be named 4 The fourth was the discouragement of those who were known to be most conscionable and faithfull professors of the truth some of the wayes of effecting this he observed to be these 1 The courses taken to inforce and inlarge those unhappy differences for matters of small moment which have bin amongst our selves and to raise up new occasions of further division wherby many have bin induced to forsake the land not seeing the end of those voluntary and humane Injunctions in things appertaining to Gods worship whereas those who are indeed lovers of Religion and of the Churches of God would seeke to make up those breaches and to unite us more entirely against the common enemy 2 The over rigid prosecution of those who are scrupulous in using Over-rigid prosecution of the scrupulous for things indifferent some things enjoyned which are held by those who enjoyn them to be in themselves indifferent It hath bin ever the desire of this House exprest in many Parliaments in Q. Elizabeths time and since that such might be renderly used It was one of our petitions delivered at Oxford to his Majestie that now is but what little moderation it hath produced is not unknowne to us all any other vice almost Vnjust punishments for matters not by law Reading the Booke The Table set Altar-wise Comming to the railes Preaching upon the Lords day Varying from the catechisme Abuse of Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction may be better indured in a Minister than Inconformitie 3 The unjust punishments and vexations of sundry persons for matters required without any warrant of Law as For not reading the book â—oncerning recreation on the Lords day For not removing the Communion Table to bee set Altarwise at the East end of the Chancell For not comming up to the Railes to receive the Sacrament For preaching the Lords day in the afternoone For Catechising in any other words and manner than in the precise words of the short catechisme in the Common Prayer booke The fifth and last grievance concerning Religion was the incroachment and abuse of Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction the particulars mentioned are these 1 Fining and imprisoning in cases not allowed by Law 2 Their challenging their jurisdiction to be appropriate to their In fining imprisoning Claiming jurisdiction to be Iure Divine Articles of the Visitations order which they alledge to be jure Divine 3 The contriving and publishing of new articles upon which they inforce the Churchwardens to take oathes and to make inquiries and presentments as if such articles had the force of Canons and this he said was an effect of great presumption and boldnesse not only in the Bishops but in their Archdeacons Officials and Chancellors taking upon themselves a kind of Synodall authority and the Injunctions of this kinde might well partake in name with that part of the common Law which is called the Extravagants Having dispatcht these severall points hee proceeded to the third Grievances concerning the liberty of persons and estates part of grievances being such as are against the common justice of the Realm in the liberties of our persons and proprietie of our estates of which he said he had many to propound In doing whereof he would rather observe the order of time wherein they were acted than of consequence but when hee should come to the cure hee should then perswade the
meaning in the proposition now made to settle and restore the right according to law and not to diminish the Kings profit but to establish iâ— by a free grant in Parliament New burdens since the last Parliaments Since the breach of the last Parliament his Majesty hath by a new book of Rates very much increased the burden upon Merchandize and now Tonnage and Poundage old and new impositions Divers mischiefes from these grievances are all taken by Prerogative without any grant in Parliament or authority of law as we conceive from whence divers inconveniences and mischiefes are produced 1 The danger of the president that a judgement in one Court The Kingdom bound by one private case and in one case is made binding to all the Kingdome 2 Mens goods are seized their legall suits are stopped and justice Interruptiod of Iustice denied to those that desire to take the benefit of the Law 3 The great summes of money received upon these impositions Misimployment of the summes received intended for the guard of the Seas claimed and defended upon no ground but of publike trust for protection of Merchants and defence of the ports are dispersed to other uses and a new taxe raised for the same purposes 4 These burdens are so excessive that trade is thereby very much The burdens excessive hindered the commodities of our owne groweth extreamly abased and those imported much inhaunsed all which lies not upon the Merchant alone but upon the generality of the subject and by this meanes the stocke of the Kingdom is much diminisht our exportation being lesse prositable and our importation more chargeable And if the warres and troubles in the neighbour parts had not brought almost the whole streame of Trade into this Kingdom we should have found many more prejudicial effects of these impositions long before this time than yet we have done especially they To the American plantations especiall have been insupportable to the poore plantations whither many of his Majesties subjects have been transported in divers parts of the Continent and Istands of America being a designe tending to the honout of the Kingdome and the inlargement of his Majesties dominions The adventurers in this noble worke have for the most part no other support but Tobacco upon which such a heavy rate is set that the King receives twice as much as the true value of the commoditie to the owner 5 Whereas these great burdens have caused divers Merchants Impositions upon trade intercoursory to apply themselves to a way of trassique abroad by transporting goods from one Country to another without bringing them home into England It hath been lately endeavoured to set an Imposition upon this trade so as the King will have a duty out of those commodities which never came within his dominions to the great discouragement of such active and industrious men The next generall head of Civill grievances was inforcing men Compositions for Knighthood to compound for Knighthood which though it may seeme past because it is divers years since it was used yet upon the same grounds the King may renew it as often as he pleaseth for the composition lookes backward and the offence continuing is subiect to a new fine The state of that businesle he layed downe thus Heretofore when the services due by tenure were taken in kind The Originall ground of the charg it were fit there should be some way of tryall and approbation of those that were bound to such services Therefore it was ordained that such as were to do Knights service after they came of age and had possession of their lands and should be made Knights that is publikely declared to be fit for that service divers ceremonies and solemnities were in use for this purpose and if by the parties neglect this was not done he was punishable by Fine there being in those times an ordinary and open way to get Knighthood for those who were borne to it Alâ—hough the use of this hath for divers ages been discontinued yet there have past very few Kings under whom there hath not bin An old grievance in the kind a general Summons requiring those who had lands of such value as the Law prescribes to appeare at the Coronation or some other great solemnity and to be Knighted and yet nothing intended but New in the manner and excesse the getting of some small fines so as this grievance is not altogether new in the kind though it be new in the manner and in the excesse of it and that in divers respects 1 First It hath been extended beyond all intention of and colour of law not only Inne-holders but likewise Lease-holders Copy-holders Merchants and others scarce any man free from it Respect of 2 The Fiâ—es have beene immoderate far beyond the proportion The generality of former times 3 The proceedings have been without any example president or rule of justice for though those that were summoned did appeare Greatnesse of fines Multiplication of distresses and issues yet distresses infinite were made out against them and issues increased and mulâ—iplied and no way open to discharge those issues by plea or otherwise but only by compounding with the commissioners at their own pleasure 3 The third was the great Inundation of Monopolies whereby heavy burthens are laid not only upon forraigne but also native Monopolies introduced by the sope patent undertaken by papists commodities These began in the Sope-Patent the principall undertakers in this were divâ—rs popish Recusants men of estate and quality such as in likelyhood did not only aime at their private gaine but that by this open breach of Law the King and his people might be more fully divided the wayes of Parliament men more throughly obstructed Amongst the infinite inconveniences and Full of mischeife mischiefes which this did produce these few may be observed 1 The impairing the goodnesse and inhancing the price of most 1 the price of commodities increast and goodnesse abated Restraint of trade of the Commodities and Manufactures of the Realme yea of those who are of most necessary and common use as Salt Sope Beere Coles and infinite others 2 That under colour of Licences Trades and Manufactures are restrained to a few hands and many of the Subjects deprived of their ordinary way of livelyhood 3 That upon such illegal grants a great number of persons had bin unjustly vexed by Pursevants Imprisonments attendance upon Illegall imprisonments vexations Shipmony the Councell Table seisure of goods and many other wayes 4 The fourth that great and unparalleld grievance of the Shipmoney which though it may seeme to have more warrant of Law than the rest because there hath a judgement past for it yet in truth it is thereby aggravated if it be considered that Aggravated not supported by the Iudgement Which is not grounded upon any law custom president or authorâ—ty of law bookes that
particular relation And as if this were not enough this Court haâ—h lately intermedled with the Ship money diverse Sheriffes have beene questioned for not levying and collecting such sums as their Coâ—nties have beene charged with and if this beginning be not prevented the Star-Chamber will become a Court of Revenue and it shall be made crime not to collect or pay such taxes as To the recovery of ship money the State shall require The Eleventh He said he was gone very high yet hee must The Kings edicts and Proclamations goe a little higher that great and most eminent power of the King of making Edicts and Proclamations which are said to bee Leges Temporis with whom our Princes have used to encounter with sudden and unexpected danger as would not indure so much delay as assembling the great Councell of the Kingdome This which is one of the most Glorious beames of Majestie rigorous in commanding Reverence and subjection to our unspeakeable griefe hath been often exercised for the enjoyning and maintaining For the erecting of Monopolies sundry Monopolies and other grants exceeding burdensome and prejudiciall to the people The Twelfth Although hee was come as high as he could upon The word and truth of God on earth yet the presumption of evill men did leade him one step higher even as high as Heaven as high as the Throne of God It was now hee said growne common for ambitious and corrupt men of the Clergie to abuse the truth of God and the bond of Conscience preaching downe the Lawes and liberties of the kingdome pretending Divine authority for an absolute power in the King to doe what he would with our persons and goods this hath Pretended for the absolute power of Kings been often published in Sermons and Printed books and is now the high way to preferment The last Parliament we had a sentence for an offence of this kinde against one Mannering then a Doctor now a Bishop concerning whom hee said hee would say no more but this that when he saw him at his Barre in the most humble dejected posture The offence of D. Mannering that ever hee observed hee thought hee would not so soone have leapt into a Bishops Chaire but his successe hath emboldened others therefore hee said this may well bee noted as a double Now practised by others To the great hurt and grievance of the people grievance that such doctrine should bee allowed that such men should be preferred yea as a roote of grievances whereby they indeavour to corrupt the Kings Conscience and as much as in them lyes to deprive the people of that Royall protection to which his Majestie is bound by the fundamentall Lawes of the Kingdom and his own personall Oath The thirteenth The long intermission of the Parliaments contrary The Intermission of Parliaments to the two statutes yet in force whereby it is appointed there should bee Parliaments once a yeare at the least and most contrary to the publike good of the Kingdome for this being well remedied would produce remedies for all the rest Having put through the severall heads of grievances hee came The subjects grievances hurtfull to the King to the second maine branch propounded in the beginning That the disorders from whence these grievances issued were as hurtfull to the King as to the people of which hee gave diverse reasons 1 The interruption of the sweet communion which ought to B. interrupt their communion bee betwixt the King and His People in matters of grace and supply They have need of him by His generall pardon to bee secured from projectors and informers to bee freed from obsolete Lawes from the subtle devices of such as seeke to restraine the Prerogative to their own private advantage and the publike hurt and he hath need of them for counsell and support in great and extraordinary occasions This mutuall entercourse would so weane the affections and interests of His Subjects into his actions and designes that their wealth and their persons would bee his his owne estate would bee managed to most advantage and publike undertakings would bee prosecuted at the charge and adventure of the Subject The Victorious attempts in Queene ELIZABETHS time upon Portugall Spaine and the Indies were for the greatest part made upon the poore Subjects purses and not upon the Queenes though the Honour and profit of the successe did most accrew to her 2 Those often breaches and discontentments betwixt the King By domestical breaches discontents and the people are very apt to diminish his reputation abroad and disadvantage his treaties and alliances 3 The apprehension of the favour and incouragement given to By weakning his partie abroad Popery hath much weakned his Majesties party beyond the Sea and impared that advantage which Queen Elizabeth and His Royall Father hath heretofore made of being heaâ—s of the Protestant union 4 The innovations in Religion and rigour of Ecclesiasticall Courts have forced a great many of his Majesties Subjects to forsake By forcing his subjects to leave the kingdome the Land whereby not only their persons and their posterity but their wealth and their industry are lost to this Kingdome much to the demolishing of His Majesties Customes and Subsidies Amoâ—gst other inconveniences this was especially to bee observed that diverse Clothiers driven out of the Countrey had set up the manufacture of Cloth beyond the Seas whereby this State is like to suffer much by abatement of the price of Woolls and by want of imployment for the poore both which likewise tend to his Majesties particular losse 5 It puts the King upon unproper wayes of supply which being By unproper wayes of supply not warranted by Law are much more burdensome to the subject than advantagious to hâ—s Majesty In France not long since upon a survey of the Kings Revenue it was found that two parts in three never came to the Kings purse but were diverted to the profit of the officers or Ministers of the Crowne and it was thought a very good service and reformation to reduce two parts to the King leaving still a third part to the Instruments as were imployed about getting it iâ— It may well be doubted that the King may have the like or worse successe in England which appeares already in some particulars The King hath reserved upon this Monopoly of Wines 30 thousand Pound Rent a yeere the Vintner pales 40. Shillings a Tun which comes to Ninty thousand pounds the price upon the Subject by retaile is increased Two pence a Quart which comes to Eight pound a Tunne and for 45000. Tunne brought in yeerely amounts to 3. hundred 60. thousand pounds which is 3. hundred and 30. thousand pounds losse to the Kingdome above the Kings Rent other Monopolies as that of Soape have been very chargeable to the kingdome and brought very little Treasure into his Majesties Coffers The Law provides for that revenue of the Crowne which is