To this he answered That whatsoever was said or done by him in that place and at that time was performed by him as a publick Man and a Member of that House and that he was and ever will be ready to give an account of his Sayings and Doings in that place whenever he should be called unto it by that House where as he taketh it he is only to be questioned and in the mean time being now but a private man he would not now trouble himself to remember what he said or did in that place as a publick Man Sir Miles Hobart was also questioned for locking the Parliament House Door and putting the Key in his Pocket to which he pleaded the Command of the House The other Gentlemen were questioned for reproving the Speaker and not permitting him to do that the King commanded him who all alledged in defence the Priviledg of the House After this they were committed some to the Tower and some to the Gatehouse and some to the Fleet And May the first the Attorney sent a Process out against them to appear in the Star-Chamber and to answer an information to be entred there against them but they refused as denying the Jurisdiction of that Court over offences done in Parliament which created the greatest and longest Controversie in Law that had been started in many years April the tenth Anno Domini 1630 dyed William Earl of Pembroke Lord High Steward of England of an Apoplexy He was the very Picture and vive Effigies of Nobility His Character His Person rather Majestick than Elegant his presence whether quiet or in motion full of stately gravity his mind generous and purely heroick often stout but never disloyal so vehement an opponent of the Spaniard as when that Match fell under consideration he would sometimes rowze even to the trepidation of King James yet kept in favour still for that King knew well enough that plain dealing was a Jewel in all men so in a Privy Councellor was an ornamental duty and the same true-heartedness commended him to King Charles with whom he kept a most admirable Correspondence and yet stood the firm confident of the Commonalty and not by a sneaking cunning but by an erect and generous prudence such as rendred him unsuspected of Ambition on the one side or of Faction on the other This universality of Affection made his loss most deplorable but men are lost when all turns to forgotten-dust That affection would not that he should be so nonpluss'd but kept his noble Fame emergent and alose and if this History shall bear it up I shall esteem it not more his felicity than my own April the twenty fifth of this year was Arraigned Convicted Anno 1631. Condemned and on May the fourteenth Executed upon Tower-Hill Mervin Lord Audley Earl of Castle-Haven for Rape and Sodomy In England fell two great Favourites of different parties Anno 1634. of the Commonalties one and of the Kings another Of the Commonalties Sir Edward Coke who died about the latter end of this Summer Sir Edward Coke departeth this life full of days he died most whereof he had spent in eminent place and honour His abilities in the Common Law whereof he passed for an Oracle raised him first to the dignity of Attorney-General to Queen Elizabeth Then of Lord Chief Justice of the Kings-Bench under King James His advancement he lost the same way he got it viz. by his Tongue so rare it is for a man very eloquent not to be over loquent long lived he in that retirement to which Court-Indignation had remitted him yet was not his recess inglorious for at improving a disgrace to the best advantage he was so excellent as King James said of him he was like a Cat throw her which way you will she will light upon her feet And finding a Cloud at Court he made sure of fair weather in the Country applying himself so devoutly to popular Interests as in succeeding Parliaments the Prerogative felt him as her ablest so her most active Opponent upon which account he was 1 Caroli made High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire on purpose to exclude him the ensuing Parliament there being an especial Nolumus and clause in his Commission prohibiting his Election not withstanding which Elected he was in Norfolk and those words of Restraint upon the debate of the Question in the House of Commons Voted void On the Kings the Great Lord Treasurer Sir Richard Weston Sir Richard Weston Lord Treasurer of England dieth Earl of Portland this year and he almost expiring together he ending this life March the thirteenth a sad loss to the King and the sadder because he thought it irreparable The truth is he was a Person very able for the Office and the Exchequer was in the mending hand while he enjoyed that place for he had a most singular Artifice both in improving the incomes and in a frugal moderation of his Masters expence But the Kings forrow was not so extreme for him but the Peoples joy was full as great for there was now grown so sad an antipathy between his Majesty and his Subjects that like those two Emperors Antonine and Geta they were always of contrary Senses and Minds rarely agreeing in any one particular The deportment whereby he so much disobliged the Commonalty was his promoting Monopolies and other advantages of Regality The Archbishop and he were usually at great odds this vacant place was at present entrusted to Commissioners until the King should otherwise dispose thereof September the 29th the Earl of Arundel brought up to London out of Shropshire one Robert Parr as the wonder of our times for long life he having attained to the age of near 160 and probably might have continued longer had not so tedious a journey and over-violent agitation of his aged Body accellerated his end so that it may be said he sacrificed some years to others curiosity In Michaelmas-Term was canvassed and debated the grand Controversie between the King and Subject about Ship-Money Anno 1635. The great Debate about Ship-money for the Ship-Writs having been issued out August the 11 to divers Counties many Inhabitants and among the rest Mr. Hambden of Buckingham-shire assessed by the Sheriff made default of payment whereupon the King equally hating to be either flattered into or frighted from the belief of its Legality wrote a Letter to the Judges demanding their Opinions upon the case stated To which the Judges delivered their Opinions as followeth May it please your most Excellent Majesty WE have according to your Majesties Command severally and every Man by himself and all of us together taken into our serious consideration the Case and Questions signed by your Majesty and inclosed in your Letter And we are of opinion That when the good and safety of the Kingdom in general is concerned and the whole Kingdom in danger Your Majesty may by Writ under your Great Seal of England Command all the
Royal Steed To give us light whereof we stand in need Heavens say Amen now If it be your will When this is done let Peace continue still This oh dear Heavens is now my plain request That so poor Fanns at length may have some rest Bellum dat litem dat pax bona quaeque Deorum Vt tandem redeas jain peritura preor I am Right Honourable Right Worshipful and well-beloved Commoners Your most Humble most Faithful and most Obedient Servant to be commanded Theophilus Rationalis Multum in Parvo AUT VOX VERITATIS c. THAT we are fallen into an Age wherein almost all sorts of Men amongst us are still setled upon their Lees there 's none of us all so happy as to be ignorant thereof and how that the Judgments and Sentiments of Men and more especially in this latter Age of the World are most strangely degenerated biassed enslaved and almost overwhelmed with pride vain-glory hypocrisie self-interest that great Diana and Goddess of this World ambition passion prejudice partiality faction rebellion the espousing of a party Et cum multis aliis c. And yet that which is most wonderful and matter of astonishment is this viz. That all these Parties in general or particular do declare and pretend That as to their several Transactions in the World wherein they are concerned and in opposition to the rest of their Neighbours is purely to manifest their great and fervent Zeal to the Honour and Glory of Almighty God and to promote as much as in them lyes a most firm exact and uniform Obedience not omitting at all times their specious pretences of their steady and untainted Loyalty to their Prince both in Church and State But how these Gentlemen and specious Pretenders before mentioned will come off at the long run for as we usually say Finis coronat opns without a scratch't face and a blot in their scutcheons when-as their several Transactions shall be impartially examined and searched to the bottom is a kind of a pretty question to be started and indeed it would be a very ingenious and pleasant divertisement to any person that would make it his business to study the point and thoroughly and impartially to make an experiment thereof This small Treatise Courteous Readers peradventure may give you some small satisfaction in relation to the premises and it is more than probable that others hereafter of a more learned and more ingenious capacity may take example by this small and well-intended piece to enlarge thereupon and farther to explain what I have here succinctly intimated only for my own and for some others which I shall forbear to name present and seasonable satisfaction as to those grand Debates Councels and Transactions which are now in the midst of us upon the wheel and here I must beg that the Lord of his infinite Grace and Mercy would be pleased to send us at length a good issue upon them all both in Church and State This I thought requisite to cite by way of Introduction and now will take leave to conduct you somewhat closer and nearer to our matter in hand Et honoi soit que mal y pense and herein we shall proceed in manner and form as followeth That we are fallen at present not only into a degenerate rebellious ambitious and stubborn Age but in particular into a very curious critical and obnoxious time in that age viz. Anno Domini 1680 and 1681 wherein as by experience is manifestly true a man is almost made though not in the edg of the Law but in the edg of some others who would be Law-makers a Capital offender for some words placing or speaking which peradventure may be very good orthodox and loyal in themselves until they come to be scanned weighed and interpreted by others in a quite different and contrary sense I know Courteous Readers you are most of you at least the best of you able and I hope willing to joyn issue with me herein as Attestators to the truth hereof But whether there be a fatality in these present years as there was about 40 years since which are by-past and gone and all things buried or at least ought to be forgotten in an Act of Oblivion as to the Transactions of those as we do usually call them rebellious times or whether this critical time doth portend good things to his Majesty of Great Britein's whom God of his infinite mercy long preserve for our peace and quietness sake affairs and concerns as to his present Government in particular or whether of any good consequence to the Subjects of his Three Kingdoms in general or whether this year the Lyon and the Lamb shall not lye down together according to an ancient Prophecy or whether His Majesties just Prerogative and his Subjects Priviledges shall go hand in hand together I am not able to determine although some pretend to give a shrewd guess thereunto as to future contingencies yet I will hope the best as being fully perswaded and convinced that the God and Father of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who is the Author of Peace and Lover of Concord and of the Souls of them who are willing under their Magistrates whether Heathen or Christian to live quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty will be pleased at length to bring forth peace tranquillity and order out of all our disorders animosities and present confusions And herein let every true and Loyal-hearted Subject and English man say Amen But however this I am sure of as being able to attest that truth in particular viz. That humble Petitions and Addresses to His Majesty of Great Britain this year Anno Domini 1681 is A-la-mode and the very newest fashion and in my slender judgment and apprehension is a very comely decent and commendable fashion since the Dissolution of the late Parliament at Oxford and His Majesties late Declaration to all his Loving Subjects and Ordered to be read by the Reverend Clergy of the Land in all Churches and Chappels since which time Addresses and Humble Petitions have swarm'd in a main from all Points of the compass viz. from Cities Burroughs Towns-Corporate Lieutenancies Trained-Bands c. as if they were resolved to storm VVhitehall VVindsor-Castle Hampton-Court and His Majesty Himself God of Heaven preserve Him with no other weapons than steady and untainted Loyalty and with all dutiful and humble Allegiance unto His Majesties Government as it is now by Law established both in Church and State And for the which the Lord High Chancellor of England in the Person of His Majesty hath given them all his true and hearty Thanks for their so numerous and seasonable appearing at this present conjuncture in opposition to some others who it seems have not the good-hap with the rest of their Neighbours sure it was by the malevolent aspect and influence of some auspicious male-contented Planets to form and word their Humble Addresses and Petitions according to the
one word I am commanded by the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons House to present unto your Lordships their most affectionate Thanks for your ready condescending to this Conference which out of confidence in your great Wisdoms and approved Justice for the service of his Majesty and the welfare of this Realm they desired upon this occasion The House of Commons by a fatal and universal concurrence of Complaints from all the Seabordering parts of this Kingdom did find a great and grievous interruption and stop of Trade and Traffick The base Pirates of Sally ignominiously infesting our Coasts taking our Ships and Goods and leading away the Subjects of this Kingdom into Barbarous Captivity while to our shame and hinderance of Commerce our Enemies did as it were Besiege our Ports and Block up our best Rivers Mouths our Friends on slight pretences made Embargoes of our Merchants Goods and every Nation upon the least occasion was ready to contemn and slight us So great was the apparent diminution of the ancient Honour of this Crown and once strong reputation of our Nation wherewith the Commons were more troubled calling to remembrance how formerly in France in Spain in Holland and everywhere by Sea and Land the Valours of this Kingdom had been better valued and even in latter times within remembrance when we had no Alliance with France none in Denmark none in Germany no Friend in Italy in Scotland to say no more united Ireland not setled in peace and much less security at home when Spain was as ambitious as it is now under a King Philip the Second they called their Wisest the House of Austria as great and Potent and both strengthned with a Malicious League in France of persons ill-affected when the Low-Countries had no being yet by constant Councels and Old English ways even then that Spanish pride was cool'd that greatness of the House of Austria so formidable to us now was well resisted and to the United Provinces of the Low-Countries such a beginning growth and strength was given as gave us Honour over all the Christian World The Commons therefore wondring at the evils which they suffered debating of the causes of them found they were many drawn like one Line to one Circumference of Decay of Trade and Strength of Honour and Reputation in this Kingdom which as in one Centre met in one great man the cause of all whom I am here to name the Duke of Buckingham Here Sir Dudley Diggs made a stand as wondring to see the Duke present yet he took the Roll and read the Preamble to the Charge with the Duke's Titles which I shall here for the Readers Satisfaction insert and so proceed For the speedy Redress of the great evils and mischiefs The Preamble to the Impeachment against the Duke of Buckingham and of the chief causes of those evils and mischiefs which this Kingdom of England now grievously suffereth and of late years hath suffered and to the honour and safety of our Soveraign Lord the King and of his Crown and Dignities and to the good and welfare of his People The Commons in this present Parliament by the Authority of our Soveraign Lord the King assembled do by this their Bill shew and declare against George Duke Marquess and Earl of Buckingham Earl of Coventry Viscount Villers Baron of Whaddon Great Admiral of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland and of the Principality of Wales and of the Dominions and Islands of the same of the Town of Calais and of the Marches of the same and of Normandy Gascoin and Guyen General Governor of the Seas and Ships of the said Kingdoms Lieutenant-General Admiral Captain-General and Governor of his Majesties Royal Fleet and Armado lately set forth Master of the Horse of our Soveraign Lord the King Lord Warden Chancellor and Admiral of the Cinque-Ports and of the Members thereof Constable of Dover-Castle Justice in Eyre of all Forests and Chases on this side of the River of Trent Constable of the Castle of Windsor Lieutenant of Middlesex and Buckinghamshire Steward and Bayliff of Westminster Gentleman of his Majesties Bed-Chamber and one of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Council in his Realms both of England Scotland and Ireland and Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter The Misdemeanors Misprisions Offences Crimes and other matters comprized in the Articles following And him the said Duke do Accuse and Impeach of the said Misdemeanors Misprisions Offences and Crimes And now my Lords This lofty Title of this mighty man methinks doth raise my Spirits to speak with a Paulo majora canamus and let it not displease your Lordships if for Foundation I compare the beautiful Structure and fair Composition of this Monarchy wherein we live to the great work of God viz. the World it self in which the solid Body of incorporated Earth and Sea as I conceive in regard of our Husbandry Manufactures and Commerce by Land and Sea may well resemble us the Commons and as it is encompassed with Air and Fire and Spheres Celestial of Planets and a Firmament of fixed Stars all which receive their heat light and life from one great glorious Sun even like the King our Soveraign so that Firmament of fixed Stars I take to be your Lordships those Planets the great Officers of the Kingdom that pure Element of Fire the most Religious Zealous and Pious Clergy and the Reverend Judges Magistrates and Ministers of Law and Justice the Air wherein we breathe all which encompast round with cherishing comfort this Body of the Commons who truly labour for them all and though they be the Footstool and the lowest yet may well be said to be the setled Centre of the State Now my Lords if that glorious Sun by his powerful Beams of Grace and Favour shall draw from the bowels of this Earth an Exhalation that shall fire and burn and shine out like a Star it needs not be marvell'd at if the poor Commons gaze and wonder at the Comet when they feel the effects and impute all to the corruptible matter thereof But if such an imperfect Meteor appear like that in the last Age in the Chair of Casiopea among the fixed Stars themselves where Aristotle and the old Philosophers conceived there was no place for such corruption The Meteor in 1680. is worth your observation upon this very account then as the learned Mathematicians were troubled to observe the irregular motions the prodigious magnitude and the ominous Prognosticks of that Meteor so the Commons when they see such a Blazing-Star in course so exorbitant in the affairs of this Common-wealth cannot but look up upon it and for want of Perspectives commend the nearer examination to your Lordships who may behold it at a better distance Such a prodigious Comet the Commons take this Duke of Buckingham to be And so the Commons do the Duke of York now cum multis aliis c. Anno Domini 1680 and 1681. and
will doubtless several more when they shall meet sit to redress the present Grievances of the Nation against whom and his irregular ways there are by learned Gentlemen legal Articles of Charge to be delivered to your Lordships which I am generally first commanded to lay open First The Offices of this Kingdom that are the Eyes the Ears and the Hands of this Common-wealth these have been engrossed bought and sold and many of the greatest of them holden even in the Dukes own hands which severally and apart gave in former times and ages sufficient content to the greatest Favourites and were work enough for the wisest Councellors By means whereof what strange abuses what infinite neglects have followed The Seas have been unguarded Trade disturbed Merchants oppressed their Ships and even one of the Navy Royal by cunning practise delivered over into foreign hands and contrary to our good Kings intention employed to the prejudice I had almost said to the ruin of Friends of our own Religion Next Honours those most precious Jewels of the Crown a Treasure inestimable wherewith your Noble Ancestors my Lords were well rewarded for eminent and publick service in the Common-wealth at home for brave exploits abroad when covered all with dust and blood they sweat in service for the honour of this Crown What back-ways what by-ways have been by this Duke found out is too well known to your Lordships whereas it was anciently the honour of England as among the Romans the way to the Temple of Honour was through the Temple of Virtue But I am commanded to press this no further than to let your Lordships know one Instance may perhaps be given of some one Lord compelled to purchase Honour Thirdly as divers of the Dukes poor Kindred have been raised to great honours which have been and are likely to be more chargeable and burdensom to the Crown so the Lands and Revenues and Treasuries of his Majesty have been intercepted and exhausted by this Duke and his Friends and strangely misemployed with strange confusion of the Accompts and overthrow of the well-established ancient Orders of his Majesties Exchequer The last of the Charges which are prepared will be an injury offered to the Person of the late King of blessed memory who is with God of which as your Lordships may have heard heretofore you shall anon have farther information Now upon this occasion I am commanded by the Commons to take care of the honour of the King our Soveraign that lives long may he live to our comfort and the good of the Christian world and also of his blessed Father who is dead on whom to the grief of the Commons and their great distaste the Lord Duke did they conceive unworthily cast some ill ordure of his own foul ways Whereas Servants were anciently wont to bear as in truth they ought theit Masters faults and not cast their own on them undeservedly It is well known the King who is with God had the same power and the same wisdom before he knew this Duke yea and the same affections too through which as a good and gracious Master he advanced and raised some Stars of your Lordships Firmament in whose hands this exorbitancy of Will this transcendency of Power such placing and misplacing of Officers such irregular running into all by courses of the Planets such sole and single managing of the great affairs of State was never heard of And therefore only to the Lord Duke and his own procurement by mis-informations these faults complained of by the Commons are to be imputed And whereas for our most gracious Soveraign that lives whose Name hath been used and may perhaps now be for the Dukes Justification The Commons know well that among his Majesties most Royal Virtues his Piety unto his Father hath made him a pious nourisher of his Affections ever to this Lord Duke on whom out of that consideration his Majesty hath wrought a kind of wonder making Favour hereditary But the abuse thereof must be the Lord Dukes own and if there have been any commands such as were or may pretend his misinformations have procured them whereas the Laws of England teach us that Kings cannot command ill or unawful things whenever they speak though by their Letters Patents or their Seals If the thing be evil these Letters Patents are void and whatsoever ill event succeeds the Executioners of such Commands must ever answer for them Thus my Lords in performance of my duty my weakness hath been troublesome unto your Lordships It is now high time humbly to intreat your pardon and to give way to a Learned Gentleman to begin against him a more particular Charge Sir Dudley Diggs his Prologue being ended the Impeachment of the Commons it self was next read the which if you please you may peruse Page 40. in the said Narrative before mentioned with the Dukes Answer Defence and Reply to every particular Article thereof The Answer of the Duke to his Impeachment was a kind of a new Grievance to his Adversaries for it being contrived and so inlaid with modesty and humility it was like to have a powerful influence towards the conversion of many who expected a Defence of another and more disdainful spirit Again it seemed to instate him in impunity and the Commons having charged him as they thought through and through loth they were to fall short of Victory And now having pursued him with such vehemency thought themselves worsted should he now at the last make a saving game of it wherefore resolved they were to ply him with a speedy Reply But while they were hammering of it the King sent them a Letter demanding without farther delay their speedy producing their Bill of Subsidy to be passed to which to prevent their Dissolution they immediately conformed But first they had drawn up a Declaration of the same make and mind with their former Impeachment of the miserable estate of this Kingdom and not without some high Contests it was allowed by the House before the Bill of Subsidy Whereupon his Majesty was so exceedingly incensed King Charles his Second Parliament Dissolved as on the very next day June the 5th he Dissolved the Assembly though the Lords sent four of their House unto him beseeching him most earnestly that he would permit them to sit but two days longer but he answered Not a Minute The same afternoon the Earl of Bristol Arundel and Bristol confined the Dukes grand Prosecutor was committed to the Tower and the Earl of Arundel confined to his own house There came also forth from his Majesty a Proclamation for Burning all the Copies of the Commons Declaration made before the Parliaments Dissolution This Rupture of the Parliament The King charged with Imprudence being supposed to issue from the Kings great affection to the Duke I find him charged with deep imprudence and high oversight to hazard the Love of Millions for him only On Monday before this doleful disaster there happened a
terrible and prodigious spectacle upon the Thames The Water near Lambeth-Marsh began about Three of the Clock in the afternoon to be very turbulent and after a while arising like a Mist it appeared in a Circular form about Ten yards Diameter and about Ten foot elevated from the River This Cataract or Spout of Waters was carried impetuously cross the River and made a very furious Assault upon the Garden-Walls of York-house where the Duke was then building his new Water-Stairs at length after a fierce attempt it brake asunder sending up a fuliginous and dusky smoak like that issuing out of a Brewers Chimney which ascended as high as was well discernable and so vanisht and at the very same instant there was in the City of London so dreadful a storm of Rain and Hail with Thunder and Lightning as a great part of the Church-Yard Wall of St. Andrews Church in Holbourn fell down and divers Craves being thereby discovered many Coffins tumbled into the middle of the Channel Not long after this there fell out a difference between England and France and his Majesty in process of time being on every side on the losing hand he was much distressed in mind what course to take to discharge himself of those impendent Calamities should he call a Parliament The King in great want the time whose every moment was precious unto him would not permit to stay for their Convention and when met should they prove as it was odds they would as Dilatory and disgustful as the former he were in a worse condition than before In this perplexed difficulty at length his Council agreed to set that great Engine his Prerogative at work Many projects were hammered on that forge but they came all to small effect First they moved for a Contribution by way of Benevolence but this was soon dasht Then a resolution was taken to advance the value of Coyn Two shillings in the pound but this also was soon argued down by Sir Robert Cotton But that which the Council stuck closest to was the issuing of a Commission Raiseth money by Loan dated October the 13th for raising almost Two hundred thousand younds by way of Loan and the more to expedite and facilitate this Levy the Commissioners were instructed to represent to the Subject the deplorable estate of Rochel then closely beleaguer'd by the Duke of Guise and if not speedily relieved would fall irrecoverably into the hands of the Enemies of the Protestant Religion These were plausible insinuations For Rochel though scituated in another Countrey yet was looked upon as in the same parallel Belief with us And what will not men suffer for others of the same perswasion especially when Fame reports them sufferers because of the same perswasion But all would not smooth the asperity of this most Illegal Tax Rochel and all other Foreign Considerations must stand by and aloof off when homebred Liberty is disputed so thought the almost Majority of the Kingdom who opposed it to Durance Many refuse Upon this account of refusal Prisoners some of the Nobility and most of the prime Gentry were daily brought in by scores I might almost say by Counties so that the Council-Table had almost as much work to provide Prisons as to supply the Kings necessities This year Learning lost two Luminaries of the greatest Magnitude that ever this Nation enjoyed viz. Dr. Andrews Bishop of VVinchester and Sir Francis Bacon Vicount St. Albans Lord High Chancellor of England The Commission of Loan not answering in its product his Majesties expectation the Papists began now to plot their own advantage from the Kings wants and under pretence of Loyalty they of Ireland propounded to him That upon consideration of a Toleration of their Religion they would at their own charge furnish him with a constant Army of five thousand Foot and five hundred Horse But this project to their great regret proved Dow-baked the Protestants countermining them For in the next Spring Doctor Downham Bishop of London-Derry Preaching before the Lord Deputy and the whole State April 22. 1627. taking for his Text Luke 1.74 That we being delivered from the hands of our Enemies might serve him without fear In the midst of his Sermon he openly read this Protestation subscribed by the Archbishops and all the Bishops of that Kingdom 1. That the Religion of the Papists is Superstitious and Idolatrous 2. Their Faith and Doctrine Erroneous and Heretical 3. Their Church in respect of both Apostatical To give them therefore a Toleration is to make our selves accessary to their abominations and to the perdition of their Souls But to sell them a Toleration is to set Religion to sale and with that their Souls which Christ hath redeemed with his most precious blood The Bishop having ended this Protestation added And let all the People say Amen which they did so as the Church almost shook with the noise The Deputy required of the Bishop a Copy of both his Sermon and Protestation who answered he would most willingly justifie it before his Majesty and feared not to read it And now although moneys came in but slowly yet was the Naval Force completed for expedition about Midsummer whereof the Duke appeared Admiral as ambitious of some meritorious service to earn a better gust or to correct the universal odium against him June the 27th he set Sail from Portsmouth with about six thousand Horse and Foot and July the eleventh he published a Manifesto declaring the impulsive causes of his Majesties present Arming But the Duke had very ill success in this expedition for the English were routed at the Isle of Rhe The English routed at the Isle of Rhe. the sum of their loss were about fifty Officers but the greatest loss was that gallant man Sir John Burroughs who was slain by a Musquet Bullet from the Citadel while he was viewing the English works of Common Soldiers few less than two thousand Prisoners of Note thirty five Colours taken forty four hung up as Anthems at Paris in the Church of Nostredame our Honour lost The Prisoners Lewis graciously dismist home as an affectionate offertory to his Sister the Queen of England which made up another Victory superadded to the former and a conquest over us as well in the exercise of civilities as in feat of Arms only the Lord Montjoy was ransomed for the which he offering to the French King a round sum No my Lord it is said the King replied your Redemption shall be only two couple of Hounds from England Some interpreted this a slender value of that Lord to be exchanged for a couple of Dogs but it was only in the King a modest estimate of his courtesie The Rochellers being besieged by the French King The Rochelers crave our Kings aid in their distress hurrieth and serrieth over their Deputies to England to solicit our King for fresh supplies before the prodigious work should be compleated who good Prince affected with their Miseries and
Essentials of the said great Charter but first or last it has crush'd them into Ruine or great Calamity Yet how little this King Henry regarded it I shall acquaint you in the very words of the Historian Soluto Concilio Rex Confestim pessimo usus Concilio omnia praedicta Cogitabat Infirmare c. The Grand Council or Parliament was no sooner broke up but the King following lewd and pernicious Council contriv'd how to weaken and undo it for 't was told him That he would not be King or at least not Lord and Master of England if all those Liberties should be observ'd as John his Father had experienc'd who rather chose to dye than thus to be shackled and trampled on by his Subjects And these Whisperers of the Devil Susurrones Satanae so honest Matth. calls them added You need not value it if you do break your Vows and incur this Curse for the Pope for an hundred or two of Pounds will Absolve you 'T is well enough that by signing the Confirmation of these Characters you have got a Tenth which will amount to many thousand Marks and if you will but give the Pope a little portion of it he will Absolve you even though the Curse be ratified by himself for he that has Power to Bind can Loose Thus by the villany of ill Ministers and the knavery of the Pope this Prince was led into Deceit Perjury Injustice and Tyranny to his own continual Trouble and the unspeakable Damage of the Realm And if this honest and well intended Narrative either in the whole or in part shall be deemed necessary and convenient at this juncture of time for the present and future satisfaction either of Prince or People or shall contribute any thing towards a firm and solid Foundation and Establishment upon the true Basis of Universal Love Charity and good will among the many contesting Parties at this day in the midst of us for sine procul dubio we shall never be happy till that time be accomplished I have my desire The height of whose real ambition is to render my self worthy of my Soveraign Lord the King and my Countries acception And having now ventured to expose it unto publick view I have in Cognito by my honest and trusty post Pidgeon conveighed it into the hands of a Loyal Subject and good Citizen as I am informed and if my Information be not true pray let me not therefore be Libeld called by the name of honest Dick Janeway for the Publication thereof And what though he be buffeted and baited For I must confess I have not perused it in every pittiful weekly I had almost said Quotidian Pamphlet like an Vrsa Major Vrsa Minor This being the Title of a Book newly Printed and newly come forth which I presume doth face in opposition to mine and peradventure it may serve by the way of Post Ponae as a Responce thereunto by a company of high-flown scurrilous Tories Tantivies and Towzers who only bark where they cannot bite yet I say I do not look upon honest Dick to be a worse Subject a worse Citizen or a worse Commonwealths-man for all that for I do perswade my self having some small and little acquaintance with them although I could wish toto corde I had less their most venemous and malicious tongues are no slander toto in toto et in quilibet parte and blessed be God that we do yet live but how long the Lord of Heaven onely knows if these men should rule the roast under so mild limited and well tempered Government Wherein as honest man and a Loyal Subject may be Protected and Defended from the furious and bold Attempts of these blood thirsty Assassinates who make it their business journelament se vous asseure not onely to Libell the present and best established Legislative Government this day under the Sun viz. by King Lords and Commons but also if by any probable or possible means they can by their continual charging the most Loyal Subjects of His Present Majesty with Republican plots and sham-plots Although by the overuling and good Providence of Almighty God constantly found out and betrayed on purpose to render them most odious to the Government and to bring us all at last if they can into a most miserable state of horror and confusion and from such Loyal Subjects Tantivy Abhorrours and most Prophane and Dissolute Debauchee Isay iterum atque iterum Libera nos Domine Amen The CONCLVSION TO that most high and lofty proud Prelate if these lines should ever fall into His Unholy hands the Fallible and Infallible Pope of Rome in particular and to all the rest of his Fanatical Athestical and Papistical adjuncts and adherents whatsoever GIve ear proud Rebels Blood-suckers draw near Add to this doleful Piece your brinish Tear To see a Nation poysoned in their Blood With Pride and Faction not well understood By our Great CHARLES Oh Rome 't is such as you Would crush our Captain and his Kingdoms too By your accurst Caballs which to prevent God send our King and his next Parliament So fully to agree that so at length they may Condemn you all as Ravenous Beasts of pray Who worry would our Sheep and Shephered too If not prevented by a most Noble Crew Of Loyal Subjects that will faithful be Vnto the Death for English Monarchy Which is so bounded by the Supream Law Of God and nature which will over Awe Your Plots and Shamplots and your Trusty Friend Who fain would bring our Captain to his end But Heavens forbid so base an Act as this Should e'er take place within this Realm of Bliss England I mean an Earthly Paradice Before infected by such bold Dormice And Sons of Scarlet Whore the which are all Sworn Enemies to the State and to Whitehall Vnless you get a King who straight must pay Homage to you and by your Scepter sway His future Legal rights and he must Dance After your Pipe like Italy Spain and France And many places more when you shall send Servus Servorum to your Trusty Friend Who must your Benediction soon observe Or else Incur displeasure to deserve Your Thundring Bull of Excommunication when But once Pronounc'd straightway Allegiance then Must vaile their Top Sails to your Bloody Flagg Or else by 'th Mass you 'l catch them by the Crag And hang them up as Traitors to your State Since you have sworn to admit of no such Mate By holy Cross and by Saint Peters Chair Whose Vicar general under Christ you are If lies be true who being his Successor In faith and vertue Montebanck not Peter You are who ner'e could dream of such a doting Fool Should er'e succeed upon his sacred stool To feed Christs Lambs but hark instead of that You fill your Coffers with their Blood and fat When as Christ said upon this Rock I 'le build My Holy Church look Pope have you fulfil'd His Sacred Word which was not on that Bone You have