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XXXI. To the Lords and Commons, at His passing the Bills for taking away the High Commission and Star-Chamber, and regulating the Council-Table, July 5. MDCXLI.
I Come to do the Office which I forbore to do on Saturday last, to give determination to these two Bills. But before I do it, I must tell you, that I cannot but be very sen∣sible of those reports of discontent that I hear some have taken for not giving My consent on Saturday. Me thinks it seems strange that any one should think, I could pass two Bills of that importance that these were without taking some fit time to consider of them; for it is no less than to alter, in a great measure, those Fundamental Laws, Eccle∣siastical and Civil, which many of My Predecessors have established.
If you consider what I have done this Parliament, discontent will not sit in your hearts: For I hope you remember that I have granted, That the Judges hereafter shall hold their places quam diu se bene gesserint; I have bounded the Forests, not according to My Right, but according to late Customs; I have established the Property of the Subjects, witness the free giving, not taking away, the Ship-money; I have established by Act of Parliament the Property of the Subject in Tonnage and Poundage, which never was done in any of My Predecessors times; I have granted a Law for Triennial Parliaments, and given way to an Act for the securing of Moneys advanced for the disbanding of the Ar∣mies; I have given free course of Justice against Delinquents; I have put the Law in execution against Papists:
Nay, I have given way to every thing that you have asked of Me; and therefore Me thinks you should not wonder if in some things I begin to refuse. But I hope it shall not hinder your progress in your great affairs, and I will not stick upon trivial matters to give you content. I hope you are sensible of these beneficial favours bestowed on you at this time.
To conclude, You know that by your consent there is a prefixed time set for my going into Scotland, and there is an absolute necessity for it; I do not know but that things may so fall that it may be shortned: Therefore I hope you will hasten the dispatching of those great businesses that now are necessary to be done, and leave trivial and superficial mat∣ters to another meeting.
For My part, I shall omit nothing that may give you just contentment, and study no∣thing more than your happiness, and thereof I hope you shall see a very good testimony by passing these two Bills.
LE ROY LE VEULT.
I have one word more to speak to you, and I take now an occasion to present it unto both Houses, that thereby all the world shall see that there is a good understanding be∣tween Me and My People.
It is concerning My Nephew the Prince Elector Palatine, who having desired Me and the King of Denmark to give way to a Writing concerning the Deit at Ratisbone with the Emperour, I could not but send My Ambassador to assist him, though I am afraid I shall not have so good an Answer as I expect; which My Nephew foreseeing, hath desired Me, for the better countenance of the same, to make a Manifesto in My Name: which is a thing of great consequence, and should I do it alone, without the advice of My Par∣liament, it would rather be a scorn than otherwise: Therefore I do propose it unto you, that if you will advise Me to it, I think it were very fit to be published in My Name.