Basiliká the works of King Charles the martyr : with a collection of declarations, treaties, and other papers concerning the differences betwixt His said Majesty and his two houses of Parliament : with the history of his life : as also of his tryal and martyrdome.

His MAJESTIE's Letter to the Judges concerning Ship-money.

To Our Trusty and Well-beloved, Sir John Bramston, Knight, Chief Justice of Our Bench, Sir John Finch, Knight, Chief Justice of Our Court of Common Pleas, Sir Humphrey Davenport, Knight, Chief Baron of Our Court of Exchequer, and to the rest of the Judges of Our Courts of Kings Bench, Common Pleas, and the Barons of Our Court of Exchequer.

CHARLES R.

TRusty and Well-beloved, We greet you well. Taking into Our Princely conside∣ration, that the Honour and Safety of this Our Realm of England, the preserva∣tion whereof is only entrusted to Our care, was and is more nearly concerned in late than former times, as well by divers counsels and attempts to take from us the Domi∣nion of the Seas, of which We are sole Lord and rightful Owner, or Proprietor, and the loss whereof would be of greatest danger and peril to this Kingdom, and other Our Dominions, as many other ways; We, for the avoiding of these and the like dangers, well weighing with Our self, that where the good and safety of the Kingdom in gene∣ral is concerned, and the whole Kingdom in danger, there the charge and defence ought to be born by all the Realm in general, did, for the preventing so publick a mis∣chief, resolve with Our self to have a Royal Navy prepared, that might be of force and power (with Almighty God's blessing and assistance) to protect and defend this Our

Realm and Our Subjects therein from all such perils and dangers: and for that purpose We issued forth Writs under Our Great Seal of England, directed to all Our Sheriffs of Our several Counties of England and Wales, commanding thereby all Our said Subjects in every City, Town and Village, to provide such a number of Ships, well furnisht, as might serve for this Royal purpose, and which might be done with the greatest equali∣ty that could be. In performance whereof, though generally throughout all the Coun∣ties of this Our Realm We have found in Our Subjects great chearfulness and alacrity, which We graciously interpret as a testimony as well of their dutiful affection to Us and Our service, as of the respect they have to the Publick, which well becometh every good Subject: nevertheless finding that some few, haply out of ignorance what the Laws and Customs of this Realm are, or out of a desire to be eased in their particulars, how general soever the charge be or ought to be, have not yet paid and contributed to the several Rates and Assessments that were set upon them; and foreseeing in Our Princely Wisdom, that from thence divers Suits and Actions are not unlikely to be commenced and prosecuted in Our several Courts at Westminster; We, desirous to avoid such inconveniences, and out of Our Princely love and affection to all Our People, be∣ing willing to prevent such errors as any of Our loving Subjects may happen to run into, have thought fit, in a case of this nature, to advise with you Our Judges, who We doubt not are well studied and informed in the Rights of Our Sovereignty: And be∣cause the Trials in Our several Courts by the formalities in pleading will require a long protraction, We have thought fit by this Letter directed to you all, to require your Judgment in the Case, as it is set down in the inclosed Paper; which will not only gain time, but also be of more authority to over-rule any prejudicate opinions of others in the point.

Given under Our Signet at Our Court of White-hall, the second day of February, in the twelfth year of Our Reign, 1636.

C. R.

CHARLES R.

WHen the good and safety of the Kingdom in general is concerned, and the whole Kingdom in danger, whether may not the King, by Writ under the Great Seal of England, command all the Subjects in His Kingdom at their charge to provide and furnish such number of Ships with Men, Victuals and Munition, and for such time as He shall think fit, for the defence and safeguard of the Kingdom from such danger and peril; and by Law compel the doing thereof, in case of refusal or refractoriness: And whether in such case is not the King the sole judge both of the Danger, and when and how the same is to be prevented and avoided.

The Answer of the Judges.

MAY it please Your most Excellent Majesty, We have, according to Your Majestie's com∣mand, severally and every man by himself, and all of us together, taken into 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 Eng∣land, command all the Subjects of this Your Kingdom, at their charge to provide and furnish such number of Ships with Men, Victual, Munition, and for such time as Your Majesty shall think fit, for the defence and safeguard of the Kingdom from such peril and danger: And that by Law Your Majesty may compel the doing thereof in case of refusal or refractoriness. And we are also of opinion, that in such case Your Majesty is the sole judge both of the Danger, and when and how the same is to be prevented and avoided.

• John Bramston.
• John Finch.
• Humphrey Davenport.
• John Denham.
• Richard Hutton.
• William Jones.
• George Crook.
• Thomas Trevor.
• George Vernon.
• Robert Barkly.
• Francis Crauley.
• Richard Weston.