much the more acceptable especially since his Majesty required but the Sum which few men would deny a Friend and has a mind resolved to expose all his Earthly Fortune for Preservation of the General The Sum which His Majesty requires by these presents is which His Majesty promiseth in the Name of himself his Heirs and Successors to repay to them or their Assigns within Eighteen Months after the payment thereof to the Collector The Person whom his Majesty hath appointed is to whose hands his Majesty doth require them to send it within Twelve days after they have received this Privy Seal which together with the Collectors Acquittance shall be sufficient Warrant to the Officers of Receipt for their payment thereof at the time limited And the Collectors of the Loan were ordered to pay the Sums received into the Exchequer and to return the Names of such as went about to delay or excuse the Payment of the Sums required And now about the beginning of October the Fleet set to Sea the Lord Cecill second Son to the Earl of Exeter commanding the Land Forces and the Earl of Essex being Vice Admiral at Sea but they were surprized by so violent a Storm that the greatest part of the Navy which in all made up Fourscore Ships some being Dutch were dissipated and scattered for seven days together and an excellent Ship with an 170 Passengers in her were all cast away and lost the Design was to have furprized Cadiz in Spain to burn the Ships in the Harbour and to have taken the Spanish Plate Fleet which was daily expected from the Indies but by reason of the Plague amongst them and some other miscarriages of the Commanders the business was wholly disappointed and the Fleet returned home but four days before the Plate Fleet came Upon the Second of February was the Coronation at which the King did not pass through the City in State from the Tower as was usual but went by Water from Whitehall to Westminster for fear of the danger of a Concourse of People the Pestilence which raged the year before not being quite ceased The Bishop of Lincoln as Dean of Westminster should have performed the chief part of the Ceremony but being under displeasure Dr. Laud then Bishop of St. Davids supplied his place Divers considerable Forces had been raised both for Sea and Land for the better Discipline of whom 150 old Souldiers were sent for from the Netherlands by whose Industry they were brought into some good order against the meeting of the next Parliament which was summoned to sit Feb. 6. And being met accordingly the House of Commons chose Sir Henage Finch for their Speaker The first business they insisted upon was the rendring thanks to the King for his gracious Answer to their late Petition concerning Religion then they debated of the Publick Grievances viz. The miscarrying of the Fleet at Cadiz the evil Councellors about the King misimploying the Kings Revenue an Account of the Subsidies and three Fifteens granted in the 21 Year of King James And in the Committee of Grievances these four particulars were insisted on 1. The state of the King in the constant Revenue of the Crown and how much it had been diminished by Gifts of Lands Grants of Pensions Fruitless Embassies the Privy Purse and other ways 2. The Condition of the Subject in his Freedom about laying new impositions multiplying Monopolies Leuying of Customs without Act of Parliament and wasting the Treasure 3. The Cause of the Nations good success in former times whereby it was feared Victorious and Renowned abroad which they judged was occasioned by the Wisdom and Gravity of Counsel who ordered nothing but by publick Debate whereby there arose a readiness in the People to Assist their Soveraign in Purse and Person 4. The present Condition of the Kingdom wherein was represented the loss of its wonted Reputation through the ill success at Algier in the Palatinate in Count Manfields Expedition and at Cadiz and this was imputed to the want of such Counsels as were formerly used since for fear of not succeeding men were now afraid of venturing either there Persons or Purses There was likewise a Committe concerning Religion and the growth of Popery wherein Mr. Richard Montagues two Books before mentioned were again questioned and Articles drawn up against him charging him with several Passages for encouraging Popery and drawing his Majesties Subjects from the true Religion Established into Error and Superstition with other passages dishonourable to the late King and full of injurious and railing Language against other Persons as likewise that he endeavoured to raise Factions in the Kingdom by casting the scandalous Name of Puritan upon such of his Majesties Subjects as conformed themselves to the Doctrine of the Church of England upon which the House of Commons ordered that he should be brought to Exemplary Punishment and to have his Books burnt nor do we find that he ever made any Defence or Answer to those Articles that were brought against him It is affirmed that a while before the sitting of the Parliament Dr. Laud understanding from the D. of Buckingham that the King intended to leave Mr. Montague to a Tryal was heard to utter these words Iseem to see a Cloud arising and threatning the Church of England God in his Mercy dissipate it After this the Commons questioned several persons who were of the Council of War upon the Affairs of the Palatinate concerning the management of that business complaint was likewise made in the House of the Scotch and Irish Nobility for claiming precedency of the Peers of England of which redress was promised but a while after the Lord Martrevers Eldest Son and Heir to the Earl of Arundel Married the Daughter of the late Duke of Lenox contrary to the Kings Mind who intended her for the Lord Lorn Son and Heir of the Earl of Argile whereupon the Earl of Arundel was committed to the Tower which upon the Peers Petitioned to the King alledging That no Peer sitting in the Parliament is to be imprisoned without Order from the House of Lords unless for Felony Treason or denying to give security for the Peace Upon this there arose a Dispute which lasted for the space of two Months and then the Earl was set at Liberty In which time the House of Commons were very busie in searching the Signet Office for the Original of a Letter under the Signet written to the Mayor of York for reprieving divers Jesuites Priests and other Popish Recusants This was reported by Mr. Pim Chairman to the Committee for Religion but their proceedings therein were interrupted by a Meffage from the King sent by Sr. Richard Weston Chancellor of the Exchequer demanding a supply for the English and Irish Forces This was so highly resented that Mr. Clement Cook one of the Members openly Protested That it was better to die by a Forreign Enemy than to be destroyed at home And Dr. Turner another of the House seconded him with
among them His Majesty having received it returned this short Answer thereunto 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 afterward This happened in the year 1626 and in the Second Year of his Majesties Reign about which time the Earl of Bristoll being ordered by the King to be Examined by a Committee of Lords concerning his Negotiation in Spain and having been in Prison and prohibited access to His Majesty ever since his return received a Letter from the Lord Conway wherein in order to his Relief he propounded to him from His Majesty this Choice Whether he would be quiet and not be questioned for what was past and enjoy the benefit of the late Gracious Pardon or whether he would stand upon his Justification To which he Answered That he did humbly acknowledge and accept of his Majesties Grace and Favour And at the same time he Petitioned the House of Lords for his Liberty or to come to a Tryal who apylying themselves to his Majesty he granted a Writ for the Earls coming to Parliament but with a Proviso That his Personal Attendance should be forborn whereupon the Earl sent another Petition to the Lords that he might be heard both as to his Restraint and of what he had to say against the Duke At which the King was much concerned and signified to the Lords That it was his Royal Pleasure that the Earl of Bristol might be sent for as a Delinquent to answer his Offences to the House and his scandalizing the Duke of Buckingham and his Majesty likewise by Reflection Upon this the Earl was accordingly brought to the Bar and being ready to be impeacht of High Treason by the Attorney General he besought their Lordships That as he was a Freeman and Peer of this Realm untainted and had something to say of high Consequence for his Majesties Service he might have liberty to speak Which being granted him he said I accuse that Man the Duke of Buckingham of High Treason This unexpected procedure of the Earl occasioned the Attorney General to draw up a Charge against him consisting of Eleven Articles containing Matters of divers Natures whereupon the Earl afterwards gave a large Account of the Duke of Buckinghams proceedings towards him and then preferr'd Twelve Articles against him and besides these Articles against the Duke the Earl of Bristol exhibited Eleven others against the Lord Conway the Earl likewise gave in his Answer to each particular Article of his Impeachment Now whilst these two Peers were thus contesting the House of Commons presented an Impeachment to the Lords against the Duke consisting of Twelve Articles to each of which the Duke made Replies and the last of them being a matter of general Discourse it may seem necessary to insert it with the Dukes Answer thereto That the Duke being a Sworn Servant of the the late King did cause and provide certain Plaisters and Potions for his late Majesty K. James in in his last Sickness without the Privity of his Majesties Physicians and that although those Plaisters and Potions formerly applied produced such ill Effects as many of his Sworn Phisicians did disallow as prejudicial to his Maiesties Health yet the Duke did apply them again to his Majesty whereupon great Distempers and dangerous Symptoms appeared in him which the Physitians imputed to those Administrations of the Duke whereof his late Majesty also complained which is an Offence and Misdemeanor of so high a Nature as may be called an Act of Transcendent Presumption And the said Commons by Protestation saving to themselves the liberties of exhibiting hereafter any other Accusation or Impeachment against the Duke and also of Replying unto what the Duke shall Answer unto the said Articles do pray That the said Duke may be put to Answer all and every the Premises and that such Proceeding Examinations Tryals and Judgments may be upon every of them had as is agreeable to Law and Justice To this Article the Duke of Buckingham Replyed That his late Majesty being sick of an Ague a Disease out of which the Duke recovered not long before asked the Duke what he found most Advantagious to his Health The Duke replyed a Plaister and Possit Drink administred unto him by the Earl of Warwick 's Physician whereupon the King much desired the Plaister and Possit drink to be sent for and the Duke delaying it the King commanded a Servant of the Dukes to go for it against the Dukes earnest request he humbly D Buckingham stab'd by Felton Mr Pryn Burton Bastnich in the Pillory The Tumult in Scotland upon Reading the Comon pray r craving his Majesty not to make use of it without the Advice of his own Physicians and Experiment upon others which the King said he would do and in confidence thereof the Duke left him and went to London and in the mean time he being absent the said Plaister and Posset Drink were brought and at the Dukes return his Majesty commanded the Duke to give him the Posset Drink which he did the Physicians then present not seeming to mislike it afterwards the Kings Health declining and the Duke hearing a Rumour as if his Physick had done his Majesty hurt and that he had administred Physick without Advice the Duke acquainted the King therewith who with much discontent replyed They are worse then Devils that say so About this time the King again earnestly pressed the House of Commons for a speedy Supply by their Speaker Sir Heneage Finch giving them to understand That if there did not pass the Bill of Subsidy by the end of the week following it would inforce him to take other Resolutions and if by their denial or delay any thing of ill consequence should fall out either at home or abroad he called God and Man to witness that he had done his part to prevent it by calling his People together to advise with him whose sitting if they dispatched this according to his desire he resolved to continue for the dispatch of other Affairs and after their Recess to bring them again together the next Winter Before the Commons sent an Answer they drew up a Petition to his Majesty That he would be pleased to Remove from all places of Trust and Authority all such Persons as were either Popish Recusants or according to the Direction of former Acts of State justly to be suspected to be such And herewith they likewise sent a large Scrowl of the Names of all such Noblemen and others as continued in places of high Trust in the several Counties of England The Answer to the late Articles against the Duke of Buckingham being by him delivered into the Lords House he desired their Lordships to send to the Commons for a speedy Reply whereupon the Commons required a Copy of his Answer But the Duke fearing what might be the Effect thereof humbly applyed himself to the Lords whom he intreated
acquainted them with a Declaration which he had procured of the King That he did discharge the Service Book Book of Canons and high Commission and likewise did annul and rescind all Acts for establishing them and did discharge the urging the Practice of the Five Articles of Perth and that all Persons whomsoever shall be liable to the Censure of Parliament General Assembly or any other Judicatories according to the Nature of the Offence That the Ancient Confelsion of Faith and Band annexed shall be subscribed and received as in K. James time That a General Assembly be holden at Glafcow Nov. 21. 1638 and a Parliament at Edenbourgh May 15. 1639 All former Offences to be pardoned and a General Fast appointed This Declaration being published the Marquess and Council subscribed the Covenanters Confession of Faith c. yet still some matter remained for a Protestation which was read by one Johnson wherein the People were exhorted to consider with whom they had to deal and exceptions were made against Bishops and their Voting in the Assembly After this they Elect Commissioners for the Assembly whom they moved to cite the Archbishops and Bishops to appear there as Guilty Persons which being refused they themselves present a Bill of Complaint against them to the Presbytery at Edenbourgh who accordingly warned them to appear at the next General Assembly At their Meeting the Bishops sent in a Protestation against their Assembly which the Covenanters would not vouchsafe to read but presumed to forbid Six Lords of the Privy Council to fit in their Assembly though nominated by the King His Majesty having notice of their proceedings as to the Bishops and other matters ordered their Assembly to be dissolved which was done accordingly Nov. 21. 1638 and the Covenanters immediately according to their usual method Issued out a Protestation against it and likewise declared 6 former Meetings which were opposite to their ways to be void and of none Effect and soon after they abolished Episcopacy and then prepared for a War as being sensible that the King would maintain the Rights of the Bishops and would likewise strictly call them to Account for their late Transactions About this time a Letter was sent by the Scots to the King of France to implore his Assistance Signed by several of the Nobility The King of England prepares an Army for Scotland with which in the year 1639 he marcheth in Person into the North but while he stayed at York some of the Scots Nobility tampered with the Eaglish telling them that the ruin of the Scots would enable the King to be more severe toward his English Subjects by which Intelligence and Correspondence it was evident that the English had no mind to Fight though their Army was much stronger than the Scots whereupon by the Mediation of some Persons a Treaty of Peace was begun and soon finished wherein it was agreed That His Majesty should publish a Declaration whereby all should be confirmed which his Commissioners had promised in his Name That a General Assembly and a Parliament be held at Edenbourgh in a short time And lastly That upon disbanding their Forces dissolving their Councils and restoring the King to his Forts and Castles c. the King was to recall his Fleet and Forces and make restitution of their Goods since the Breach The Kings Declaration was no sooner published but the Covenanters set forth another Protestation for adhereing to there Assembly at Glasco and their Covenant whereupon the King who intended to be present at their General Assembly not finding the Scots punctual in performing Articles and perceiving they would treat of some matters distasteful to him goes into England after which the Assembly sate at Edenbourgh and abolished Episcopacy the Liturgy High Commission and Book of Canons and then made several demands of the King of a various nature His Majesty understanding how things went and that the Scots levyed Taxes and prepared Arms he commanded by his Commissioner the Earl of Traquair that their Parliament should be Adjourned for some time but the Covenanters declared against this Command and sent a Remonstrance to the King and afterward Hamilton and Traquair likewise came to London where there were such proceedings as did the more exasperate the jarring parties against each other In this year 1639 a Spanish Fleet of near Seventy Sail and Twenty five thousand Men designed to be landed at Dunkirk for the relief of Flanders were set upon by the Dutch in the Downs and Eleven of them taken and sent into Holland three perished upon the Coast of France one near Dover and five were sunk in the Fight What the real intent of this Fleet was is yet uncertain for it seemed unlikely that Twenty five thousand Men should be sent only for a Recruit and the Admirals refusing to shew his Commission when required thereto by the King makes it seem yet mon suspicious The Scots Commissioners having delivered their Message return home to Edenbourgh Nov. 19. 1639. the same night that a great part of the Castle Walls fell down and the Anniversary of the King Birth day A while after the King sent the Lord Estrich and others to tepair the Walls who were resisted by the Covenanters as not judging the Lord Estrich to be a fit Governour for the Castle which Office was designed him by the King The King being hereat extreamly offended resolved since fair means would not prevail to force the Scots to reason and to that end considers how to make provisions for Men and Money and calling a secret Cabinet Council consisting only of Archbishop Laud the Earl of Strafford and Duke Hamilton who drove on his own particular interest it was concluded That for the Kings supply a Parliament must be called in England and another in Ireland but because the Debates of Parliament would take up some time it was resolved that the Lords should subscribe to lend the King money The Earl of Strafford subscribed Twenty thousand pound the Duke of Richmond as much but Hamilton pretended poverty preserving his money for other uses the rest of the Lords Judges Officers and other Dependants and many of the Gentry yea even several Popish Recusants contributed according to their ability The Scots on the other side fore-seeing the storm prepared for their own Defence making Treaties in Denmark Sweden Holland and Poland and the Jesuits who are never idle did likewise endeavour to foment the differences to which end Con the Popes Nuncio Sir Toby Matthews Read and Maxwell two Scots endeavoured to perswade the discontented People That the King designed to iuslave them to his will and pleasure Which practices of theirs were discovered by Andreas Habernsfield a Nobleman of Bohemia who declared That many of the Nobility of England and chief Favourites at Court were consenting to these Transactions and particularly the Earl and Countess of Arundel Secretary Windebank and Endymion Porter Con also performed the part of a Firebrand as all his Successors
those that could take him It is supposed there were about three thousand slain at Worcester and seven hundred taken Prisoners and not long after the E. of Derby who was one of them was Beheaded at Bolton in Lancashire His Majesty through many dangers and difficulties arrived at last safely at Paris in France And a while after Oliver Cromwell April 20. 1653. Dissolved the long Parliament which had sate Twelve years six months and seventeen days In this year and the next there were five bloody Engagements at Sea against the Dutch in most of which the English were Victorious Oliver Cromwell called another Junto this year which was termed the Little Parliament who sate some short time and then delivered back their Power to him from whom they had received it And December 16. 1653. Cromwell was Sworn Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland c. And so the Government was now again in a single Person and in April after the Protector concluded a Peace with the Dutch whose aid and assistance the King had strongly sollicited against him His Majesty after this sought a Reconciliation between France and Spain and hoping thereby to further his own Interest he left France and departed for Germany accompanied with his Cousin Prince Rupert about which time Cromwell had discovered a Plot in England against his Authority and Collonel Gerrard and Mr. Vowell suffered for the same at Tower-Hill Scotland began likewise to stir again the Earl of Glencarn Monro and Middleton having gotten some Forces together intended to have prosecuted the Kings Cause but they were routed by General Monk and Collonel Morgan According to the Treaty with France Cromwell sent over some Forces to aid the French in his Wars against Flanders and the English were to have Dunkirk in consideration thereof which upon taking of it was accordingly delivered In the same year 1656. Cromwell by a Parliament garbled to his mind was installed L. Protector in Westminster-Hall and a while after another Plot was discovered Sir Henry Slingsby Dr. Hewet Mr. Aston and Mr. Stacy suffered Death upon the same Account the two first being beheaded and the other Drawn Hanged and Quartered being charged to be concerned therein Upon Sept. 3. 1658. O. Cromwell departed this life in Whitehall and lay in State in Somer set-house till Nov. 23. following when he was buried with great Pomp in Westminster Abby After whom his Son Richard Succeeded but was soon thrust out of his Protectorship by Fleetwood and Lambert who with the rest of the Army called the Long Parliament again after which several Gentlemen in Cheshire under the conduct of Sir George Booth rose for defence of their Priviledges but were defeated by Lambert who soon after turned out this remnant of the Long Parliament again and erected a Government which they called the Committee of Safety All which Revolutions still advanced the Kings Cause Lambert now Marches North as far as New-Gastle to fight against General Monk but his men were unwilling to engage and in the mean time the remainder of the Long Parliament had again gotten together and dissolved the Committee of Safety and then invited General Monk to march with his Army to London which he did accordingly and was received with Joy and soon after he procured the Dissolution of that Long Parliament and he calling another upon April 25. 1660. who being sate unanimously Voted the restoration of his Majesty to his Kingdoms and accordingly upon May 29. following the King accompanied with the Dukes of York and Glocester and attended with several Lords and Gentlemen arrived at Dover where he was met by divers Noble Personages and among the rest General Monk who was dignified with the George and Garter In October following several of the Regicides of the late King were Tryed in the Old Baily and ten of them Executed at Charing-Cross that is Thomas Harrison John Carew Adrian Scroop John Jones Gregory Clement Thomas Scot John Cook Hugh Peters Francis Hacker and Daniel Axtell Mary Princess of Orange coming over to Visit the King her Brother fell sick of the Small Pox and dyed and in January after one Vennor a Wine-cooper and some others in whom he had infused Enthusiastick Principles put themselves in Arms and came into the City but being opposed they killed 22 of his Majesties Subjects and about as many of them were slain and the rest were taken and dispersed eleven of whom and Vennor their leader were executed in several places in the City In the beginning of the next year Prince Henry D. of Glocester dyed and upon April 23. following being St. George's day His Majesty K. Charles the 2. was Crowned at Westminster with great splendor and Solemnity having the day before made a Magnificent Passage from the Tower through the City of London where four curious Pageants were erected to Whitehall And here we shall conclude this abstract of so many various affairs wishing all happiness to his Majesty and the preservation of the Protestant Religion forever FINIS
these Queries 1. Whether the King had not lost the Regality of the Narrow Seas since the D. of Buckingham was Admixal 2. Whether his going as Admiral in this last Fleet was not the cause of its ill Success and return without any considerable Action 3. Whether the Kings Treasure hath not been impaired by the Dukes Immense Liberality 4. Whether he hath not Ingrossed all Offices and prefer'd his Kindred to most places 5. Whether he hath not sold places of Judicature 6. Whether Popish Recusants have not dependance upon his Mother and Father in Law These bold Expressions so provoked the King that he immediately sent Sir Richard Weston to demand Satisfaction of the House of Commons whereupon Dr. Turner presently after made a Speech in Vindication and for explaining himself alledging That what he had said was for the good of the Kingdom and not reflecting upon any one in patticular That to accuse upon common Fame he thought to be a Parliamentary way and warranted by the Cannons of the Church the Imperial Laws and by Ancient Presidents The Duke of Suffolk in King Hen. the Sixths time having been accused upon Common Fame He added likewise That Mr. Chancellor himself had presented some persons upon particular Fame and that he knew no reason why himself might not in that place have as ample Priviledge and the further debate of the matter being referr'd till another time Dr. Turner in the mean space writ a Letter to the Speaker to excuse his absence by reason of some Indisposition and to signify his desire of putting himself wholly upon the Judgment and Censure of Parliament Sir William Waller speaking his Opinion concerning Grievances said That the True Cause of them was because as was said of Lewes the 11th of France all the Kings Council Rode upon one Horse And that therefore His Majesty was to be advised as Moses was by Jethro to make choice of Councellors to assist him that should be thus qualified 1. Noble not Upstarts and of a Nights Growth 2. Men of Courage such as would execute their own places and not commit them to undeserving Deputies 3. Fearing God not inclining to false Worship or halting between two Opinions 4. Dealing truly not given to Flattery or favouring Courtship but such as might be safely trusted by the King and Kingdom 5. Hating Covetousness not such as lived upon other Mens Means or that would take Bribes or sell places in Church or State or about the King 6. To be many in the multitude of Councellors there being safety 7. To judg of small matters as well as great the greatest being to be referr'd to the King much less any one Councellor alone to manage all business 8. Elders not young and unexperienced Men through whose rash and unadvised proceedings great Designs many times miscarry And herein he was seconded by Sr. John Eliot who represented to the House The present State of the Kingdom and the great dishonour the King and Kingdom had sustained by several miscarriages and ill management of Matters of the highest Trust he likewise mentioned Two Presidents the first in the 16 year of Hen. 3. when the Parliament denied the Subsidies demanded till the great Officers were Examined and Hugh de Burg being found guilty of Corruption was displaced Another Example was in the 10th year of Rich. 2. when Supply was required and the Commons complaining that the Earl of Suffolk then over-ruled all they returned Answer That they could not give But notwithstanding these Discourses the Commons taking the Kings Necessities into Consideration Voted Three Subsidies and Three Fifteens and that the Bill should be brought in as soon as the Grievances which were represented were redressed They likewise considered of the matter of the Duke of Buckingham and the misimploying the Revenue and ordered that the Duke should again have notice of their Intentions therein But the King observing they did not make such hast as he expected to answer his last Message summons both Houses together and by the Lord Keeper complains to them For not punishing Dr. Turner and Mr. Cook and likewise for searching his Signet Office and also justified the D. of Buckingham to have acted nothing of Publick Imployment without his Special Warrant and therefore forbid them to concern themselves any further therein as looking upon it to be Libelling his own Government lastly he blamed them for being too sparing in the matter of Supply and for ordering the Bill not to be brought in till their Grievances were heard and answered which he would not admit of This was the substance of the Lord Keepers Speech to which the King himself added He must also put them in mind that his Father moved by their Counsel and won by their Perswasions broke the Treaties and that he himself was their Instrument towards his Father and was glad to be Instrumental in any thing which might please the whole Body of the Realm nor was there any then in greater Favour than the Duke whom they now traduced but that now finding him so far intangled in a War that he could make no honourable nor safe Retreat they made necessity their Priviledge and set what rate they pleased upon their Supplies a Practise not very obliging towards Kings and whereas Mr. Cook told them That it was better for them to die by a Forreign Enemy than to be destroyed at home Indeed he thought it to be more Honourable for a King to be Invaded and almost destroyed by a Forreign Enemy than to be despised at home After this at a Conference of both Houses in the Painted Chamber the Duke of Buckingham was commanded by the King to explain some Expressions in the Kings and the Lord Chancellors Speeches which might be subject to misunderstanding which the Duke performed accordingly and then gave a large Account of his Negotiation in the Low Countreys as soon as the Duke had ended the Lord Conway discoursed of the Treaties of Denmark and France and the business of the Navy and affirmed they were not done by single Councel since King James himself commanded it The Commons in Answer to the Kings last Speech presented him with a Remonstrance to this purpose That they gratefully acknowledged His Majesties Expressions of Affection to his People and Parliament That they had taken Mr. Cooks and Dr. Turners words into Consideration and might have given a good Account thereof by this time if his Majesties Message had not interrupted them That they had the Presidents of former Parliaments for searching the Letters of his Majesty and his Secretary of State the Signet Office and other Records upon the like occasions That it was the unquestionable Priviledge of Parliaments to complain of any Person of any degree and their proceedings in relation to the Duke should not prejudice either Crown or Kingdom That they were willing to Supply his Necessities Liberally and Faithfully if Additions might be made of other things which concerned his Service and were now in Consultation
whereupon the Commons fell upon the memorable Petition of Right and after several of the Members had delivered their Opinions at large concerning some Clauses in it the Lords agreed that without any Addition or Preface it should be presented to the King the Substance whereof was 1. They do pray his most Excellent Majesty That no man hereafter be compelled to make or yield any Gift Loan Benevolence Tax or such like Charge without common consent by Act of Parliament and that none be called to make Answer or to take such Oath or to give Attendance or be confined or otherwise be molested or disquieted concerning the same or for Refusal thereof 2. That no Freeman be taken and imprisoned or be disseised of his Freehold of Liberty or his free Customs or be outlawed or exiled but by the lawful Judgment of his Peers or by the Laws of the Land 2. That your Majesty would be pleased to remove the Souldiers and Marriners now Billeted in several Counties and that your People may not be so burdened for the time to come 4. That the late Commissions for proceeding by Martial Law may be revoked and annulled and that hereafter no Commission of like Nature may Issue forth to any Person or Persons whatsoever to be Executed least by colour of them any of your Majesties Subjects be destroyed or put to death contrary to Law and the Franchises of the Law All which we most humbly pray your most Excellent Majesty as their Rights and Liberties according to the Laws and Statutes of this Realm And that your Majesty would also vouchsafe to declare That all Awards Doings or proceedings to the prejudice of your People shall not be drawn hereafter into consequence and Example After this there came a Letter from the King to the House of Lords wherein among other things His Majesty declared it to be his Royal pleasure which God willing he would ever continue and constantly maintain That neither he nor his Privy Council should or would hereafter command to Prison or otherwise restrain the Persons of any for not lending Money nor for any Cause which in his Conscience did not concern the publick good nor would he be drawn to pretend any cause wherein his judgment was not fully satisfied This Sir Thomas Wentworth afterwards Earl of Strafford said Was a Letter of Grace but that the People were not so satisfied but by a Parliamentary way That the debate would spend much time That it was not directed to the House of Commons and that the Petition it self would rectify all mistakes When the Petition of Right was presented to the King the Answer following was quickly returned The King willeth that Right be done according to the Laws and Customs of the Realm and that the Statutes be put in due Execution that his Subjects may have no cause to complain of any wrong or Oppressions contrary to their just Rights and Liberties to the Preservation Whereof he holds himself in Conscience as well obliged as to that of his Prerogative This Answer being Read in the House of Commons was not judged Satisfactory and therefore upon their Humble Petition for a clear and satisfactory Answer to the Petition of Right His Majesty to shew how free and candid his Concessions were to his Subjects sent them this short but full Answer Soit Droit Lait come il est desire Let it be done according to your desire Which Answer was Received with the general joy and Satisfaction of both Houses and the Citizens made Bonefires and Rung Bells and his Majesty for further Satisfaction was pleased to receive into Favour Abbot Archbishop of Canterbury Bishop Williams and several others His Majesty likewise suffered the Commission of Loan and Excise to be cancelled in his presence so that all discontents of every side seemed to be banished In 1628 the Fourth year of his Majesties Reign the Parliament not being satisfied of their former disappointment about the Duke of Buckingham drew up another Remonstrance against him and likewise against Bishop Neal and Bishop Laud which they presented to the King with the Bill of Subsidies His Majesty telling them That he expected not such a Return for his favourable Answer to the petition of Right and as for the Grievances he would take time to consider of them An Information being likewise Exhibited against the Duke in the Star Chamber for divers Offences and Misdemeanors an Order was made in that Court that all proceedings thereupon should be taken off the File by the Kings express Will and Pleasure And because it had been reported by a Member of Parliament that the Duke should say at his Table Pish it matters not what the Parliament doth for without my leave and Authority they shall not be able to touch the Hair of a Dog The Duke made Protestation in the House of Lords That be never had those words so much as in his Thoughts But the King being resolved to hold up the Duke sent so brisk an Answer to their Remonstrances as provoked the Commons who had soon forgot his Majesties late Act of Grace to question his taking Tunnage and Poundage which being of too valuable consideration to be hazarded his Majesty obviated by Adjourning the Parliament to the 20th of October there being several Acts passed by them One About the Lords day Another To restrain the sending any to be Popishly bread beyond the Seas Another for Confirmation of the Subsidies granted by the Clergie and for the grant of Five Entire Subsidies upon the Temporality and divers more Much about this time Dr. Lamb who was in great Favour with the Duke of Buckingham and had been formerly twice Arraigned once for Necromancy and another time for a Rape was killed by the furious Multitude in Lothbury who hated him both for his own sake and the Dukes he being called the Dukes Devil and though he were guarded by four Constables and their Attendants yet the Rabble struk him down beat out one of his eyes and left him half dead on the Ground from whence he was called to the Poultrey Counter where he died according to his own Prediction the year before being pitied by few and loved of none The Earl of Denbigh having a while since sailed with Fifty Ships to the relief of Rochel was repelled with much loss so that despairing of Success he returned back to Plymouth whereupon another Expedition was resolved on with a more considerable Navy and the Duke of Buckingham was designed Admiral who going to Portsmouth in order to hastning of business one John Felton a Leiutenant stabbed him to the heart with a Knife which the Murtherer flying left sticking in his Body till the Duke himself dragg'd it out and immediately after died Felton was soon apprehended by the Servants and laden with Irons and being asked what inclined him to commit so horrid an Action He boldly answered He killed him for the cause of God and his Countrey He likewise fastned a Paper in the Crown of his
his Secretary of Scotland that he expects their particular demands which he receives in three days all tending to require a Parliament to be called in England without which there could be no satisfactory redress for them they had likewise before their March into England published a Declaration called The Intentions of the Army viz. Not to lay down Arms till the Reformed Religion were setled in both Nations upon sure grounds and the Causes and Abbettors of their present Troubles that is Arch-Bishop Laud and the Earl of Strafford were brought to publick Justice in Parliament At the same time Twelve English Peers that is the Earls of Bedford Hartford Essex Warwick Mulgrave Bristol Bullingbrook Say and Seal Mandevil Howard Brook and Paget drew up a Petition which they delivered to the King for the sitting of the Parliament After which divers others were presented to the same purpose from the City of London and several other parts of the Kingdom all centring in this that nothing could relieve the Pressures of the Kingdom but a Parliament To this the King condescends in part giving hope likewise of further satisfaction ere long and 〈◊〉 the present Summons the Lords to appear at Yorâ— Sep. 24. which they did and upon the first day oâ— their meeting it was agreed That a Parliameâ—â— should be called to meet November 3 following anâ— then for the relief of the North sorely suffering under Leslies Army the Bishoprick of Durham beinâ— then taxed 360 l. and Northumberland 300 l. a day it was resolved that a Treaty should be set on Fooâ— and that Sixteen English Lords should meet with as many Scots and York was proposed for the placâ— of Treaty which the Scotch Commissioners refused as not judging it safe by reason of the presence oâ— the Earl of Strafford who hath proclaimed them Traytors in Ireland and was now chief Commander of the Kings Army and a Capital Enemy to their Nation and against whom they had matter of high Complaint therefore it was concluded to be held at Rippon where among other things it was agreed that the Scotch Army should be maintained by the English till the Treaty was ended and peace secured that there should be a safe Convoy for all Letters between the Scots and the Parliament of England The first of these Articles seemed unreasonable and dishonourable to the English Nation and the Earl of Strafford was so offended thereat that he desired leave of the King to give them Battel and was willing as he writ to Arch-Bishop Laud to undertake upon the Peril of his Head with his Army of English Grashoppers to beat those Sons of Anak home again for so much Superlour were the Scots then accounted to the English as to matter of Souldiers but October 16. the English Commanders whether through Fear Favour or out of a Political Maxim not to fight against the Scots condescended to Articles of Agreement which were afterward signed by the King himself This Treaty of Rippon was but previous to another of higher Importance at London for a general concluding and making up all differences between the King and his Subjects of Scotland during which Treaty James Earl of Montross made several Applications to the King and by Letters offered his service to him testifying his disslike of the Scotâ—ish Proceedings but these his Letters were said to have been secretly taken out of the Kings Pockets and conveyed to the Covenanters by the means of Hamilton who understanding Montross his design used all means to render him odious to the People and so unserviceable to the King And now the time approached for the sitting of the Parliament who accordingly met November 3. 1640 which was looked upon by Arch-Bishop Laud as a fatal day for Summoning of Parliaments in reference to Church matters the Parliament in King Henry the Eighths time which pulled down Abbies and Monasteries being likewise Assembled upon November 3. Whereupon he advised the King for lucks sake to put off their meeting for 2 or 3 dayes but the King not minding any such Observations did not regard it To give some Account of the temper of those times it may not be amiss to repeat the words of a Person of Honour who was then a Member of the House of Commons and hath lately published some Passages concerning that Parliament Never Parliament saith he was assembled when the People were in an higher discontent then at this time such a general Diffidence there was as they thought themselves sure of nothing the increase of Ceremonies made them fear the approach of a Religion hateful to them the laâ—â— business of Ship-money together with some Impâ—sitions without the consent of Parliament causeâ— them to apprehend the loss of Property in the Estates and they had little hope of Redress 〈◊〉 Parliaments because his then Majesty had beeâ— so unhappy as to be put upon a sudden Dissolutioâ— of all Parliaments formerly by him called Theâ— wanted not Persons ill disposed and seditious 〈◊〉 trumpet these things in the ears of the generalty whereby they incensed them so far as thereâ—â— they found means to raise a Power against theâ—â— Soveraign Mr. William Lenthal was Chosen Speaker of thâ— House of Commons and the King in a Speech tâ—â—â— them that the Scottish Troubles were the Cause oâ— their present Meeting and therefore requires theâ— to consider of the most expedient means for caâ—â—ing them out and then promises that he will heaâ—tily and clearly concurr with them for the satisfying their just Grievances After which he gaâ—â— them an Account of his want of Money for thâ— Maintaining of his Army and how dishonourablâ— it would be to the English Nation if his Armâ— should be disbanded before the Scots were put ouâ— of the Kingdom and desired them to consider oâ— the Oppression of the Northern Countreys during thâ—… Treaty It was ill resented by many that the King should call the Scots Rebels whereupon he took occasion to tell them that he must needs call them Rebels as long as they have an Army which did invade England The Commons then Voted down all Monopolies and all such Members as had any benefit by them were expelled out of the House Complainâ— was made in the House of Lords against Sir William Beecher one of the Clerks of the Council for violating their Priviledges in searching the Earl of Warwicks and the Lord Brooks Studies Cabinets and Pockets upon the dissolving the last Parliament upon which he was committed Prisoner to the Fleet though he pleaded the Command of the Secretary of State for his so doing The Earl of Strafford is Impeached of High Treason by the Commons in the House of Lords whereupon he is sequestred from the House and likewise his Friend Sir George Ratcliff is sent for out of Ireland by a Serjeant at Arms In the mean time the Bishop of Lincoln who was Prisoner in the Tower is released and likewise Mr. Pryn and Mr. Burton who are brought in great Triumph to London and
Nicholas and Sir Lewes Dives signifying That if the King would openly declare his mind and betake himself to some place of security that he might come freely to him he doubted not but he should do him some acceptable Service These Letters were intercepted by the Parliament and by them after perusal sent to the King with their Intreaties to him That he would perswade the Queen not to correspond with Digby or any other whom his Great Council had proclaimed Traytors There was a Report that the Parliament intended to Accuse the Queen of High-Treason as one that had so much power with the King to misadvise him this rumour the Parliament exused as a publick Scandal upon them which she seemed satisfied with yet provides against the danger and therefore prevails with the King to accompany her Daughter Mary Princess of Orange into Holland carrying with her all the Kings and her own Jewels together with those entailed upon the Crown intending with those and some other Assistance to raise a Party sufficient to maintain the King and his Regalities against the Parliament In the mean time Mr. Pym at a Conferrence complaining of the General Flocking of Papists into Ireland affirmed That since the Lieutenant had ordered a stop upon the Ports against all Irish Papists many of the Chief Commanders now in the head of the Rebels had been licensed to pass thither by his Majesties immediate Warrant The King was highly offended at this Speech which he signified to the House who in their Answer to his Message justifie Mr. Pym's words to be the sense of the House and That they had yet in safe Oustody the Lord Delvin Sir George Hamilton Colonel Butler Brother to the Lord Miniard now in Rebellion and one of the Lord Nettervils Sons To which the King replies That he thought Mr. Pym 's Speech was not so well grounded as it ought to have been and that the aforementioned persons had their Passes granted before he knew of the Parliaments Order of Restraint and therefore expected their Declaration for his Vindication from thut odious calumny of conniving or underhand favouring that abhorred Irish Rebellion But this His Majesties desire proved fruitless for they next moved the King to turn out Sir John Byron out of the Lieutenancy of the Tower and at their Nomination Sir John Conyers succeeded they then proceeded to name fit Persons for trust of the Militia in the several Counties and by Act of Parliament Disabled all Clergy-men from exercising Temporal Jurisdiction After which the King by a Message offers them To require by Proclamation all Statutes concerning Popish Recusants to be put in Execution That the seven Condemned Popish Priests shall be Banished and all Romish Priests within twenty days shall depart the Kingdom That he refers the consideration of Church Government and Liturgy wholly to the Houses and offers to go himself in Person against the Rebels in Ireland But the Commons were now busie about a Petition for Vindicating their Five Members wherein they desire the King to send them the Informers against the said Members or otherwise to desert their Prosecution would not suffice because the whole Parliament was concerned in the Charge And then they proceeded to settle the Militia for the defence of the Parliament Tower and City of London under the Command of Serjeant Major General Skippon who had formerly been an Experienced Souldier in the Low-Countries The King had deferred his Answer to their Petition for settling the Militia of the Counties according to their nomination till his return from Dover where he took leave of his Wife and Daughter and so returned to Greenwich from whence he sent to Hampton Court for his two Eldest Sons to come to him though contrary to the mind of the Parliament who would have disswaded him from it And now the Parliament thought fit to consider of the reducing of Ireland and ordered two Millilions and an half of those Acres to be Confiscate of Rebels Lands in Four Provinces shall be allotted to such Persons as will disburse Money for carrying on that War and several other Provisions were made for their Security which the King confirms Feb. 26. 1641 and in pursuance thereof a considerable Sum of Money was raised the People being generally free in their Contributions The King being now at Greenwich sends this Answer to the Petition about the Militia That he is willing to condescend to all the Proposals concerning the Militia of the Counties and the Persons mentioned but not of London and other Corporations whose Government in that particular he thought it neither Justice nor Policy to alter but would not consent to divest himself of the Power of the County Militia for an indefinite time but for some limited space This Answer did not satisfie so that the Breach growing daily wider the King declined these parts and the Parliament and removed to Theobalds taking with him the Prince and the D. of York About the beginning of March he receives a petition from the Parliament wherein they require the Militia more resolutely than before affirming Than in case of denial the imminent dangers would constrain them to dispose of it by Authority of Parliament desiring also that he would make his abode near London and the Parliament and continue the Prince at some of his Houses near the City for the better carrying on of Affairs and preventing the Peoples Jealousies and Fears All which being refused They presently Order That the Kingdom be put into a posture â—f Defence in such a way as was agreed upon by Parliament and a Committee to prepare a publick Declaration from these two Heads 1. The just Causes of the Fears and Jealousies given to the Parliament at the same time clearing themselves from any Jealousies conceived against himself 2. To consider of all matters arising from his Majesties Message and what was fit to be done And now began our Troubles and all the Miseries of a Civil War the Parliament every day entertaining or pretending to entertain new Jealousies and Suspicions of the Kings Actions which howsoever in complement they made shew of imputing only to his Evil Council yet obliquely had had too great a Reflection upon his Person They now proceed on a sudden to make great preparations both by Sea and Land and the Earl of Northumberland Admiral of England is commanded to rig the Kings Ships and fit them for Sea and likwise all Masters and Owners of Ships were perswaded to do the like The Beacons were repaired Sea-marks set up and extraordinary posting up and down with Pacquets all sad Prognosticks of the Calamities ensuing The King being now at Roysion March 9 the Earls of Pembrook and Holland bring him the Parliaments Declaration and read it to him wherein they represent to him some former miscarriages As the attempts to incense the late Nor hern Army against the Parliament The Scotish Troubles L. Jermins Treasons and Transportation by the Kings Warrant The Petition delivered to Captain