Duke could alter it 4. That when the Ordinance were shipt at S. Martins the Duke caused the Souldiers to go one that they might be destroyed 5. That the Duke said he had an Army of 16000. Foot and 1200. Horse 6. That King Iames his bloud and Marquess Hambletons with others cries out for vengeance to Heaven 7. That he could not expect any thing but ruine of this Kingdom 8. That Prince Henry was poysoned by Sir Thomas Overbury and he himself served with the same sawce and that the Earl of Sommerset could say much to this 9. That he himself had a Cardinal to his Uncle or near Kinsman whereby he had great intelligence A Privy Seal for the transporting of Horses 30 January 3. CAROLâ— CHarles by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland defendor of the faith c. To the Treasurer and under Treasurer of our Exchequer for the time being greeting We do hereby will and command you out of our Treasury remaining in the receipt of the said Exchequer forthwith to pay or cause to be paid unto Phillip Burlamachi of London Merchant the summ of 30000 l. to be paid by him over by Bill of Exchange unto the Low-Countries and Germany unto our trustie and well be loved Sir William Balfoore Knight and Iohn Dalber Esquire or either of them for levying and providing certain numbers of Horse with Arms for Horse and Foot to be brought over into this Kingdom for our service 〈◊〉 For the levying and transporting of a 1000 Horse 15000 l. for 5000 Muskets 5000 Corslets 5000 Pikes 10500 l. and for 1000 Curasiers compleat 200 Corslets and 200 Carbines 4500 l. Amounting in the whole to the said summ of 30000 l. And this our Letter shall be your sufficient warrant and discharge in this behalf Given under our privy Seal at our Palace of Westminster 30. of Ianuary in the third year of our raign The Commission to the Lords and others of the privy Councel concerning the present raising of money CHARLES by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland defender of the faith c. To Sir Thomaâ— Coventry Lord Keeper of the great Seal of England Iames Earl of Marlburgh Lord Treasurer Henry Earl of Manchester Lord President of the Councel Edward Earl of Worcester Lord Keeper of the privy Seal George Duke of Buckingham our high Admiral of England William Earl of Pembroke Lord Steward of our Houshould Phillip Earl of Mongommery Lord Chamberlain of our Houshould Theophilus Earl of Suffolk Edward Earl of Dorcet William Earl of Salisbury Thomas Earl of Exceter Iohn Earl of Bridgwater Iames Earl of Carlile Henry Earl of Holland William Earl of D. George Earl of Totnes Sir George Hay Knight Lord Chaunceller of Scotland William Earl of Moâ—ton Thomas Earl of Kelly Thomas Earl of Melros Edward Viscount Conway one of our principall Secritaries of State Edward Viscount Wimbleton Oliver Viscount Grandison Henry Viscount Falkland Lord Deputy of Ireland To the Lord Bishop of Winchester William Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells Fulk Lord Brook Dudly Lord Carleton vice Camberlain of our Houshould Sir Thomas Edmonds Treasurer of our Houshould Sir Iohn Savill Comptroller of our Houshould Sir Robert Nawton Master of our Court of Wards Sir Iohn Cooke one of the principal Secritaries of our State Sir Richard Weston Chancellor and under Treasurer of our Exchequer Sir Iulius Caesar Master of the Roll. Sir Humfry May Knight Chancellor of our Dutchy of Lancaster GREETING WHereas the present Conjuncture of the pressing affairs of Christendom and our own particular interest in giving assistance to our oppressed Allies and for the providing for the defence and safety of our own dominions And people do call upon us to neglect nothing that may conduce to those good ends And because monies the principall sinews of War and one of the first and chiefest in all great preparations and actions necessary to be provided in the first place and we are carefull the same may be raised by such ways as may best stand with the State of our Kingdoms and Subjects and yet may answer the pressing occasions of the present times We therefore out of the experience we have had and for the trust we repose in your wisdoms fidelities and dutifull care of your services and for the experience you have of all great causes concerning us and our State both as they have relation to forraign parts abroad and as to our Common-Wealth and People at home Ye being Persons called by us to be of our privy Councel have thought fit amongst those great and important matters which somuch concern us in the first and chiefest place to recommend this to your â—peciall care and dilligence And we do hereby authorize and appoint and stricktly will and require you speedily and seriously to enter into consideration of all the best and speediest ways and means yee can for raising of money for the most important occasions aforesaid which without extreamest hazard to us our dominions and people and to our friends and Allies can admit of no long delay The same to be done by imposition or otherwise as in your wisdom and best Judgments ye shall finde to be most convenient in a case of this inevitable necessity wherein form and circumstance must be dispensed with rather then the substance be lost or hazarded And herein our will and pleasure is that you or as many of you as from time to time can be spared from attendanc upon our Person or other our necessary services do use all dilligence by your frequent meetings and serious consultations and when you have brought any thing to maturity ye make report thereof unto us and advertise us of those things ye shall either resolve upon or thinck fit to represent unto us for the advancement of this great service which with the greatest affection we can we recommend to your best care and Iudgement Whereof you must not fail as you tender our honour and the honour and safety of our Dominions and People and for the doing hereof these presents shall be to you and every of you a sufficient warrant In witness whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made Letters Patents Witnes our selfe at Westminster the last day of February in the third yeare of our Raigne Per ipsum Regem Articles to be propounded to the Captains and Masters as well English as French touching the service in hand at ROCHEL 4. May 1628. the ships rideing before the Town 1. WHether in your opnion and judgments by the means and strength we have the Floates and Pallizadoes may be forced and the entrance into the Town may be thereby made for the victuallers 2. If you shall think it fit what in your opinions will be the best and readiest way to open the same 3. Whether you hold it fit to send in the victuallers at the same instant together with the fire ships and barks considering that if it should not take
Iames Perotte SIr Iames Perotte complaineth further of some instruments of the Bishop of London and Doctor Turner who denied the License of printing the Articles of Ireland That diverse books have been licensed by the Bishop of Londons Chapplains and then refuse the same declaring they are of a contrary opinion and have given license to Mr. Chomley and Mr. Butterfield and therefore would not give license to these Mr. Pym MAster Pym doth make a full Report of all the proceedings against Mr. Mountague since the last Parliament of King Iames. Sir Robert Phillips REported from Mr. Attorney that my Lord of Dorset spoke to him to hasten the Pardons and that he received a Warrant from the King for drawing them that my Lord Carleton brought another Warrant from the King for drawing these pardons telling him that he must make expedition therein and he must draw the same as the Councel of the parties did direct the same That Mr. Attorney having made a rough Draught being often urged to expedition by the Bishop of Winchester he sent the same to the Bishop who inter-lined and corrected the same adding the names of Cosens Manwering and Sibthorp to the pardon That Mr. Attorney may be asked whether any of these Lords were made acquainted with the affidavit about Cosens A Messenger is sent to the Lord Keeper to know the reason wherefore he made stop of the Great Seal and by what solicitations he was prest thereunto Thursday 5. A Petition in complaint of an imposition upon Mault by the Citie of London was this day preferred to the House which is prefered to the Committee for Grievances Some differences being observed in the Articles as in the twentieth Article c. a Committee is to Compare the old and new Articles with the Records at Lambeth and consider how all those differences come in Mr. Long COmplaineth that a Prosecution hath been against him in the Star-chamber for sitting in this House the last Session he being High Sheriff of Wiltshire and chosen Burgess of Bath in Somersetshire The Preachers are to be chosen to morrow at the Committee for Religion Mr. Ogle IS called who averreth his Petition and will prove the same by witnesses It is Ordered that Cosens shall have intimation to attend to answer here if he will on Munday come fortnight to be sent for by a Serâ—cant at Arms and if he be not of the Convocation but if he be then to have notice by the Speakers letters and if thereupon he appear not then to proceed with him as is usuall in like Cases If Witnesses be sent for to this House in any Publick business they are to pay their own Charges Secretarie Cook SAith He hath very now received from a Noble person this Message from his Majestie That he hath appointed the eighteenth of this Moneth for the Fast for this place and the twentieth of the next Moneth for the whole king dom Sir Robert Phillips MOveth in the behalf of the Lord Peircie that having a Cause in dispute in the Lords House and three Members of this House being of his Counsel desires they may have leave to plead his Cause Which being conceived to be a Cause that is not to receive any Judgement here it is granted Friday A Petition exhibited against one Wittington a Papist in Northumberland Ordered to be sent for by a Serjeant at Arms. Mr. Harris of St. Margarets Westminster Mr. Harris of Hanwell in Oxfordshire Mr. William Fitz-Ieofferies of Cornwall are chosen for three Preachers for the day of the Fast and for the precedence is referred to the Preachers themselves Mr. Shervill REported one Parson Scall procured the Pardon for Mountague one Bartholomew Baldwin solicited the Pardon for Manwering There is also another Pardon found to be granted to Manwering pardoning the Judgement late he had given by the High Court of Parliament and all sums due to the King thereby Sir Nathaniel Ritch THat we may do somewhat which may give content to those who sent us hither and make expedition to the business of his Majestie and the Common-wealth That therefore the business of Mr. Mountague may be expedited to the Lords that they may enter into these things as well as we The Councel of Mr. Iones the Printer are to be heard upon Munday next Sir O. Roberts REporteth from the Committee sent to Mr. Attorney that Mr. Attorney staid for the Affidavits taken by Sir Euball Thelwall That one Health a Gentleman of Grays-Inne told Mr. Attorney that Cosens should say that the King was not supream of the Church and that he had no more to do with Religion than he that rubs his horse heels Mr. Attorney acquainted the King whereupon the King charged him to make a strict Inquisition herein but the King would not believe the same to be true Mr. Attorney sent for his Kinsman again and being examined he said so as affidavits were made thereon There was further certificate from the Dean and others at Durham so that the business was much lessened thereby but Mr. Attorney pressing the business further casually met with the Bishop of Winchester who said to Mr. Attorney that this business will come to nothing and King that made the affidavit was but a vain fellow The Affidavit of Thomas King was read which verifieth the same Mr. Selden made the rest of this Report and delivered the Warrant by which Mr. Attorney drew the Pardons for the Bishop of Winchester The effect was that what Mr. Mountague had done or writ was not out of any ill meaning such a Pardon should be drawn as Mr. Mountagues Councel should direct This Warrant was under the Lord Dorchester being the Lord Carleton Mr. Selden delivereth likewise the Copie of the Pardon interlined and razed by the Lord Bishop of Winchester Sir Iohn Elliot HEre is high Treason upon oath a Deposition upon oath an opposition is not in Law to be admitted for here is not onely an Admission but an Invitation of Certificates for defence and allowed to sway the case of so high a nature that therefore the parties that made the Affidavits and Mr. Attorney may be examined to make a better disquisition in this for I fear the intimation of the Bishop of Winchester swayed too far with Mr. Attorney Be matter true or false the neglect of the dutie of the Attorney is not to be excused I am much grieved to see his Majesties mercie run so readily to these kind of persons and his justice so readily upon others trifling occasions nay upon no occasions nay upon no occasion onely the misinformation of some Minister Mr. Attorney being by Writ to attend the Lords House cannot be injoyned to attend this House or to appear upon Warrant wherefore Mr. Littleton and Mr. Selden being of the same Inne of Court have undertaken to give notice to Mr. Attorney that there being an accusation here against him he may here answer and satisfie the House on Munday next Saturday A Bill against Spirituall Symonie
the Court. Ordered Mr. Long to be here on Thurseday Morning Ordered That the Justices about this time shall be required to deliver in the names of all Recusants remaining about the Town and their conditions and what Countrey they be It is Moved That the Gentlemen of the Inns of Court and of the Chancerie may give in their knowledge what Recusants are there Sir Iohn Stanhope That the Court may give in the names of Recusants there likewise by what Warrant these be about the Town and what publick charge of Office any of these persons have also what Priests and Iesuites are in any prison in London for they have libertie sometimes to go five miles to say Mass. Wednesday 18. A Publick Fast was kept by this House in Westminster where were three Sermons Thursday 19. MAster Dawes one of the Customers called in to answer the point of Priviledge in taking Mr. Rolles his goods being a Member of this House saith he took Mr. Rolles goods by virtue of a Commission under the great Seal and other warrants remaining in the hands of Sir Iohn Elliot That he knew Mr. Rolles to be a Parliament man and Mr. Rolles demanded his Priviledge but he did understand his Priviledge to extend onely to his person not to his goods Mr. Dawes further saith he took those goods for such duties as were due in King Iames his time and that the King sent for him on Saturday last and commanded him to make no other answer Mr. Carmarthen another Customer called in saith he knew Mr. Rolles to be a Parliament man and that he told Mr. Rolles he did not find any Parliament man exempted in their Commission and if all the bodie of this House were in him he would not deliver the goods if he said he said he would not it was because he could not Mr. Wansforth That the delinquence of these men may be declined for the present and that we may first go to the King by way of Remonstrance considering the matter from whence this did arise If it were a single Priviledge it were easily determined Mr. Selden If there be any near the King that misâ—â—â—sents our actions let the curse light on them and not on us And 〈◊〉 it it is high time to right our selves and untill we vindicate our selves in this it will be in vain to sit here Sir Nathaniel Ritch moveth not to proceed in this untill it be by a select Committee considered in regard the King himself gave order to stay these goods though the goods of a Parliament man Sir Iohn Eliot The heart-bloud of the Libertie of the Common-wealth receiveth its life from the Priviledge of this House Resolved by question that this shall be presently taken into consideration And being conceived a business of great consequence It is Ordered That the House shall be dissolved into a Committee for the more freedome of debate Mr. Harbert in the Chair of that Committee Friday 20. A Petition of Complaint of a Conspiracie against a mans life by the Lord Deputie of Ireland and others to get the estate of the Petitioner to their own use Which is referred to the Committee for Justice Sir Iohn Worsnam another of the Customers called in saith he was commanded from the King that the goods were taken for duties and no more that he was sought to to Farm the Customs and told the King being sent for to him that he was not willing to deal therein untill the Parliament had granted the same Mr. Selden Conceiveth the case of these three Customers do differ in the degrees of their offences First for Sir Iohn Worsnam whatever he saith here he hath often confessed the goods were taken for Tonnage and Poundage so that as he broke the Priviledge in taking the goods so likewise his swearing one thing and the contrarie plainly appeareth upon proof and his own confession Mr. Dawes his cause differeth onely in this Sir Iohn Worsnam is a Patentee and Dawes onely a sharer Mr. Carmarthens cause differeth in saying if all the Parliament were in him he would not deliver his goods Ordered that Worsnams case shall be first decided And first the point is Whether by the Lease Sir Iohn Worsnam having seised the goods hath interest or no or whether he be onely an accounter to the King or not Mr. Glanvile Here is a sum of money advanced a Lease granted for certain years a certain Rent reserved and though there be a covenant to these men that if there be less it shall be abated yet that cannot take away their interest The substance of the offences made by the Customers in the Exchequer is that the goods of the Merchants seised by them and remaining in the Kings Store-house were seised onely for duties to the King mentioned in a Commission under the Kings signet and that themselves the Customers had no interest nor pretence of interest Saturday 21. A Petition by Mr. Thomas Symons in further complaint of the Customers and the Two shillings Six pence upon the Currants granted to the Lord Arrundell which is referred to the Committee for Merchants Sir Robert Pye saith The Lord of Arrundell hath delivered in his Pattent to the King two months since At the Committee for Merchants MAster Littleton argued whether a Member of the House hath his goods priviledged upon a Prorogation being seised for the King All Priviledge is allowed for the good of the Common-wealth and the Parliament Priviledge is above any other the Parliament onely can decide Priviledge of Parliament not any other Judge or Court whatsoever That a man may not distrain for rem in Parliament time but for all arrears after the Parliament he may distrain he is not to be imployed in any action personal nor his goods to be seised in the Exchequer A Record and Act of Parliament by Petition that because the servant of a Member of the Parliament is in the Kings Royal protection that it might be High Treason to kill a Parliament man and the King answered affirmatively which made it a Law And for the Judges to determin priviledge of Parliament were to supersede the Law and make it void For the Prorogation the Priviledge stands good untill the day of Prorogation notwithstanding a Proclamation of a new Prorogation That the King is never so high in point of State as in the Parliament Citeth the case of Sir Robert Howard in High Commission All Priviledges unless in Felonie Treason or breach of Peace Sir Robert Phillips Thus you see how fast the Prerogative of the King doth trench on the Libertie of the Subject and how hardly recovered Citeth many Presidents wherein the goods of a Member of the Parliament were Priviledged from seizure in the Exchequer In 19 Eliz. it was resolved in Parliament that 20 days before and 20 days after was the time of Priviledge Chancellor of the Dutchie That in this debate we may tie our selves to point of Law and Authoritie not to point of Reason And conceiveth that
Person that committed the Prisoner was understood for the Causâ— captionis or Causâ— detentionis but onely the reason why that Power or Person committed the Prisoner as also in common speech if a man ask why and for what cause a man stands committed the answer is not that such a one committed him but his offence or some other cause is understood in the question and is to be shewed in the Answer But to say that such an one committed the Prisoner is an answer to the question who committed him and not why or for what cause he stands committed Then for that of the Coppy of the Report of 13. Iac. shewed forth by M r. Attorney it was answered That the Report it self which had been before seen and perused among many other things at a Committee made by the House was of sleight or no Authority for that it was taken by one that was at that time a young Student onely and was a Reporter in the Kings-bench and there was not any other Report to be found that agreed with it Secondly although the Reports of young Students when they take the words of Judges as they fall from their mouth at the Bench and in the Person and form as they are spoken may be of good credit Yet in this Case there was not one word so reported but in truth there being three Cases a time in the Kings-bench one Ruswell and one Allen and one Saltonstall every of which had something of like nature in it the Student having been present in the Court made up the form of one Report or Case out of all those three in his own words and so put it into his book so that there is not a word in the Report but is framed according to the Students fancie as it is written and nothing is expressed in it as it came from the mouth of the Judges otherwise then his fancie directed him Thirdly there are in the Report plain falshoods of Matter of Fact which are to be attributed either to the Judges or to the Reporter It is most likely by all reason that they proceeded from the Reporters fault but however those Matters of falshood shew sufficiently that the credit of the rest is of slight value for the purpose It is said in the Report that Harecourt being committed by the Councel was bayled in 40. Eliz. upon a privy Seal or a Letter where as there was no such thing in truth And it is said there that no such kinde of Letters are filed there in any case whatsoever That resolution of the Judges in 34. is miscited there and in 36. of Queen Eliz. and it is said there that by that resolution a Prisoner returned to be committed by the command of the Councel might not at all be delivered by the Court whereas no such thing is comprehended in that resolution But that which is of most moment is that howsoever the truth of the report were yet the opinion of the Judges being sudden without any debate had of the case is of fleight moment For in difficult points especially the gravest and most learned men living may on the sudden let fall and that without disparragement to them such opinions as they may well and ought to change upon further enquiry and examination and full debate had before them and mature deliberation taken by them Now plainly in that case of the 13. Iacob there is not so much as pretence of any debate at Bar or Bench. All that is reported to have been is reported as spoken upon the sudden and can any man take such a sudden opinion to be of value against solemne debates and mature deliberation since had of the point and all circumstances belonging to it which have within this half year been so fully examined and searched into that it may well be affirm'd that the learned'st man whatsoever that hath now considered of it hath within that time or might have learned more reason of satisfaction in it then ever before he met with Therefore the sudden opinions of any Judge to the contrary is of no value here Which also is to be said of that opinion obviously delivered in the Commons House 18. Iac. as M r. Attorney objected out of the Journal book of the House But besides neither was the truth of that report of that opinion in the Journal any way acknowledged For it was said in behalf of the House of Commons that their Journals were for matter of order and resolutions of the House of such Authority as that they were as their Records but for any particular Mans opinion noted in any of them it was so far from being of any Authority with them that in truth no particular opinion is at all to be entered in them and that their Clerks offend when ever they do the contrary And to conclude no such opinion whatsover can be sufficient to weaken the clear Law comprehended in these resolutions of the House of Commons grounded upon so many Acts of Parliament so much reason of Common Law and so many Presidents of Record and the resolution of all the Judges of Englaâ—d and against which no Law written not one President not one reason hath been brought that makes any thing to the contrary And thus to this purpose ended the next day of the Conference desired by the Lords and had by a Committee of both Houses The Proceedings against the Earle of SUFFOLK 14. April 1628. MR. Kerton acquainted the House how that the Earle of Suffolk had said to some Gentlemen that M r. Selden had razed a Record and deserved to be hanged for going about to set division betwixt the King and his Subjects And being demanded to whom the words were spoken he was unwilling to name any till by question it was resolved he should nominate him He then named S r. Iohn Strangwaies who was unwilling to speak what he had heard from the Earle but being commanded by the House and resolved by question he confessed That upon Saturday last he being in the Committee Chamber of the Lords the Earle of Suffolk called him unto him and said Sir Iohn will you not hang Selden To whom he said for what The Earle replied By God he hath razed a Record and deserves to be hanged This the House took as a great injury done to the whole House M r. Selden being imployed by them in the conference with the Lords in the great cause concerning the Liberty of the Persons of the Subjects The House presently sent S r. Robert Philips with a message to the Lords to this effect He expressed the great care the Commons had upon all occasions to maintain all mutual respect and correspondency betwixt both Houses Then he informed them of a great injury done by the Earle of Suffolk to the whole house and to M r. Selden a particuler Member thereof who by their Command had been imployed in the late conference with their Lordships That the House was very sensible thereof and
to shew clearly it shall not be his fault if this be not a happy Parliament His Majesty hath commanded me to desire this House clearly to let him know whether they will rest upon his Royal word and promise made at several times and especially by my Lord Keepers Speech made in his own presence which if they do he doth assure you that it shall be royally and really performed After speaking of himself and the nature of his place under his Majesty he proceeded in these words GIve me leave freely to tell you that I know by experience that by the place I hold under his Majesty if I will discharge the duty of my place and the Oath I have taken to his Majesty I must commit and neither express the cause to the Jaylor nor to the Judges nor to any Councellour in England but to the King himself yet do not think I go without ground fo reason or take this power committed to me to be unlimmitted Yea rather it is to me a charge burthen and danger for if I by this power shall commit the poorest porter if I do it not upon a just cause if it may appear the burthen will fall upon me heavier then the Law can inflict for I shall loose my credit with his Majesty and my place And I beseech you consider whether those that have been in the same place have not committed freely and not any doubt made of it nor any complaint made by the Subject Veneris 2. May 1628. A Report was this day made from the grand Committee for grievances concerning the cause of Nicholas Clegat Cittizen and Vintner of London imprisoned by the Lord Major and Aldermen of the said Citie for refusing to lend a certain summe of money assessed upon him by the Company of Vintners of London whereof he is free towards the proportion of money imposed upon the Company by an Act of Common-Councel of the said Citie in pursuance of a contract of Land with his Majesty By which report it appeared that the said grand Committee had unanimously agreed that the said Citie might make Acts of Councel so as they were consonant to Law and reason and for regulating and deciphering of trade agreeable to reason and the Law of the Realm and might leavy money of the Cittizens by Act of Common-Councel for building or repairing of their Walls Gates or making or cleansing of Sewers or other like causes tending to the general and publick good and welfare of the Citie or towards Triumphs or other like occasions tending to the Honour of the Citie in general but could not by such Act of Common-Councel tax or leavy money towards the purchasing of Lands or other like occasion forreign to the government of the Citie Whereupon it is resolved by the House of Commons super totam materiam that the said Commitment of the said Nicholas Clegat was unlawfull and that a Petition should go from the House to his Majesty for the inlargement of the said Nicholas Clegat his commitment by the Lord Major and Aldermen being since strengthned by special command Henry TOMPSON one of the Shrieffs and Robert HENISVVORTH Alderman of the Citie of YORK their submission for their indirect chusing of S r. Thomas SAVIL Knight I Henry Tompson one of the Shrieffs of the Citie of York do hereby acknowledge to have offended the Lord Major and all the Cominalty of the Citie by the undue pronouncing and return of S r. Thomas Savil Knight to be one of the Cittizens to serve in this Parliament for the said Citie whereas I ought of right to have pronounced and returned in his place M r. Thomas Royle Alderman of the said Citie I am hartily sorry for my said offence and misdemeanour and crave pardon of my Lord Major and all the Cominalty and in particuler of the said Alderman Hoyl for the same I Robert Henisworth Alderman of the Citie of York do acknowledge that I have offended the Lord Major and all the Cominalty of of the said Citie by my undue preparing and practising the election of S r. Thomas Savill Knight to be chosen one of the Cittizens for the said Cittie of York to serve in this present Parliament I am hartily sorry for my said offence and do desire my Lord Major and all the said Cominalty to pardon me for the same Propositions drawn for the defence of this Kingdom and the annoyance of the enemies of the same by Sea THat every Shire in England shall be injoyned on the charge of the Countrey to set forth one Ship well maned and victualled for 7. Moneths and to be of the burthen of 500 300 or 140. Tuns at the least according to the ability of the Shire in the opinion of the State That every Port or Sea-Town according to their abillity be injoyned to do the like London may well furnish 10. Bristol 3. and the rest according to their abillity And such of the Sea-Towns as are not of abillity to set forth Ships of the burthen aforesaid to furnish out Pinnaces of 60 or 80 Tuns for Light-Horsmen or Intelligencers Those Ships will amount to 80. Sail and above and these to be divided into 4. Squadrons adjoyning unto every Squadron one of the Kings Ships for their Admiral The first Squadron to lye off and on the Western Ilands and as â—igh as theiâ— aâ—â—ries for 〈◊〉 men the Caracks and the Plate-Fleet and all other trading that way 〈…〉 The fourth Squadron to keep the Narrow Seas to awe the Dunkerkers to take all the French trade and so Northward and this Squadron to be still relieved with fresh Ships as the other shall grow foul or come to any misfortune so as this Squadron may continually keep the Seas most part of the year That no Master of these Ships be owner or have any part in her that he goeth in Master of for they will be unwilling to bring their Shin in fight or danger and use many tricks and devices especially if there be an ignorant Captain Therefore it is expedient likewise that every Shire should nominate a Captain for the Ship that they furnish out for the avoiding of ignorant and insufficient Captains That in London Pâ—rtsmouth or elsew here where the State shall think fit there be Store-houses appointed for the receipt of such Prizes as shall be taken by any of the 4. Squadrons That every County or Sea-Town that furnisheth the said shipping may nominate and have a Master of their own free election that may have power in the behalf of the Counties and Sea-Towns as the other Officers that shall be appointed for the King for the opening of decks of the Prizes receiving the goods into the said Store-houses and for the divideing and disposing them according That what Prizes any of the 4. Squadrons shall take be brought into one of the Port Towns where those Store-houses are appointed and the benefit of all Prizes what Squadron soever of the 4. sendeth them in be divided the Kings part