periclitation necessitates an early resolution In sum three of the best Rhetoricians Honour Opportunity and Safety are all of a plot and plead you see for expedition Perhaps it may be expected I should say something in way of Account of my Religion as also of the Temper and Tenure of my future Government But as I hope I have not been guilty of any thing which may justly start the least question in either so I would desire you to repose in this assurance That I will in neither vary from those principles wherein I have been instituted at the feet of that Eminent Gamaliel my late Father The Speech being ended the King Vailed his Crown a thing rare in any of his Predecessors Though denied it could not be but this Speech was elemented of very rational materials and ponderous arguments yet it did not cause such a precipitation of resolution but that the Parliament did descend to the consideration thereof by degrees That which retarded the Debate was this They had in store by them two Petitions one for Religion the other against Grievances to which having been moulded in King James his time and preferr'd to him at the close of the last Sessions of the last Parliament they as yet never received answer They said it was the ancient and as they conceived a most prudential practice to present Petitions at the Commencement of Parliaments or so long before their Dissolutions as the King might have time to return a deliberate Answer That the same course they were resolved strictly to pursue and give priority of dispatch to those Petitions before any other business whatsoever which accordingly they did To the several Heads against Grievances His Majesty gave a distinct and satisfactory answer and promised largely upon the Petition for Religion and the better to draw on Supplies he did audit unto them the several Disbursements both relating to the Army and Navy that so all jealousies of mis-employment might be removed which produced so good effects as that the Laity gave him freely and without condition two Subsidies from Protestants and four from Papists as a mulct from the House upon their Recusancy and the Clergy three This was upon July the 8th and the next day the King signified That he took notice of the slender appearance in the House by reason of contagion and that therefore having a tender regard to their healths he declared his intention of Adjournig them upon Monday next being the 11th of that Month which accordingly was performed to the 1st of August and Oxford named for the place which gave disgust to some Members of the House In this Sessions of Parliament was Mr. Montague questioned for Publishing certain Books prejudicial to the Protestant Cause for which he was ordered to be brought to the Bar to whom the Speaker declared the pleasure of the House That they would refer his Censure to the next Meeting and in the interim in respect of his notorious contempt he should stand committed to the Serjeants Ward entring Bail for his then appearance But Mr. Mountague had by the cunning artifice of his Court-friends crept into the Kings service undiscern'd and the King signified to the Parliament two days after That he thought his Servants whereof Mountague was one might have as much Protection as the Servant of an ordinary Burgess nevertheless his Bond of 2000 l. whereupon he was Bailed continued uncancell'd August the 1st the Parliament met again at Oxford the Divinity-School was appointed for the House of Commons and the Galleries above for the House of Lords The 4th of the same Month both Houses were called together to Christ-Church-Hall by the King where he laid open unto them his wants for setting forth the Fleet but the Parliament before they would return any Answer presented him with a Petition against Recusants to this effect Most Gracious Soveraign IT being infallibly true that nothing can more establish your Throne and assure the peace and prosperity of your People than the unity and sincerity of Religion We your Majesties most humble and loyal Subjects and Commons in this present Parliament assembled observing that of late there is an apparent mischievovs increase of Papists within your Dominions hold our selves bound in conscience and duty to present the same unto your Sacred Majesty together with the dangerous consequences and what we conceive to be the most principal causes and what may be the remedies thereof 1. Their desperate ends being the Subversion both of Church and State and the restlesness of their spirits to attain those ends the Doctrines of their Teachers and Leaders perswading them that therein they shall do God good service 2. Their evident and strict dependance upon such Foreign Princes as no way affect the good of your Majesty and State 3. An opening a way of Popularity to the ambition of any who shall adventure to make himself Head of so great a party The principal causes of the increase of Papists in those times and the remedies proposed by the Parliament I shall refer you to the Book it self for your farther satisfaction To all the several branches thereof the King August the 7th gave such a plausible and satisfactory answer as nothing could be desired more One good turn requires another And as the King had given the Parliament ample content by this Answer so he hoped they would be as cheerful in supplying him with Moneys for which he earnestly importun'd them and more especially for his great Naval preparation whereupon ensued a great Debate in the House some were very prompt to give without delay some would give but in convenient time but not then others would give but they complained that the design was managed by young and single Councel that Sir Robert Mansell a man of singular judgment and experience had declared against the Plot and had tender'd to the Council of War a project of much greater advantage and less expence which was approved by the Lord of Chichester to the which the Solicitor replied in the Dukes behalf That the Council of War for the generality much disliked the project of Sir Robert and concluded upon what was then intended but the greater part agreed not to give and to make an humble Remonstrance declaring the Causes and Reasons of their not giving Most of the Voters of this Remonstrance flew high and impetuously prest in upon the Duke some would divest him of his Offices the Admiralty especially others of his Revenue by resuming what he possest of the Crown-demeans others demanded an account of what publick Moneys he had been entrusted with This being signified to the King he soon prognosticated of what quality the Remonstrance would prove therefore immediately in distaste he determined to Dissolve the Parliament The House of Commons were Resolved into a Grand Committee when the Usher came from the Lords House with that Message and before they would permit the Solicitor then in the Chair to leave his seat they agreed upon a
one word I am commanded by the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons House to present unto your Lordships their most affectionate Thanks for your ready condescending to this Conference which out of confidence in your great Wisdoms and approved Justice for the service of his Majesty and the welfare of this Realm they desired upon this occasion The House of Commons by a fatal and universal concurrence of Complaints from all the Seabordering parts of this Kingdom did find a great and grievous interruption and stop of Trade and Traffick The base Pirates of Sally ignominiously infesting our Coasts taking our Ships and Goods and leading away the Subjects of this Kingdom into Barbarous Captivity while to our shame and hinderance of Commerce our Enemies did as it were Besiege our Ports and Block up our best Rivers Mouths our Friends on slight pretences made Embargoes of our Merchants Goods and every Nation upon the least occasion was ready to contemn and slight us So great was the apparent diminution of the ancient Honour of this Crown and once strong reputation of our Nation wherewith the Commons were more troubled calling to remembrance how formerly in France in Spain in Holland and everywhere by Sea and Land the Valours of this Kingdom had been better valued and even in latter times within remembrance when we had no Alliance with France none in Denmark none in Germany no Friend in Italy in Scotland to say no more united Ireland not setled in peace and much less security at home when Spain was as ambitious as it is now under a King Philip the Second they called their Wisest the House of Austria as great and Potent and both strengthned with a Malicious League in France of persons ill-affected when the Low-Countries had no being yet by constant Councels and Old English ways even then that Spanish pride was cool'd that greatness of the House of Austria so formidable to us now was well resisted and to the United Provinces of the Low-Countries such a beginning growth and strength was given as gave us Honour over all the Christian World The Commons therefore wondring at the evils which they suffered debating of the causes of them found they were many drawn like one Line to one Circumference of Decay of Trade and Strength of Honour and Reputation in this Kingdom which as in one Centre met in one great man the cause of all whom I am here to name the Duke of Buckingham Here Sir Dudley Diggs made a stand as wondring to see the Duke present yet he took the Roll and read the Preamble to the Charge with the Duke's Titles which I shall here for the Readers Satisfaction insert and so proceed For the speedy Redress of the great evils and mischiefs The Preamble to the Impeachment against the Duke of Buckingham and of the chief causes of those evils and mischiefs which this Kingdom of England now grievously suffereth and of late years hath suffered and to the honour and safety of our Soveraign Lord the King and of his Crown and Dignities and to the good and welfare of his People The Commons in this present Parliament by the Authority of our Soveraign Lord the King assembled do by this their Bill shew and declare against George Duke Marquess and Earl of Buckingham Earl of Coventry Viscount Villers Baron of Whaddon Great Admiral of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland and of the Principality of Wales and of the Dominions and Islands of the same of the Town of Calais and of the Marches of the same and of Normandy Gascoin and Guyen General Governor of the Seas and Ships of the said Kingdoms Lieutenant-General Admiral Captain-General and Governor of his Majesties Royal Fleet and Armado lately set forth Master of the Horse of our Soveraign Lord the King Lord Warden Chancellor and Admiral of the Cinque-Ports and of the Members thereof Constable of Dover-Castle Justice in Eyre of all Forests and Chases on this side of the River of Trent Constable of the Castle of Windsor Lieutenant of Middlesex and Buckinghamshire Steward and Bayliff of Westminster Gentleman of his Majesties Bed-Chamber and one of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Council in his Realms both of England Scotland and Ireland and Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter The Misdemeanors Misprisions Offences Crimes and other matters comprized in the Articles following And him the said Duke do Accuse and Impeach of the said Misdemeanors Misprisions Offences and Crimes And now my Lords This lofty Title of this mighty man methinks doth raise my Spirits to speak with a Paulo majora canamus and let it not displease your Lordships if for Foundation I compare the beautiful Structure and fair Composition of this Monarchy wherein we live to the great work of God viz. the World it self in which the solid Body of incorporated Earth and Sea as I conceive in regard of our Husbandry Manufactures and Commerce by Land and Sea may well resemble us the Commons and as it is encompassed with Air and Fire and Spheres Celestial of Planets and a Firmament of fixed Stars all which receive their heat light and life from one great glorious Sun even like the King our Soveraign so that Firmament of fixed Stars I take to be your Lordships those Planets the great Officers of the Kingdom that pure Element of Fire the most Religious Zealous and Pious Clergy and the Reverend Judges Magistrates and Ministers of Law and Justice the Air wherein we breathe all which encompast round with cherishing comfort this Body of the Commons who truly labour for them all and though they be the Footstool and the lowest yet may well be said to be the setled Centre of the State Now my Lords if that glorious Sun by his powerful Beams of Grace and Favour shall draw from the bowels of this Earth an Exhalation that shall fire and burn and shine out like a Star it needs not be marvell'd at if the poor Commons gaze and wonder at the Comet when they feel the effects and impute all to the corruptible matter thereof But if such an imperfect Meteor appear like that in the last Age in the Chair of Casiopea among the fixed Stars themselves where Aristotle and the old Philosophers conceived there was no place for such corruption The Meteor in 1680. is worth your observation upon this very account then as the learned Mathematicians were troubled to observe the irregular motions the prodigious magnitude and the ominous Prognosticks of that Meteor so the Commons when they see such a Blazing-Star in course so exorbitant in the affairs of this Common-wealth cannot but look up upon it and for want of Perspectives commend the nearer examination to your Lordships who may behold it at a better distance Such a prodigious Comet the Commons take this Duke of Buckingham to be And so the Commons do the Duke of York now cum multis aliis c. Anno Domini 1680 and 1681. and
agreed to give him five Subsidies whereof Secretary Coke was the first Evangelist and Porter of that good news to the King who received it with wondrous joy and asked the Secretary by how many Voices it was carried Sir John replyed but by one At which perceiving the Kings countenance to change Sir said he your Majesty hath the greater cause to rejoyce for the House was so unanimous therein as that they made but one voice whereupon the King wept and bad the Secretary tell them He would deny them nothing of their Liberties which any of his Predecessors had granted The stream of affairs running thus smoothly The Subjects Libetty under debate without the least wrinkle of discontent on either side the House of Commons first insisted upon the Personal Freedom of the People and resolved for Law That no Freeman ought to be imprisoned either by the King or Council without a legal Cause alledged This opinion of the House was reported to the Lords at a Conference by Sir Edward Coke Sir Dudley Diggs Mr. Selden and Mr. Littleton Sir Dudley Diggs citing Acts 25. vers 27. It seemeth an unreasonable thing to send a Prisoner and not withal to signifie the Crimes laid against him This business stuck very much in the Lords House The Lords nice in the business who were willing that the Nails should be pared not the hands tyed of the Prerogative several and great Debates there were about it The Attorney pleading eagerly though impertinently for the King and the ancient Records were so direct for the People and so strongly enforced as the Attorney had no more to say but only I refer my self to the Judgment of the Lords and when these Lords were to give Judgment concerning it the Ducal or Royal party for they were both one were so prevalent as they who leaned the other way durst not abide the Tryal by Vote but calling the Lord-Keeper down moulded the House into a Committee until the Lord Say made a motion That they who stood for the Liberties being effective about fifty might make their Protestation and that to be upon Record And that the other opposite party should also with Subscriptions of their Names enter their Reasons to remain also upon Record that so Posterity might not be to seek who they were who so ignobly betrayed the Freedom of our Nation and that this done they should proceed to a Vote At which the Court-party were so daunted as that they durst not mutter one syllable against it Personal Liberty being thus setled next they fall upon Liberty of Goods the unbilleting of Soldiers and nulling of Martial-Law in times of Peace and finding Magna Charta and six other Statutes explanatory of it to be expresly on their side they Petitioned the King to grant them the benefit of them whereupon he declared Himself by the Lord-Keeper unto them in his Verbis That He did hold the Statutes of Magna Charta and the six other insisted upon for the Subjects Liberty to be all in force and assured them that he would maintain all his Subjects in the just freedom of their Persons and safety of Estates and that he would govern according to the Laws and Statutes of the Realm and that his People should find as much security in his Royal Word and Promise as in any Laws they could make so that hereafter they should have no cause to complain and therefore he desired no doubt nor distrust might possess any man but that they would proceed speedily and unanimously on with their business This Message begat a new Question Whether or no his Majesty should be trusted upon his Royal Word Some thought it needless because of his Coronation-Oath binding him to maintain the Laws of the Land That Oath was as strong as any Royal Word could be Others were of opinion That should it be put to Vote and carried in the Negative it would be infinitely dishonourable unto him in Foreign parts who would be ready to say The People of England would not trust their King upon his Royal Promise At length in the height of this Dispute stands up Sir Edward Coke and thus informed the House We sit now in Parliament and therefore must take his Majesties Word no otherwise than in a Parliamentary-way that is The King sitting on his Throne in his Royal Robes his Crown on his Head his Scepter in his Hand in full Parliament both Houses being present all these Circumstances observed and his Assent being entred upon a Record make his Royal Word the Word of a King in Parliament and not a word delivered in a Chamber or at second hand by the mouth of a Secretary or Lord-Keeper therefore his Motion was That the House should More Majorum according to the custom of their Predecessors draw a Petition De Droict of Right to His Majesty which being confirmed by both Houses and assented unto by the King would be as firm an Act as any This Judgment of so great a Father in the Law The Petition of Right presented by this Parliament at this time ruled all the House and accordingly a Petition was framed and at a Conference presented unto the Lords the substance whereof after the recital of several Statutes relating to the Priviledge of the Subject was reduced to four Heads The Petition being presented to his Majesty after two several Answers thereunto which did not please the Parliament he did the third time give them this Answer the Petition being read thereunto Le droict soit faict comme il est desire This I am sure is full yet no more than I granted you in my first Answer you see now how ready I have shewed my self to satisfie your Demands so that I have done my part wherefore if this Parliament have not an happy conclusion the sin is yours I am free The King having ended the Houses testified their joy with a mighty shout and presently the Bells rung and Bonefires were kindled all the City over Nor was the true cause so distinctly known for many apprehended at first that the King had delivered the Duke up to them to be sent to the Tower on which misprision some said the Scaffold on Tower-hill was instantly pulled down the People said his Grace should have a new one It is said that the House of Lords made Suit to the King upon this happy accord That he would be pleased to receive into Grace those Lords who were in former disfavour which he readily yielded unto And admitted the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Bishop of Lincoln the Earls of Essex Warwick Bristol and the Lord Say to kiss his hand The Petition thus granted the Commissions of Loan and Excise were instantly out-lawed and at the entreaty of the House of Peers cancell'd in the Kings presence Having thus secured the faults they removed the faulty and resolved upon a large Remonstrance to the King ripping up the Grievances themselves and the Authors of them This Remonstrance consisted of six Branches
Protestation which Mr. Glanvill stood up and declared to this effect First To give his Majesty Thanks for his Gracious Answer to our Petition for Religion Next For his care of our health in giving us leave to depart this dangerous time Lastly A dutiful Declaration of our affections and loyalty and purpose to supply his Majesty in a Parliamentary-way in a fitting and convenient time This being done the Speaker took the Chair and admitting the Usher he declared his Message from the Lords concerning the Dissolution of the Parliament Now had the King an opportunity for his Summers past-time but that his own progress might not impede that of his affairs his Council were commanded to go along with him By whose general advice two things were most considerably resolved upon First That the Fleet should speedily be put to Sea Secondly That a more strict Amity should be enter'd into with the States of the United Provinces Several were the Descants of such as pretended to judicious censure as fancy and affection swayed the ballance some blamed the Parliament for not supplying the Kings necessities whereby the Fleet put forth too late some reflected finisterly upon the Duke saying It never was nor never will be well with England while the Sea is under the Command of an Admiral so young and withal so unexperienc'd others also made deduction from this miscarriage of Gades Voyage in reference to the King that because Commencements do often forespeak the qualification of future contingencies in the series and row of succeeding affairs they much feared this was but the earnest of some inauspiciousness which would attend the residue of his Reign Nor among the rest was Captain Brett's conjecture vain who told the Duke That the Fleet was never like to speed better wherein there went a long Bag without Money Cook without Meat and Love without Charity for so were the three Captains named and a great default there was doubtless of sufficient pay of wholesome meat and unanimity The Michaelmas-Term was by reason of the infection at London translated to Reading from whence the King according to late Answer in Parliament issued out in November a Commission to the Judges to see the Laws against Recusants put in Execution This Commission was read in all the Courts of Judicature at Reading and withal a Letter was directed to the Archbishop of Canterbury enjoyning him to take special care within his Province for the discovery of Jesuits Seminary-Priests and other Recusants offenders against the Laws It was in truth high time for severe Proceedings against them they having contracted so much insolence and presuming upon protection by reason of the late Match that at Winchester and many other places they frequently passed through the Churches in time of Divine Service hooting and hallowing not only to the disturbance of that duty but to the scorn of our Religion yea and one Popish Lord when the King was at Chappel was heard to prate on purpose louder in a Gallery adjoyning than the Chaplain prayed whereat the King was so moved that he sent this Message too him viz. Either let him come and do as we do or else I will make him prate farther off On February the 2d this year Anno Domini 1625 the King was Crowned at Westminster with the usual though I cannot say Magnificent Ceremonies and Solemnities The Coronation being past the King prepareth for a Parliament now approaching the last he thought was somewhat uncivil towards the Duke and the Delinquents as he thought must be made examples Upon this account the Lord-Keeper Williams soon after the Dissolution of the late Parliament fell and his place was disposed of to Sir Thomas Coventry c. On the 16th of this February the Parliament met the Commons began their work where they last broke off at Oxford making Religion their first and which was their superlative care recollecting what a full and satisfactory Answer the King gave to their Petition against Recusants and his Commission issued out in pursuance of that Answer appointed a Committee for Religion impowring them most strictly to examine what abuses of his Majesties Grace had occurred since that time and who were the Authors and Abettors of the same The House of Commons being in expectation of some Discovery from their Committee at length Mr. Prin made a report of a Letter written to the Lord Mayor of York for reprieving some Jesuits Priests and other Recusants This Letter being under the Signet a sub-Committee was ordered to search the Signet-Office and compare it with the Original These Proceedings inwardly much displeased the King yet he smothered the indignity for a time though he did after intimate the same unto them among his other regrets And plying his more important affairs with a most steady temper he sent a Message unto them by Sir Richard Weston to this effect viz. That his Fleet is returned and their Victuals spent the Men must of necessity be discharged and their wages paid them or else mutiny will follow which may be of dangerous consequence That he hath in readiness about 40 Ships to be set forth upon a second service which want a present supply of moneys That the Armies quartered on the Coasts want Victuals and Cloaths and they will Disband if not furnished The Companies of Ireland lately sent must speedily be provided for else they may be subject to rebel Lastly The season for providing healthful provision will be past if this Month of March be suffered through negligence to elapse And therefore he desired to know without more ado what present supplies he must depend upon from them that so accordingly he might shape his course Instead of a supply to his Message Mr. Clement Coke Son to Sir Edward Coke a Member of the House of Commons let fly this reply It is better to dye by a Foreign Enemy than to be destroyed at home and as if the Prerogative had not been sufficiently alarm'd by that expression one Turner a Doctor of Physick re-assaults it in these six Queries 1. Whether the King hath not lost the Regality of the Narrow Seas since the Duke became Admiral 2. Whether his going in the last Fleet as Admiral was not the cause of ill success 3. Whether the Kings Revenue hath not been impaired through his immense liberality 4. Whether he hath not ingrossed all Offices and preferred his kindred to unfit places 5. Whether he hath not made sale of places of Judicature 6. Whether Recusants have not dependance upon his Mother and Father-in-law This was uncouth language to a Princes Ear but who can expect that in so vast a Body and Mass of men all parcels should take salt alike and that no part should have rancidity in it Yet perhaps this clamour and noise might be the rudeness of some few newly admitted into that great School of Wisdom the greater part continuing it's possible sincere and loyal therefore the King sends Sir Richard Weston to them requiring satisfaction But the
Knife which was a Tenpenny Coutel in his Body Some now thought that though his Majesty disliked the mode of this great mans dispatch yet with the thing he was well enough satisfied as if Providence had thereby rid him of the Subject of his so great perplexity whom he could not preserve with safety nor desert with honour but such as these were soon convinced of their error when they observed how his Majesty did treat his relations with so intense respect But whatever satisfaction the King received thereby certain it is the Common man was well enough pleased thereat For though Christianity and the Law found the Act Murder yet in vulgar sense it rather past for an Executioner of a Malefactor and an Administration of that Justice dispenced from Heaven which they thought was denied on Earth And because all those storms or publick miscarriages generated in the lower Region of the Parliament had of late been terminated in him as their grand efficient every man would now be wise and forespeak fair weather and a sweet harmony between the King and his Subjects but how truly a few Months will discover November the 29th Felton having been arraigned and found guilty at the Kings-Bench-Bar suffered at Tyburn His Confession was as sincere and full of remorse as could be wished the fact he much detested and renounced his former error in conceiving it would be for his glory to sacrifice himself for his Countreys good And whereas other Motives were suggested by report he protested upon his Salvation that he had no other inducement thereunto than the Parliaments Remonstrance His body was from thence transmitted to Portsmouth and there hung in Chains January the 26th The Parliament meet 1628 the Parliament meet again who soon found they were like to have work enough for Complaints came thronging in especially against the Customers for taking and distraining Merchants Goods for Tonnage and Poundage which the King taking notice of called them to the Banqueting-house and told them viz. That the occasion of that Meeting was a complaint made in the lower House for staying of some mens Goods for denying Tonnage and Poundage which difference might be soon decided were his words and actions rightly understood For if he did not take those Duties as an Appendix of his Hereditary Prerogative and had declared he challeng'd them not of right and only desired to enjoy them by the gift of his People Why did they not pass the Bill as they promised to him to clear his by-past actions and future proceedings especially in this his time of so great necessity Therefore he did now expect they should make good what they promised and put an end to all questions emergent from their delay The House of Commons said That Religion is above Policy God above the King and that they intend to reform Religion before they engage in any other consideration Nor was it agreeable to the Liberty of Consultation to have their Transactions proscribed so that they would at present lay aside the Bill of Tonnage and Poundage till they thought convenient and they were as good as their words For the first thing they resolved upon was the appointment of Committees which the Courtiers called an Inquisition one for Religion another for Civil Affairs and these to represent the abuses in both The Abuses then in the Church and likewise in the State as represented to the Commons by their Committees you may read at large Page 97 98 99 100 101. in the said Narrative But the distempers continued so long and with so quick and high a pulse as the King having every day notice of them He forthwith sent for the Serjeant of the Mace but the House would not permit him to depart but taking the key of the door from him gave it to Sir Miles Hobart a Member of the House to keep The King deeply incensed at these Exceedings of contempt sent Maxwell Usher of the Black Rod to Dissolve the Parliament but neither he nor his Message would be admitted Whereupon the King much enraged sent for the Captain of the Pensioners and the Guard to force an entrance But this passion that shut out the King yet let so much reason in as perswaded them it was good sleeping in a whole skin and understanding the Kings intentions they suddenly voided the House Soon after this the King came that very morning into the House of Lords and making a short though smart Speech unto them Commanded the Lord-Keeper to Dissolve that Parliament The King having thus Dissolved this Parliament The King sends forth a Declaration or rather broke up School those whom he now called Vipers had not in the House of Commons spit up all their Malignity but reserv'd some to disperse and dispose of in the Country whereby an ill odour might be cast upon his Government and the hearts of his People alienated from him As an antidote therefore against that poyson and to anticipate all misunderstanding he speedeth out a Declaration setting forth to all his Subjects the Motives perswading him to Dissolve the Parliament and a breviate of all the Transactions in this and the former Session withal minding them in the close of all that the Duke of Buckingham was decried while he lived as the solitary cause of all bad events in former Parliaments that he is dead and yet the Distempers not in the least abated which he takes as an argument that they were mistaken in the cause and that it was rather resident in some few Members of Parliament The King having as he hoped disabused his Subjects by his late Declaration next intended to proceed severely against those who had offended him and whose punishment he said he reserved to a due time upon this account the 18th of this Month he sent for Ten of the late Members to appear at the Council-Table viz. Mr. Hollis Mr. Selden Sir Miles Hobart Sir John Elliot Sir Peter Hayman Mr. Stroud Mr. Coriton Mr. Valentine Mr. Long Mr. Kirton These appearing Mr. Hollis was interrogated Wherefore contrary to his former use he did the morning the Parliament was Dissolved place himself by the Chair above divers of the Privy-Councellors He answered That he had some other times as well as then seated himself in that place and as for his sitting above the Privy-Councellors he took it to be his due in any place whatsoever unless at the Council-Board and for his part he came into the House with as much zeal for his Majesties Service as any one whatsoever and yet nevertheless finding his Majesty was offended with him he humbly desired that he might rather be the subject of his mercy than of his power To the which the Lord Treasurer answered You mean rather of his Majesties Mercy than of his Justice Mr. Hollis replyed I say of his Majesties Power my Lord. Sir John Elliot was next called in who was questioned for words he spake in the lower House of Parliament and for producing the late Remonstrance
The King's Answer BEfore the receipt of your Petition His Majesty well foresaw the danger that threatens himself and Crown and therefore resolved the 24th of this Instant to Summon all the Peers and with them to Consult what in this Case is fittest to be done for his own honour and fafety of the Kingdom where they with the rest may offer any thing that may conduce to those ends According to this Resolution the Lord-Keeper had Directions from the King to issue out Writs of Summons for their appearing at York on the day prefixt which he punctually pursued Soon after the presenting of this Petition from the Lords came another from the Scots the substance whereof was a Desire That His Majesty would call a Parliament for setling a firm peace between the two Nations To this Petition the King replyed with signification of what he had ordered before in reference to himself and to the welfare of both Kingdoms And the Truth of it is it was high time for an Accommodation to be effected for Lesley now began to rant it in New-Castle and the parts adjacent as Brennus did at Rome with a Vae Victis He imposed a Tax of 350 pounds per diem upon the Bishoprick of Durham and 300 pounds upon Northumberland upon pain of Plundering and yet permitted Souldiers to rifle Houses break open Shops and act what insolencies they pleased seized upon four great English Ships laden with Corn as lawful prize they not knowing in whose possession the Town was till they enter'd the Haven The first day of the Lords Assembling at York it was resolved that a Parliament should be Summoned to convene at Westminster November the Third Then a Message was sent to the Scots desiring a speedy Treaty at York The Scots replied They held that no place of security for their Commissioners considering that the Lieutenant of Ireland who commanded His Majesties Army was one who had proclaimed them Traytors in Ireland before the King had done the same in England and who had threatned to destroy their Nation both Root and Branch and against whom as a chief Incendiary of the late Troubles they intended to complain whereupon it was concluded that the Treaty should be held at Rippon which accordingly took place The Parliament now approaching whose Convening was attended by this Kingdom with so much longing such impatience of desires as every moment which retarded it was interpreted as a kind of Grievance to the Subject for we began now to think that nothing could make us a happy People but a Parliament and that no Parliament could make us miserable This was the Sence of the greater part of this Nation and if this Parliament succeeded not adequate to some Mens Vote perhaps the miscarriage of their hopes may be somewhat imputed to this Sence Over-ruling Providence delights oft to order the Operations of free and natural Agents counter to Mans Expectations to teach us the vanity of that Faith which is founded upon Causes subaltern And oh that I could here but express to the life the high Expectations of the People from this Parliament which came with such a terrible swing after so long an Interval and so many Dissolutions that put the whole Nation into such a Consternation as I presume the like President cannot be produced out of the Records of Antiquity since William the Conqueror did first invade our English Territories But however Courteous Readers for your present Divertisement I will here make a small Attempt to express the present Thoughts and Expectations of that Parliament which in process of time brake forth into a Civil War and I pray God I may never live to see the like again the which I shall represent under the Emblem of a new tight and well-built Ship which upon the Launching was named The Bon Resolution although some would have it called The House of Commons others The Three Estates and others The Swiftsure and was immediately employ'd in His Majesties Service but being for some time wind-bound within the Harbor viz. about 12 days the Captain of the said Ship coming early out of his Cabin one morning and finding the Wind tackt about and blowing fair for his intended Voyage being upon the Quarter-Deck he knocks up his Seamen and salutes them after this manner viz. ARise you Mortals from your Dens of Sleep Neptune now calls to launch into the Deep The Wind blows fair it 's lately turn'd South-west And we must Sail directly to the East For Pearls and Diamonds Jewels of great Rate Which in the Acquest sometimes a broken Pate Hath been our Lot yet still we venture must You know our Shipwrights wherein so great a Trust Is now repos'd in us comes from Whitehall Our late Commission whence we may learn All Which way to steer our course and will direct Whom we must crush and whom we must protect In this our Voyage 'T is the Common-weal Of these Three Kingdoms That a Roaring Peal Of Small and Great Shot now aloud must Ring From this our Vessel To preserve the King In all His Legal Rights But to advance Against all those who have lead up a Dance As will in time if Heavens do not prevent Destroy both King and all the Parliament And in their stead set up a Scarlet Whore Of whose sweet Nature we have long before Known by Experience and now for to be cheated By their Sham-Plots again and to be defeated Huzza Brave Lads This thing shall never be We 'll rather chuse upon a Triple Tree To take our chance and now Heavens crown the Event And bless our Vessel and our good Intent Heavens bless us from the Sally Men of War Heavens bless us likewise that we do not jar Among our selves If such a thing should be And that our Seamen now should disagree And fight for Thimbles Bodkins and Gu-gaws Instead of fighting for the Good Old Cause Of Liberty and Property Oh! this Evil Would make us Zealots for the Pope and Devil More than for Christs true Church which now doth stand In danger much if these should have Command Within our British Isle which to prevent God bless our King and His next Parliament Which now approacheth whom we must defend And so our Ship the Lord Almighty send Into safe Harbor when that we shall bring Peace to the Church and Honor to the King And when our Pearls and Diamonds shall arrive We 'll fix them fast upon King CHARLES his Hive His Crown shall glister like the Rising Sun Courage Brave Boys Our Wars shall then be done When we shall see those Fellows sent from hence With all their Tories to that place from whence They first did rise which was from that Grand Syre Who claims the Patent to be the great Lyar And Forger of all Mischiefs both in Church and State But will at length get such a Broken Pate As will confound him and his Holy Church When as Old Nick shall leave him in the Lurch To him I 'll
House was flower in the work than was agreeable to his Majesties mind so intent upon some severe Proceedings against them Upon this he called the Lords and them together and by the Lord-Keeper his proper Speaker thus conveys his displeasure to them which being somewhat long and afterwards the Kings Speech also to them I shall refer you to the Book it self Page 24 25 26. The Commons nothing moved with those tart and vinacre expressions kept close to their proper stations and by way of Remonstrance replied the which you may peruse Page the 27th of the same Author To the Remonstrance the King answered briefly That he would have them in the first place consult about matters of the greatest importance and that they should have time enough for other things afterwards But the Parliament accounted nothing of so great importance as a vigorous proceeding against the Duke In order to which all encouragement is given by both Houses to any who would inform against him The Earl of Bristol vigilantly listned for this call and presently Petitioning the House he might be admitted to prefer an Accusation against him His request is readily granted The Duke alarm'd with this Petition Plots amain and high time either to divert or encounter him He perswades the King to send the Earl a Premonitary-Letter framed as a Memorial minding him of all the miscarriages relating to the Spanish Treaty and a Breviate of what became of his future charge and demanding withal his positive Answer Whether he would sit still from being questioned for any Errors past in his Spanish Negotiations and enjoy the benefit of the Pardon granted by the late Parliament or waving the advantage thereof put himself upon a Legal Tryal To this the Earl answered That it became him not as a Subject to urge a Tryal against himself but if His Majesty should call him to it he would willingly submit being confident his innocence would mediate for his future favour As for the Pardon he would not disclaim it though he was confident he should not need it for any Crime of Disloyalty to His Majesty or Treason against the State The King perceiving by this Reply the Earl resolved to persist commanded the Attorney-General to Summon the Earl to the Lords Bar as a Delinquent May the 1st Bristol appearing the Attorney told the Peers That he came thither to accuse the Earl of High-Treason with that the Earl said My Lords I am a Freeman and a Peer of the Realm unattainted I have somewhat to say of high consequence for his Majesties Service I beseech your Lordships give me leave to speak The Lords bidding him go on Then said he I accuse that Man the Duke of Buckingham of High-Treason the Articles of his Charge you may read Page 28. ut supra When the Earl had ended his Charge up starts no upstart Lord the Lord Spencer Is this all said he you have to say against the Duke The Earl replied Yes my Lord and I am sorry it is so much Then quoth the Lord Spencer if this be all Ridiculus Mus and so sat down again Upon this a Crotchet took the Lord Cromwell in the Crown and out he goes to Mr. Richard Spencer a younger Son of that Lord and a great Zealot in the lower House against the Duke Dick said he what is done in your House to day against the Duke My Lord said he he is charged with no less than High-Treason Tush Dick quoth the Lord High-Treason if this be all Ridiculus Mus. This high and daring challenging by the Earl prompted the Attorney to speed his Accusation against him which having Modell'd into Eleven Articles he brought in the next day Vide page 28. ut supra The Commons having presented their Accusation presently after sent a Message to the Lords desiring that the Duke might be Committed declaring that it did mis-beseem their House to permit a man so deeply Impeacht to sit in Councel with them The Court-party who had nimble Intelligencers understood this design from the very first result and plotted to treat the Commons with uniform Proceedings for at that very time Sir Dudley Diggs and Sir John Elliot were sent for out of the House by two Messengers of the Chamber who upon their coming forth shewed them Warrants for their Commitment to the Tower but it was resolved by the Judges that by their restraint no reason being given to the House for it the whole House was arrested and a Remonstrance was made to the King of their Priviledg whereupon they were released The Commons having sped so well the House of Peers began to claim their immunities making an Order that nothing should be transacted in their House until the Earl of Arundel were restored upon which instantly ensued the Earls Postlimination and re-admittance Popular disgust began now to break in upon the Duke with such a running and sweeping-tide as drew along with it by way of Concomitancy the Peerage nor could his new Dependents and Allies keep the Ballance Horizontial and even much less sway it and because his fate must result from them but not by weight but tale the old Trick of the Council of Trent was thought upon and a new Summons of Persons former Confidents to the Duke as the Lords Mandevil Grandison and Carlton into the row of Nobles But this project would not take for the House of Lords found an ancient Order That no Lords created sedente Parliamento shall have Voices during that Session but only shall have priviledg of sitting among the rest upon which their suffrage was excluded This gave the Duke a taste a bitter one of their inclinations so that finding but small favour to trust to he magnanimously stood upon his Justification And having his defence to his contentment June the 8th 1626 he presented it to the Lords who upon receipt thereof sequestred him from sitting any more as a Peer of the House until his Cause was determined whereupon he went away much dejected The Dukes Defence and the Commons Impeachment being long I shall not here insert but refer you to the Annals it self from whom I do transcribe this small Narrative This weighty Cause was managed by six Gentlemen viz. Mr. Glanvil Mr. Selden Mr. Pim Mr. VVansford Mr. Sherland to whom was added Sir Dudley Diggs as Foreman and Prolocutor and Sir John Elliot to bring up the rear Sir Dudley Diggs his Prologue for the extraordinary Elegancy of the frame and conciseness of his Metaphors I shall crave leave to insert as it was delivered unto the Lords before the Gentlemen of the House of Commons did present the 13 Grievances expresly this My LORDS THere are so many things of great importance to be said in a very little time this day that I conceive it will not be unacceptable unto your Lordships if setting aside all Rhetorical affectations I only in plain Countrey language humbly pray your Lordships favour to include many excuses necessary to my many infirmities In this
leave him and his Tory Crew And now proceed to what doth here ensue Tuesday Novemb. 3. being the day prefixt and the Parliament assembled His Majesty bespake them in these words My Lords THE knowledge that I have of the Scotish Subjects was the cause of my calling of the last Assembly of Parliament wherein if I had been believed I do most sincerely think that things had not fallen as We now see but it is no wonder that men are so slow to believe that so great a Sedition should be raised upon so little ground But now My Lords and Gentlemen the Honor and Safety of this Kingdom lying so heavily at stake I am resolved to put My Self freely upon the Love and Affections of my English Subjects And had His Majesty kept close to this resolution some think things had ne'er come to that extremity that afterwards they did as those of my Lords that waited upon me at York very well remember I there declared Therefor my Lords I shall not mention Mine own Interest or that Support I might justly expect from you till the Common Safety be secured though I must tell you I am not asbamed to say those Charges I have been at have been meerly for the securing the good of this Kingdom though the Success hath not been answerable to My desires Therefore I shall only desire you to consider the best way for the Security of this Kingdom wherein there are two things chiefly considerable 1. The chasing out the Rebells 2. That other in satisfying your just Grievances wherein I shall promote you to concur so heartily and clearly with you that all the World may see my intentions have ever been and shall be to make this a glorious and flourishing Kingdom There are onely two things more that I shall mention to you the one is to tell you That the Loan of Money which I lately had from the City of London wherein the Lords that waited on me at York assisted me will only maintain my Army for two months from the beginning of that time it was granted Now my Lords and Gentlemen I leave it to your Consideration what Dishonour and Mischief it might be in case for want of Money my Army be Disbanded before the Rebels be put out of this Kingdom Secondly The securing the Calamities the Northern People endure at this time and so long as the Treaty is on foot And in this I may say Not only they but all this Kingdom will suffer the harm therefore I leave this also to your Consideration for the ordering of the Great Affairs whereof you are to Treat at this time I am so confident of your Love to me and that your Care is such for the Honour and Safety of the Kingdom that I should freely leave to you where to begin Only this that you may know the better the State of all Affairs I have commanded my Lord Keeper to give you a short and free Account of those things that have happened in this Interim with this Protestation That if his Account be not Satisfactory as it ought to be I shall whensoever you desire it give you a Full and Perfect Account of every Particular One thing more I desire of you as one of the greatest means to make this an Happy Parliament That you on your part as I on mine lay aside Suspition one of another as I promised my Lords at York It shall not be my Fault if this be not a Happy and Good Parliament The King having ended the Lord Keeper in pursuance of His Majesty's Commands gave them a Summary Account and Relation of all Things relating to the Scottish Invasion I dare not say Rebellion for that the King represented them under that Disgustful Character was very ill resented by some considerable Peers whereof His Majesty having notice told the Parliament two days after He must needs call them Rebels so long as they have an Army that does invade England The remainder of this Week was spent partly in settling Committees for General Grievances and partly in set Speeches Rhetorically declaiming against and dissecting them The remainder of the particular Transactions of this year of the Commons of England Assembled in Parliament and of the year succeeding 1641. I shall not here relate at large but refer you to the Annals of King Charles the First written by this ingenious Author from whom I have borrowed and transcribed the major part of my precedent Relations who ends at the Death of the Earl of Strafford which was May the 12th 1641. And after that I must refer you for the remainder of that year unto Sir Richard Baker's Chronicle of the Kings of England c. But the particular heads of those Transactions as to matter of fact I shall be willing here to recite for your Courteous Readers present satisfaction in manner and form as followeth viz. 1. Several Petitions against Grievances 2. Priviledges of the Lords House Vindicated 3. The Lieutenant of Ireland Impeached of high Treason 4. The Northern Armies in want 5. Bishop of Lincoln Enlarged 6. Justice Howard assaulted by a Papist 7. Prinn and Bastwick enter London in Triumph 8. Secretary Windebanck flieth 9. Votes against Ship-money 10. The London Petition against Bishops 11. The late Canons Damn'd 12. The Lord-Keeper Finch defends his Innocency 13. He is Voted Traitor upon four Considerations and thereupon he flyeth beyond Sea 14. The Kings Speech for Bishops 15. One Goodman a Priest reprieved 16. A Remonstrance against Goodman the Priest 17. The Kings Answer to that Remonstrance 18. The Scottish Commissioners Demands and the Answer thereunto 19. A Match propounded between the Lady Mary and the Prince of Orange 20. The Kings Speech to the Lords concerning that Match 21. Some Plots of the Papists 22. The Earl Berkly Impeacht of High-Treason 23. The King passeth a Bill for Trienial Parliaments and his Speech concerning it 24. The Bill of Subsidies passeth at the same time and Bonefires and other tokens of joy were made that night in the City of London by Order of Parliament 25. William Laud Arch-Bishop of Canterbury accused of high Treason in fourteen Artieles 26. The Lord Digbyes Speech for Episcopacy 27. The Charge against the Earl of Strafford is given and his Answers thereunto and Westminster-Hall is appointed for his Trial. 28. The Commons justifie their Charge by Law 29. The Earl answereth by Councel 30. The Commons Vote him guilty of High-treason 31. The Commons Petition the King against Papists and the King's Answer 32. The Kings Speech to the Parliament in defence of the E of Strafford 33. The Prince of Orange Marryeth the Lady Mary 34. A Tumult in Westminster crying for Justice against the Earl 35. A Protestation framed by the Commons 36. A Bill propounded for the continuation of the Parliament 37. The Earl of Strafford Vored by the Lords House guilty of High Treason 38. Two Bills tendered to the King who is much perplext what Answer to return 39. The Earl
himself by Letter desires the King to pass the Bill 40. Censures upon the Kings passing the Bill for the Parliaments continuation 41. The Kings Letter in behalf of the Earl to the House of Lords and their answer thereunto 42. The Earl brought to the Scaffold and his last Speech before his Execution 43. The Earls Character Here I must refer you at large to Sir Richard Baker p. 511. c. 44. The Earls Children restored to their Honour and Estates 45. The Earls of Hartford Essex Bedford Warwick Lord Say with some others made Privy-Councellors 46. The Lord Treasurer and other great Officers resign up their places 47. The Star-Chamber abolished and the high Commission Court put down 48. Ship-money relinquish'd by the King 49. Five Judges for Ship-money Impeached of high Misdemenours and Berkly accused of high Treason 50. Several Laws passed by the King for regulating abuses and disclaiming Priviledges 51. The Treaty between the two Kingdoms confirmed 52. The Earl of Holland made General of the English Army and a Pole raised for the payment of them 53. Both Armies are Disbanded and the King takes a Journey into Scotland and there confers honours upon several persons of that Kingdom 54. A Bloody Rebellion breaks forth in Ireland 55. Owen O Conally an Irish Protestant discovers the Plot prevents the seizure of Dublin Caestle 56. The Earl of Leicester chosen Deputy of Ireland 57. The Irish Rebellion occasioned by the insurrection in Scotland 58. The King receives Intelligence of what hapned in Ireland and sends Sir James Stuart with instructions thither and moves the Parliament of Scotland for Aid which they Excuse 59. The Irish pretend the Kings Commission for what they did thereby to dishearten the English and also feigned Letters that the Parliament would compell them to Protestancy 60. The Irish Rebells possess themselves of all strong places in Vlster 61. They contrary to Articles of Surrender Massacre the poor English but save the Scots 62. The Parliament of England designs Money for Ireland 63. Forces raised to go against the Rebells 64. The Earl of Ormond made Lieutenant-General of the Forces there 65. A Regiment sent to Ireland under Sir Simon Hartcourt 66. The King returns out of Scotland and the Parliament present a Remonstrance to him at Hampton-Court as also a Petition with the Remonstrance 67. An Act published in Scotland against Levying Arms without the Kings Commission 68. The King receives the Parliaments Petition but desires them not to publish the Remonstrance 69 The Remonstrance is Ordered to be published in all parts of the Kingdom and the King answers the Petition and Vindicates himself from the Aspersions of the Remonstrance 70. The Commons pass a Bill for disabling all in Holy Orders to exercise temporal Jurisdiction 71. The tumult upon the Lords slighting the Bill comes to their House and clamour againg the Bishops and some of the Commons justifie those tumults 72. The Lords sends a Writ directed to the Sheriffs and Justices to suppress those tumults 73. Whereupon the Constables and Justices are sent for by the Commons 74. The Bishops Protestations against the actions of the Parliament and they are charged with high Treason and committed to the Tower where they continued about four Months 75. The Parliament Petition the King for a Guard 76. The King denies the Petition and chargeth Kimbolton and five Members more of the Commons with high Treason 77. The Commons justifie the accused Members 78. The King comes to the House to demand the Delivery of the five Members and the Commons Vote this a breach of Priviledge 79. The King removes to Hampton-Court and sends a Message to the Parliament 80. The Commons Petition the King for the Militia to be put into their hands 81. The Queen accompanies the Princess Mary into Holland and the King removes to York and there issues out Commissions of Array And so Finis Coronat Opus I have proceeded to the last day of 1641. For I find March 28. 1642. The King and Parliament differ about who shall be chief Commander at Sea where I am willing to leave them and dare not launch out any farther as to the Merits of the Cause And now in the close of all if you will please to give me leave faithfully to examine and compare together the Transactions Principles and Practices of the Commons of England in particular as being Assembled in Parliament Anno Domini 1640 and 1641 as also Anno Domini 1680 and 1681. whose Transactions Debates and Speeches are all so lately Printed that I need not here insert the Particulars but refer you unto the Debates themselves And I do clearly find the same English Spirit so far as 1641. pray take notice I proceed no further in this Multum in Parvo runs almost exactly Parallel with the present years of 80 and 81. And when you have perused and seriously considered them within your selves I do presume and am very apt to conjecture that you who are of a sober mind and wish from your Heart and Soul all Peace Prosperity and Happiness to your King and Country That you will say with me That although they are not enough to satisfie and silence an high Tory and bloody Papist yet they are Arguments and Demonstrations strong enough in Conseience to convince any Atheist in his sober mind of the Reality and good Intentions against Popery and Slavery many times slily introduced by some unworthy Sycophants and corrupt Ministers of State of the before-mentioned precedent Parliaments And although we live at present in an Age of Wonders viz. of wonderful Signs wonderful and most prodigious Comets and Blazing Stars and wonderful Apparitions for a particular whereof viz. of such as have happened in the last year 1680 pray read Mr. Christopher Ness his late Book the Title whereof is Wonderful Signs for Wonderful Times yet I say the major part of us do turn all these things into perfect Ridicule and Scorn and are far from deterring us from the evil of our ways but do still run on Jehu-like and persist in our accustomed Sins and Dalilah-like Provocations against God and are all of us the Lord of Heaven knows in a very unprepared frame temper and disposition to meet him and to kiss the Rod in the ways of his Judgments when they shall come suddenly upon us like an armed Man and there shall be none to deliver us out of his avenging hand Him that hath an Ear to hear let him hear And among the many Wonders which we have already had I have made bold here to insert one more which for ought I know may suddenly come to pass in the midst of us and pray pardon my plainness and well-meaning and hearty wishes therein the which you may please to peruse in manner and form as followeth viz. A Wonder strange I will you tell From Heaven 't will be and not from Hill When as King CHARLES shall be content In Love to meet his Parliament And let them sit