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 MAJESTIES DECLARATIONS CONCERNING HIS PROCEEDINGS IN HIS FOUR FIRST PARLIAMENTS.

A Declaration of the true Causes which moved His MAJESTY to Assemble, and after inforced Him to Dissolve the First and Second Meet∣ings in Parliament.

THE King's most Excellent Majesty, since His happy access to the Im∣perial Crown of this Realm, having by His Royal Authority sum∣moned and assembled two several Parliaments, the first whereof was in August last by adjournment held at Oxford, and there dissolved, and the other begun in February last, and continued until the fifteenth day of this present month of June, and then to the unspeakable grief of Him∣self and (as He believeth) of all His good and well-affected Subjects, dissolved also; although He well knoweth the the calling, adjourning, proroguing and dissolving of Parliaments, being His Great Council of the Kingdom, do peculiarly belong unto Himself by an undoubted Prerogative inseparably united to His Imperial Crown, of which, as of His other Regal Actions, He is not bound to give an account to any but to God only, whose immediate Lieutenant and Vicegerent He is in these His Realms and Dominions, by the Divine Providence committed to His Charge and Govern∣ment: yet forasmuch as, by the assistance of the Almighty, His purpose is so to or∣der Himself and all His Actions, especially the great and publick Actions of State concerning the weal of His People, as may justifie themselves not only to His own Conscience and to His own People, but to the whole World; His Majesty hath thought it fit and necessary, as the Affairs now stand both at home and abroad, to make a true, plain and clear Declaration of the causes which moved His Majesty to assemble, and after inforced Him to dissolve these Parliaments; that so the mouth of Malice it self may be stopped, and the doubts and fears of His own good Sub∣jects at home, and of His Friends and Allies abroad, may be satisfied, and the deserved blame of so unhappy accidents may justly light upon the Authors there∣of.

When His Majesty, by the death of His dear and Royal Father of ever-blessed memory, first came to the Crown, He found himself ingaged in a War with a potent Enemy, not undertaken rashly, nor without just and honourable grounds, but in∣forced, for the necessary defence of Himself and His Dominions, for the support of His Friends and Allies, for the redeeming of the ancient honour of this Nation, for the recovering of the Patrimony of His dear Sister, her Consort and their Children, injuriously and under colour of Treaties and Friendship taken from them, and for the maintenance of the true Religion; and invited thereunto and incouraged therein by

the humble advice of both the Houses of Parliament, and by their large promises and protestations to His late majesty, to give Him full and real assistance in those Enterpri∣ses which were of so great importance of this Realm, and to the general Peace and Safety of all His Friends and Allies. But when His majesty entred into a view of His Treasure, He found how ill provided He was to proceed effectually with so great an Action, unless He might be assured to receive such Supplies from His loving Subjects as might inable Him to manage the same.

Hereupon His majesty being willing to tread in the steps of His Royal Progenitors, for the making of good and wholsome Laws for the better government of His people, for the right understanding of their true Grievances, and for the supply of moneys to be imployed for those publick services, He did resolve to summon a Parliament with all convenient speed He might; and finding a former Parliament already called in the life of His Father, He was desirous, for the speedier dispatch of His weighty affairs and gaining of time, to have continued the same without any alteration of the members thereof, had He not been advised to the contrary by His Judges and Coun∣sel at Law, for that it had been subject to question in Law, which He desired to avoid. But as soon as possibly He could, He summoned a new Parliament, which He did with much confidence and assurance of the love of His People, that those who not long before had with some importunity won his Father to break off his former Treaties with Spain, and to effect it had used the mediation of his now majesty, being then Prince and a member of the Parliament, and had promised in Parliament their uttermost assistance for the inabling of his late majesty to undergo the War which they then foresaw might follow, would assuredly have performed it to his now majesty, and would not have suffered him in his first Enterprise of so great an expectation to have run the least hazard through their defaults.

This Parliament (after some adjournment by reason of his majestie's unavoidable occasions interposing) being assembled on the eighteenth day of June, it is true that his Commons in Parliament, taking into their due and serious consideration the manifold occasions which at his first entry did press his majesty, and his most im∣portant affairs which both at home and abroad were then in action, did with great readiness and alacrity, as a pledge of their most bounden Duty and Thankfulness, and as the first-fruits of the most dutiful affections of his loving and loyal Subjects devoted to his service, present his majesty with the free and chearful gift of two en∣tire Subsidies; which their gift, and much more the freeness and heartiness expressed in the giving thereof, his majesty did thankfully and lovingly accept. But when he had more narrowly entred into the consideration of his great affairs wherein he was imbarked, and from which he could not without much dishonour and disadvantage withdraw his hand, He sound that this summe of money was much short of that which of necessity must be presently expended for the setting forward of those great actions which by advice of his Council he had undertaken, and were that Summer to be pursued. This his majesty imparted to his Commons House of Parliament: but before the same could receive that debate and due consideration which was fit, the fear∣ful visitation of the Plague in and about the Cities of London and Westminster, where the Lords and the principal Gentlemen of quality of his whole Kingdom were for the time of this their service lodged and abiding, did so much increase, that his majesty, without extream peril to the lives of His good Subjects, which were dear unto him, could not continue the Parliament any longer in that place.

His Majesty therefore on the eleventh day of July then following adjourned the Par∣liament from Westminster until the first day of August then following, to the City of Oxford; and his Highness was so careful to accommodate his Lords and Commons there, that, as He made choice of that place, being then the freest of all others from the danger of that grievous Sickness, so He there fitted the Parliament-men with all things convenient for their entertainment: and his Majesty himself being in his own heart sincere and free from all ends upon his people (which the Searcher of hearts best knoweth) He little expected that any misconstruction of His Actions would have been made, as He there found. But when the Parliament had been a while there assembled, and His Majestie's Affairs opened unto them, and a further supply desired, as necessity required, He found them so slow and so full of delays and diversions in their resoluti∣ons, that before any thing could be determined, the fearful Contagion daily increased, and was dispersed into all the parts of this Kingdom, and came home even their doors where they were assembled.

His Majesty therefore rather preferred the safety of His People from that present and visible danger, than the providing for that which was more re∣mote, but no less dangerous to the state of this Kingdom, and of the affairs of that part of Christendom which then were and yet are in friendship and alliance with His Majesty; and thereupon His Majesty, not being then able to discern when it might please God to stay His hand of Visitation, nor what place might be more secure than other at a time convenient for their re-assembling, His Majesty dissolved that Parliament.

That Parliament being now ended, His Majesty did not therewith cast off His Royal care of His great and important affairs; but by the advice of His Privy Coun∣cil and of His Council of War, He continued His preparations and former resolu∣tions, and therein not only expended those moneys which by the two Subsidies aforesaid were given unto Him for His own private use, whereof He had too much occasion, as He found the state of His Exchequer at His first entrance; but added much more of His own, as by His credit and the credit of some of His Servants He was able to compass the same. At last, by much disadvantage by the retarding of provisions and uncertainty of the means, His Navy was prepared and set to Sea, and the designs unto which they were sent and specially directed were so probable and so well advised, that had they not miscarried in the execution, His Majesty is well assured they would have given good satisfaction not only to His own people, but to all the world, that they were not lightly or unadvisedly un∣dertaken and pursued. But it pleased God, who is the Lord of Hosts, and unto whose Providence and good pleasure His Majesty doth and shall ever submit Himself and all His endeavours, not to give that success which was desired. And yet were those attempts not altogether so fruitless as the envy of the Times hath apprehended, the Enemy receiving thereby no small loss, and our party no little advantage; and it would much avail to further His Majestie's great affairs and the Peace of Christendom, which ought to be the true end of all hostility, were these first beginnings, which are most subject to miscarry, well seconded and pursued, as His Majesty intended, and as, in the judgment of all men conversant in actions of this nature, were fit not to have been neglected.

These things being thus acted, and God of his infinite Goodness, beyond ex∣pectation, asswaging the rage of the Pestilence, and in a manner of a sudden re∣storing health and safety to the Cities of London and Westminster, which are the fittest places for the resort of His Majesty, His Lords and Commons, to meet in Par∣liament, His Majesty in the depth of Winter, no sooner descried the probability of a safe assembling of His people, and in His Princely Wisdom and Providence fore∣saw, that if the opportunity of seasons should be omitted, preparations both defen∣sive and offensive could not be made in such sort as was requisite for their common safety, but He advised and resolved of the summoning of a new Parliament, where He might freely communicate the necessities of the State, and by the counsel and ad∣vice of the Lords and Commons in Parliament, who are the representative body of the whole Kingdom, and the great Counsel of the Realm, He might proceed in these enterprises, and be inabled thereunto, which concern the common good, safety and honour both of Prince and People; and accordingly the sixth of February last a new Par∣liament was begun.

At the first meeting His Majesty did forbear to press them with any thing which might have the least appearance of His own Interest, but recommended unto them the care of making of good Laws, which are the ordinary subject for a Parliament: His Majesty believing that they could not have suffered many days, much less many weeks, to have passed by, before the apprehension and care of the common safety of this Kingdom, and of the true Religion prosessed and maintained therein, and of Our Friends and Allies, who must prosper or suffer with us, would have led them to a due and a timely consideration of all the means which might best conduce to those ends: which the Lords of the higher House by a Committee of that House did timely and seasonably consider of, and invited the Commons to a Conference concerning that great business; at which Conference there were opened unto them the great occasions which pressed His Majesty: which making no impression with them, His majesty did, first by message, and after by Letters, put the House of Commons in mind of that which was most necessary, the defence of the Kingdom, and due and timely prepa∣rations for the same.

The Commons House after this, upon the seven and twentieth of March last, with one unanimous consent at first agreed to give unto His Majesty three intire Subsidies and three Fiteens for a present supply unto Him; and upon the six and twentieth of April after, upon second cogitations they added a fourth Subsidy, and ordered the days of payment for them all; whereof the first should have been on the last day of this present month of June. Upon this, the King of Denmark and other Princes and States being ingaged with His Majesty in this Common Cause, His Majesty fitted His occa∣sions according to the times which were appointed for the payment of those Subsidies and Fifteens, and hastned on the Lords Committees and His Council at War to per∣fect their resolutions for the ordering and setting of His designs: which they accor∣dingly did, and brought them to that maturity, that they found no impediment to a final conclusion of their Counsels, but want of money to put things into Action. His Majesty hereupon, who had with much patience expected the real performance of that which the Commons had promised, finding the time of the year posting away, and having intelligence, not only from His own Ministers and Subjects in forein parts, but from all parts of Christendom, of the great and powerful preparations of the King of Spain, and that His design was upon this Kingdom, or the Kingdom of Ireland, or both, (and it is hard to determine which of them would be of worst consequence) He acquainted the House of Commons therewith, and laid open unto them truly and clearly how the state of things then stood, and yet stand, and at several times and up∣on several occasions re-iterated the same. But that House being abused by the violent and ill-advised Passions of a few members of the House, for private and personal ends, ill beseeming publick persons trusted by their Country, as then they were, not only neglected, but wilfully refused to hearken to all the gentle admonitions which His Majesty could give them, and neither did nor would intend any thing but the prosecu∣tion of one of the Peers of this Realm; and that in such a disordered manner, as be∣ing set at their own instance into a Legal way, wherein the proofs on either part would have ruled the cause, which His Majesty allowed, they were not therewith content, but in their intemperate passions and desires to seek for errors in another, fell into a greater error themselves, and not only neglected to give just satisfaction to His Maje∣sty in several cases which happened concerning His Regality, but wholly forgot their ingagements to His Majesty for the publick defence of the Realm: whereupon His Majesty wrote a Letter to the Speaker, dated the ninth day of June, 1626. in these words.

TRusty and well-beloved, We greet you well. Our House of Commons cannot forget how often and how earnestly We have called upon them for the speeding of that aid which they intend unto Vs for Our great and weighty Affairs, concerning the safety and honour of Vs and Our Kingdoms; and now the time being so far spent, that unless it be presently conclu∣ded, it can neither bring Vs money nor credit by the time which themselves have prefixed, which is the last of this month, and being further deferred would be of little use, We being daily advertised from all parts of the great preparation of the Enemy ready to assail us, We hold it necessary by these Our Letters to give them Our last and final admonition, and to let them know, that We shall account all further delays and excuses to be express denials: and there∣fore We will and require you to signifie unto them, that We do expect that they forthwith bring forth their Bill of Subsidy to be passed without delay or condition, so as it may fully pass that House by the end of the next week at the furthest; which if they do not, it will force Vs to take other resolutions. But let them know, that if they finish this according to Our desire, that We are resolved to let them sit together for the dispatch of their other affairs, and after their recess to bring them together again the next Winter. And if by their denial or delay any thing of ill consequence shall fall out either at home or abroad, We may call God and man to witness, that We have done Our part to prevent it, by calling Our people together to advise with Vs, by opening the weight of Our occasions unto them, and by requiring their timely help and assistance in those Actions wherein We stand ingaged by their own Counsels. And We will and command you, that this Letter be publickly read in the House.

Notwithstanding which Letter read in the House, being a clear and gracious mani∣fest of His Majesty's resolutions, they never so much as admitted one reading to the Bill of Subsidies; but in stead thereof they prepared and voted a Remonstrance or De∣claration, which they intended to prefer to His Majesty, containing (though pallia∣ted with glosing terms) as well many dishonourable aspersions upon His Majesty, and upon the Sacred memory of His deceased Father, as also dilatory excuses for their not

proceeding with the Subsidies, adding thereto also coloured conditions, crossing there∣by His Majestie's direction, which His Majesty understanding, and esteeming (as He had cause) to be a denial of the promised Supply, and finding that no admonitions could move, no reasons or perswasions could prevail, when the time was so far spent, that they had put an impossibility upon themselves to perform their promises, when they esteemed all gracious Messages unto them to be but interruptions; His Majesty upon mature advisement discerning that all further patience would prove fruitless, on the fifteenth day of this present month He hath dissolved this unhappy Parliament: the acting whereof as it was to his Majesty an unexpressible grief; so the memory thereof doth renew the hearty sorrow which all His good and well-affected Subjects will com∣passionate with Him.

These passages his Majesty hath at the more length and with the true Circumstances thereof expressed, and published to the world, lest that which hath been unfortunate in it self, through the Malice of the authors of so great a mischief, and the malevolent Report of such as are ill-affected to this State or the true Religion here professed, or the fears or jealousies of Friends and dutiful Subjects, might be made more unfortunate in the Consequences of it, which may be of worse effect than at the first can be well appre∣hended. And his Majesty, being best privy to the integrity of His own heart, for the constant maintaining of the sincerity and unity of the true Religion professed in the Church of England, and to free it from the open contagion of Popery and secret infe∣ction of Schism, of both which by His publick Acts and Actions He hath given good testimony, and with a single heart, as in the presence of God, who can best judge thereof, purposeth resolutely and constantly to proceed in the due execution of either; and observing the subtilty of the adverse party, He cannot but believe that the hand of Joab hath been in this disaster, that the common Incendiaries of Christendom have sub∣tilly and secretly insinuated those things which unhappily (and, as his Majesty hopeth, beyond the intentions of the Actors) have caused these diversions and distractions: and yet notwithstanding His most Excellent Majesty, for the comfort of His good and well∣affected Subjects, in whose loves He doth repose Himself with confidence, and esteem∣eth it as his greatest riches; for the assuring of his Friends and Allies, with whom, by God's assistance, He will not break in the substance of what he hath undertaken; for the discouraging of his Adversaries, and the adversaries of his Cause, and of his Do∣minions and Religion, hath put on this resolution, which He doth hereby publish to all the world; That as God hath made him King of this great People and large Do∣minions, famous in former Ages both by Land and Sea, and trusted him to be a Fa∣ther and Protector both of their persons and fortunes, and a Defender of the Faith and true Religion: so He will go on chearfully and constantly in the defence thereof, and (notwithstanding so many difficulties and discouragements) will take his Scepter and Sword into his hand, and not expose the persons of the people committed to his charge to the unsatiable desires of the King of Spain, who hath long thirsted after an universal Monarchy, nor their Consciences to the yoke of the Pope of Rome; and that at home he will take care to redress the just Grievances of his good Subjects as shall be every way fit for a good King.

And in the mean time his Majesty doth publish this to all his loving Subjects, that they may know what to think with truth, and speak with duty, of his Majesties Acti∣ons and Proceedings in these two last dissolved Parliaments.

Given at His Majestie's Palace at White-Hall, this thirtieth day of June, in the Se∣cond year of His Majestie's Reign of Great Britain, France, and Ireland.

His MAJESTIE's Declaration to all His Loving Subjects, of the Causes which moved Him to dissolve His Third Parliament. Published by His Majestie's special command.

By the KING. A Proclamation about the dissolving of the Parliament.

WHereas We, for the general good of Our Kingdom, caused Our High Court of Parliament to assemble and meet by Prorogation the twentieth day of January last past, sithence which time the same hath been continued: and although in this time, by the malevolent dispositions of some ill-affected persons of the House of Commons, We have had sundry just causes of offence and dislike of their proceedings; yet We re∣solved with patience to try the uttermost, which We the rather did, for that We found in that House a great number of sober and grave persons, well affected to Religion and Government, and desirous to preserve Unity and Peace in all parts of Our Kingdom; and therefore having on the five and twentieth day of February last, by the uniform Ad∣vice of Our Privy Council, caused both Houses to be adjourned until this present day, hoping in the mean time that a better and more right understanding might be begotten between Us and the Members of that House, whereby this Parliament might have an happy end and issue; and for the same intent, We did again this day command the like Adjournment to be made until the tenth day of this month: It hath so happened by the disobedient and seditious carriage of those said ill-affected persons of the House of Com∣mons, that We and Our Regal authority and Commandment have been so highly con∣temned, as Our Kingly Office cannot bear, nor any former Age can parallel. And therefore it is Our full and absolute resolution to dissolve the same Parliament; whereof We thought good to give notice unto all the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and to the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses of this present Parliament, and to all others whom it may concern, that they may depart about their needful affairs, without attending any longer here. Nevertheless We will that they and all others should take notice, that We do and ever will distinguish between those who have shewed good affection to Religion and Government, and those that have given themselves over to Faction, and to work disturbance to the Peace and good order of our Kingdom.

Given at Our Court at White-hall, this second day of March, in the fourth year of Our Reign of Great Britain, France, and Ireland.

God save the KING.

His MAJESTIE's Speech at the Dissolving of the Parliament.

My Lords,

I Never came here upon so unpleasant an occasion, it being the Dissolution of a Parli∣ment. Therefore men may have some cause to wonder why I should not rather chuse to do this by Commission, it being a general Maxim of Kings, to leave harsh com∣mands to their Ministers, Themselves only executing pleasing things. Yet considering that Justice as well consists in reward and praise of Vertue as punishing of Vice; I thought it necessary to come here to day, to declare to you and all the world, that it was meerly the undutiful and seditious carriage in the lower House that hath made the Disso∣lution of this Parliament. And you, my Lords, are so far from being causes of it, that I take as much comfort in your dutiful demeanors, as I am justly distasted with their pro∣ceedings. Yet to avoid mistakings, let me tell you, that it is so far from me to adjudge all the House alike guilty, that I know that there are many there as dutiful Subjects as any in the world; it being but some few Vipers amongst them that did cast this mist of undutifulness over most of their eyes: yet to say truth, there was a good number there that could not be infected with this contagion; insomuch that some did express their duties in speaking; which was the general fault of the House the last day. To conclude,

as these Vipers must look for their reward of punishment; so you, my Lords, may just∣ly expect from Me that favour and protection that a good King oweth to His loving and dutiful Nobility.

And now, my Lord Keeper, do what I have commanded you.

His MAJESTIE's Declaration to all His loving Subjects, of the Causes which moved Him to Dissolve the Parliament.

HOwsoever Princes are not bound to give account of their Actions but to God alone; yet for the satisfaction of the minds and affections of Our loving Subjects, We have thought good to set down thus much by way of Declaration, that We may appear to the world in the truth and sincerity of Our own Actions, and not in those colours in which We know some turbulent and ill-affected Spirits (to masque and disguise their own wicked intentions, dangerous to the State) would represent Us to the publick view.

We assembled Our Parliament the seventeenth day of March, in the third year of Our Reign, for the safety of Religion, for securing Our Kingdoms and Subjects at home, and Our Friends and Allies abroad: and therefore at the first sitting down of it We de∣clared the miserable afflicted estate of those of the Reformed Religion in Germany, France and other parts of Christendom; the distressed extremities of Our dearest Uncle the King of Denmark, chased out of a great part of his Dominions; the strength of that par∣ty which was united against Us; that (besides the Pope and house of Austria and their ancient Confederates) the French King professed the rooting out of the Protestant Reli∣gion; that of the Princes and States on Our party some were over run, others diverted, and some disabled to give assistance. For which and other important motives We pro∣pounded a speedy supply of Treasure, answerable to the necessities of the Cause.

These things in the beginning were well resented by the House of Commons, and with much alacrity and readiness they agreed to grant a liberal aid: But before it was brought to any perfection they were diverted by a multitude of questions raised amongst them concerning their Liberties and Priviledges, and by other long disputes, that the Bill did not pass in a long time; and by that delay Our affairs were put into far worse case than at the first, Our forein actions then in hand being thereby disgraced and ruined for want of timely help.

In this, as We are not willing to derogate from the merit and good intentions of those wise and moderate men of that House (to whose forwardness We attribute it that it was propounded and resolved so soon,) so We must needs say, that the delay of pas∣sing it when it was resolved, occasioned by causless jealousies stirred up by men of ano∣ther temper, did much lessen both the reputation and reality of that supply: and their spirit infused into many of the Commissioners and Assessors in the Country, hath re∣turned up the Subsidies in such a scanty proportion as is infinitely short, not only of Our great Occasions, but of the precedents of former Subsidies, and of the intentions of all well-affected men in that House.

In those large disputes, as We permitted many of Our high Prerogatives to be deba∣ted, which in the best times of Our Predecessors had never been questioned without pu∣nishment or sharp reproof; so We did endeavour to have shortned those debates, for winning of time, which would have much advantaged Our great Affairs both at home and abroad: And therefore both by Speeches and Messages We did often declare Our gracious and clear resolution to maintain, not only the Parliament, but all Our People, in their ancient and just liberties, without either violation or diminution; and in the end, for their full satisfaction and security, did by an answer, framed in the from by themselves desired, to their Parliamentary Petition, confirm their ancient and just Li∣berties and Rights; which We resolve with all Constancy and Justice to maintain.

This Parliament, howsoever, besides the setling Our necessary Supply and their own Liberties, they wasted much time in such proceedings (blasting Our Government) as We are unwilling to remember, yet We suffered to sit until themselves desired us to ap∣point a time for their recess, not naming either Adjournment or Prorogation.

Whereupon, by advice of Our Council, We resolved to Prorogue, and make a Sessi∣on: and to that end prefixed a day, by which they might (as was meet in so long a sit∣ting) finish some profitable and good Laws; and withal gave order for a gracious par∣don to all Our Subjects: which, according to the use of former Parliaments, passed the higher House, and was sent down to the Commons. All which being graciously inten∣ded by Us, was ill entertained by some disaffected persons of that House, who by their

artifices in a short time raised so much heat and distemper in the House, for no other visible cause, but because We had declared Our resolution to prorogue, as Our Counsel advised, and not to adjourn, as some of that House (after Our resolution declared, and not before) did manifest themselves to affect; that seldom hath greater passion been seen in that House upon the greatest occasions. And then some glances in the House, but open rumors abroad, were spread, that by the Answer to the Petition We had given away not only Our Impositions upon goods exported and imported, but the Tonnage and Poundage: whereas in the debate and hammering of that Petition there was no speech or mention in either House concerning those Impositions, but concerning Taxes and other charges within the Land; much less was there any thought thereby to debar Us of Tonnage and Poundage, which both before and after the Answer to that Petition, the House of Commons, in all their Speeches and Treaties, did profess they were wil∣ling to grant. And at the same time many other misinterpretationss were raised of that Petition and Answer, by men not well distinguishing between well-ordered liberty and licentiousness; as if by Our Answer to that Petition We had let loose the Reins of Our Government. And in this distemper, the House of Commons laying aside the pardon (a thing never done in any former Parliament) and other businesses fit to have been concluded that Session, some of them went about to frame and contrive a Remonstrance against Our receiving of Tonnage and Poundage; which was so far proceeded in, the night before the prefixed time for concluding the Session, and so hastened by the con∣trivers thereof, that they meant to have put it to the Vote of the House the next morn∣ing, before We should prorogue the Session. And therefore finding Our gracious fa∣vaours in that Session afforded to Our people so ill requited, and such sinister strains made upon Our Answer to that Petition, to the diminution of Our Profit, and (which was more) to the danger of Our Government; We resolved to prevent the finishing of that Remonstrance, and other dangerous intentions of some ill-affected persons, by ending the Session the next morning some few hours sooner than was expected, and by Our own mouth to declare to both Houses the causes thereof; and, for hindring the spread∣ing of those sinister interpretations of that Petition and Answer, to give some necessary directions for setling and quieting Our Government until another meeting, which We performed accordingly the six and twentieth of June last.

The Session thus ended and the Parliament risen, that intended Remonstrance gave Us occasion to look into that business of Tonnage and Poundage. And therefore, though Our necessities pleaded strongly for Us, yet We were not apt to strain that point too far, but resolved to guide Our self by the practice of former Ages, and examples of Our most Noble Predecessors; thinking those Counsels best warranted, which the wisdom of former Ages concurring with the present occasions did approve: And therefore gave order for a diligent search of Records; upon which it was found, that although in the Parliament holden in the first year of the Reign of King Edward the Fourth, the Subsidy of Tonnage and Poundage was not granted unto that King, but was first granted unto him by Parliament in the third year of his Reign; yet the same was accounted and an∣swered to that King from the first day of his Reign, all the first and second years of his Reign, and until it was granted by Parliament: and that in the succeeding times of King Richard the Third, King Henry the Seventh, King Henry the Eighth, King Ed∣ward the Sixth, Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth, the Subsidy of Tonnage and Poun∣dage was not only enjoyed by every of those Kings and Queens, from the death of each of them deceasing, until it was granted by Parliament unto the Successor; but in all those times, (being for the most part peaceable, and not burthen'd with like charges and necessities as these modern times) the Parliament did most readily and chearfully, in the beginning of every of those Reigns, grant the same, as a thing most necessary for the guarding of the Seas, safety and defence of the Realm, and supportation of the Royal Dignity. And in the time of Our Royal Father, of blessed memory, He enjoyed the same a full year, wanting very few days, before his Parliament began, and above a year before the Act of Parliament for the grant of it was passed: and yet when the Parlia∣ment was assembled, it was granted without difficulty. And in Our own time, We quietly received the same three years and more, expecting with patience in several Par∣liaments the like grant thereof as had been made to so many of Our Predecessors; the House of Commons still professing, that multitude of other business, and not want of willingness on their part, had caused the setling thereof to be so long deferred. And therefore finding so much reason and necessity for the receiving of the ordinary duties in the Custom-House to concur with the practice of such a Succession of Kings and Queens, famous for Wisdom, Justice and Government, and nothing to the contrary, but that

intended Remonstrance hatched out of the passionate brains of a few particular persons; We thought it so far from the wisdom and duty of a House of Parliament, as We could not think that any moderate and discreet man (upon composed thoughts, setting aside passion and distemper) could be against receiving of Tonnage and Poundage; especially since We do and still must pursue those ends, and undergo that Charge, for which it was first granted to the Crown; it having been so long and constantly continued to Our Predecessors, as that in four several Acts of Parliament for the granting thereof to King Edward the Sixth, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, and Our blessed Father, it is in express terms mentioned to have been had and enjoyed by the several Kings named in those Acts, time out of mind, by authority of Parliament. And therefore, upon these reasons, We held it agreeable to Our Kingly Honour, and necessary for the safety and good of Our Kingdom, to continue the receipt thereof, as so many of Our Predecessors had done. Wherefore when a few Merchants (being at first but one or two) fomented, as it is well known, by those evil Spirits that would have hatched that undutiful Remon∣stance, began to oppose the payment of Our accustomed duties in the Custom-house, We gave order to the Officers of Our Customs to go on; notwithstanding that oppositi∣on in the receiving of the usual duties; and caused those that refused to be warned to at∣tend at the Council-board, that by the wisdom and authority of Our Council they might be reduced to obedience and duty: where some of them, without reverence or respect to the honour and dignity of that presence, behaved themselves with such bold∣ness and insolency of speech, as was not to be endured by a far meaner Assembly; much less to be countenanced by a House of Parliament, against the body of Our Privy Council.

And as in this We did what in honour and reason was fit for the present; so Our thoughts were daily intentive upon the re-assembling of Our Parliament, with full in∣tention on Our part to take away all ill understanding between Us and Our people, whose loves as We desired to continue and preserve, so We used Our best endeavours to prepare and facilitate the way to it. And to this end, having taken a strict and exact sur∣vey of Our Government both in the Church and Commonwealth, and what things were most fit and necessary to be reformed, We found in the first place, that much excep∣tion had been taken at a book intituled Appello Caesarem, or An Appeal to Caesar, and pub∣lished in the year 1625. by Richard Mountague, then Batchelour of Divinity, and now Bishop of Chichester: and because it did open the way to those Schisms and Divisions which have since ensued in the Church, We did, for remedy and redress thereof, and for satisfaction of the Consciences of Our good people, not only by Our publick Proclamati∣on call in that Book, which ministred matter of offence; but, to prevent the like danger for hereafter, reprinted the Articles of Religion established in the time of Queen Eliza∣beth of famous memory; and, by a Declaration before those Articles, We did tie and re∣strain all Opinions to the sense of those Articles, that nothing might be left for private fancies and innovation. For We call God to record, before whom We stand, that it is, and always hath been, Our hearts desire to be found worthy of that Title which We ac∣compt the most glorious in all Our Crown, Defender of the Faith: neither shall We ever give way to the authorizing of any thing whereby any Innovation may steal or creep into the Church, but preserve that unity of Doctrine and Discipline established in the time of Queen Elizabeth, whereby the Church of England hath stood and flourished ever since.

And as We were careful to make up all breaches and rents in Religion at home; so did We, by Our Proclamation and Commandment for the execution of Laws against Priests and Popish Recusants, fortifie all ways and approaches against that foreign Enemy: which if it have not succeeded according to Our intention, We must lay the fault where it is, in the subordinate Officers and Ministers in the Country, by whose remissness Jesu∣ites and Priests escape without apprehension, and Recusants from those convictions and penalties which the Laws and Our Commandment would have inflicted on them. For We do profess that, as it is Our duty, so it shall be our care, to command and direct well; but it is the part of others to perform the Ministerial Office. And when We have done Our Office, We shall account Our Self, and all charitable men will accompt Us, innocent both to God and Men: and those that are negligent, We will esteem as culpable both to God and Us; and therefore will expect that hereafter they give Us a better accompt.

And as We have been careful for the setling of Religion and quieting the Church, so were We not unmindful of the preservation of the just and ancient Liberties of Our Sub∣jects; which We secured to them by Our gracious Answer to the Petition in Parlia∣ment, having not since that time done any Act whereby to infringe them; but Our care is, and hereafter shall be, to keep them intire and inviolable, as We would do Our own Right and Sovereignty; having for that purpose enrolled the Petition and Answer in Our Courts of Justice.

Next to the care of Religion and of Our Subjects Rights, We did Our best for the provident and well ordering of that aid and supply which was granted Us the last Sessi∣on; whereof no part hath been wastfully spent, nor put to any other use than those for which it was desired and granted, as upon payment of Our Fleet and Army: wherein Our care hath been such, as We chose rather to discontent Our dearest Friends and Al∣lies, and Our nearest Servants, than to leave Our Souldiers and Mariners unsatisfied, whereby any vexation or disquiet might arise to Our people. We have also with part of those Moneys begun to supply Our Magazines and stores of Munition, and to put Our Navy into a constant form and order. Our Fleet likewise is fitting, and almost in a readiness; whereby the Narrow Seas may be guarded, Commerce maintained, and Our Kingdom secured from all forein attempts. These Acts of Ours might have made this impression in all good minds, that We were careful to direct Our counsels and dis∣pose Our actions so as might most conduce to the maintenance of Religion, honour of Our Government, and safety of Our People. But with mischievous men once ill-af∣fected, Seu bene, seu malè facta premunt: and whatsoever once seemed amiss, is ever re∣membred; but good endeavours are never regarded.

Now all these things, that were the chief complaints the last Session, being by Our Princely care so seriously reformed, the Parliament re assembled the twentieth of Janua∣ry last: We expecting, according to the candor and sincerity of Our own thoughts, that men would have framed themselves for the effecting a right understanding between Us and Our people. But some few malevolent persons, like Empiricks and lewd Ar∣tists, did strive to make new work, and to have some Disease on foot to keep themselves in request, and to be imployed and entertained in the Cure. And yet, to manifest how much offences have been diminished, the Committees for Grievances, Committees for Courts of Justice, and Committees for Trade have since the sitting down of the Par∣liament received few complaints; and those such, as they themselves have not thought to be of that moment or importance with which Our ears should be acquainted.

No sooner therefore was the Parliament set down, but these ill-affected men began to sow and disperse their Jealousies, by casting out some glances and doubtful speeches, as if the Subject had not been so clearly and well dealt with touching their Liberties, and touching the Petition answered the last Parliament. This being a plausible Theme, thought on for an ill purpose, easily took hold on the minds of many that knew not the practice: And thereupon the second day of the Parliament a Committee was appointed to search, whether the Petition and Our Answer thereunto were enrolled in the Parlia∣ment Roll and in the Courts at Westminster, and in what manner the same was done. And a day was then also appointed on which the House, being resolved into a Com∣mittee, should take into consideration those things wherein the Liberty of the Subject had been invaded, against that Petition. This, though it produced no other effect of moment or importance, yet was sufficient to raise a jealousie against Our Proceedings in such as were not well acquainted with the sincerity and clearness of them. There fol∣lowed another of no less skill: for although Our proceeding before the Parliament about matters of Religion might have satisfied any moderate men of Our zealous care thereof (as We are sure it did the most;) yet, as bad stomachs turn the best things into their own nature for want of good digestion, so those distempered persons have done the like of Our good intents, by a bad and sinister interpretation. For when they did observe that many honest and Religious minds in that House did complain of those dangers that did threaten the Church; they likewise took the same word in their mouth, and their cry likewise was Templum Domini, Templum Domini, when the true care of the Church ne∣ver came into their hearts: and what the one did out of zeal unto Religion, the other took up as a plausible Theme to deprave Our Government; as if We, Our Clergy and Council, were either senseless or careless of Religion. And this wicked practice hath been to make Us seem to walk before Our people as if We halted before God.

Having by these Artifices made a jealous impression in the hearts of many, and a day being appointed to treat of the Grant of Tonnage and Poundage; at the time prefixed all express great willingness to grant it: but a new strain is found out, that it could not be done without great peril to the Right of the Subject, unless We should disclaim any right therein but by Grant in Parliament; and should cause all those goods to be restored which upon Commandment from Us or Our Council were stayed by Our Officers, un∣til those duties were payed; and consequently should put Our self out of possession of the Tonnage and Poundage before they were granted: for else it was pretended the Subject stood not in fit case to grant it. A fancy and cavil raised of purpose to trouble the business; it being evident that all the Kings before named did receive that duty, and were in actual

possession of it, before, and at the very time when it was granted to them by Parlia∣ment. And although We, to remove all difficulties, did from Our own mouth, in those clear and open terms that might have satisfied any moderate and well-disposed minds, declare, that it was Our meaning by the gift of Our people to enjoy it, and that We did not challenge it of right, but took it de bene esse, shewing thereby not the right, but the necessity by which We were to take it; wherein We descended for their satis∣faction so far beneath Our self, as We are confident never any of Our Predecessors did the like, nor was the like ever required or expected from them: yet for all this the Bill of Tonnage and Poundage was laid aside, upon pretence they must first clear the right of the Subject therein; under colour whereof they entertain the complaints not only of John Rolls, a member of their House, but also of Richard Chambers, John Fowkes and Bar∣tholomew Gilman, against the Officers of Our Customs, for detaining their goods upon refusal to pay the ordinary duty accustomed to be paid for the same. And upon these complaints they send for the Officers of the Customs, enforcing them to attend day after day by the space of a month together; they cause them to produce their Letters Patents under Our great Seal, and the Warrants made by Our Privy Council for levying of those duties; they examine the Officers upon what questions they please, thereby to entrap them for doing Our Service and Commandment. In these and other their Pro∣ceedings, because We would not give the least shew of interruption, We endured long with much patience both these and sundry other strange and exorbitant incroachments and usurpations, such as were never before attempted in that House.

We are not ignorant how much that House hath of late years endeavoured to extend their Priviledges, by setting up general Committees for Religion, for Courts of Justice, for Trade, and the like; a course never heard of until of late: so as where in former times the Knights and Burgesses were wont to communicate to the House such business as they brought from their Countries, now there are so many Charis erected to make enquiry upon all sorts of men, where complaints of all sorts are entertained, to the un∣sufferable disturbance and scandal of Justice and Government; which having been tole∣rated a while by Our Father and Our self, hath daily grown to more and more height; insomuch as young Lawyers sitting there take on them to decry the Opinions of the Judges, and some have not doubted to maintain that the resolutions of that House must bind the Judges; a thing never heard of in Ages past. But in this last Assembly of Par∣liament they have taken on them much more than ever before.

They sent Messengers to examine Our Attorney General, who is an Officer of trust and secrecy, touching the execution of some Commandments of Ours; of which, with∣out Our leave first obtained, he was not to give account to any but to Our self. They sent a captious and directory message to the Lord Treasurer, Chancellor, and Barons of the Exchequer, touching some judicial proceedings of theirs in Our Court of Exche∣quer.

They sent Messengers to examine upon sundry questions Our two chief Justices, and three other of Our Judges, touching their judicial proceedings at the Gaol-Delivery at Newgate; of which they are not accomptable to the House of Commons.

And whereas Suits were commenced in Our Court of Star-Chamber against Richard Chambers, John Fowkes, Bartholomew Gilman and Richard Philips, by Our Attorney Ge∣neral, for great misdemeanors, they resolved that they were to have Priviledge of Par∣liament against Us for their persons, for no other cause, but because they had Petitions depending in that House; and (which is more strange) they resolved that a Signification should be made from that House, by a Letter to issue under the hand of their Speaker, unto the Lord Keeper of Our Great Seal, that no Attachments should be granted out against the said Chambers, Fowkes, Gilman, or Philips, during their said Priviledge of Parlia∣ment: whereas it is far above the power of that House, to give direction to any of Our Courts at Westminster to stop Attachments against any man, though never so strongly priviledged; the breach of priviledge being not in the Court that grants, but in the party or Minister that puts in execution such Attachments. And therefore if any such Letter had come to the Lord Keeper, as it did not, he should have highly offended Us if he had obeyed it. Nay, they went so far, as they spared not the Honour of Our Council-board, but examined their proceedings in the case of Our Customers, interrogating what this or that man of Our Council said in direction of them in the business committed to their charge. And when one of the members of that House, speaking of Our Counsellers, said, We had wicked Counsel, and another said, That the Council and Judges sought to trample under feet the Liberty of the Subject, and a third traduced Our high Court of Star-Chamber for the sentence given against Savage; they passed without

check or censure by the House. By which may appear how far the members of that House have of late swollen beyond the rules of moderation, and the modesty of former times; and this under pretence of priviledge and freedom of speech, whereby they take liberty to declare against all authority of Council and Courts at their pleasure.

They sent for Our Sheriff of London, to examine him in a cause whereof they had no jurisdiction; their true and ancient jurisdiction extending only to their own Members, and to the conservation of their Priviledges, and not to the censure of forein persons and causes, which have no relation to their Priviledges; the same being but a late In∣novation. And yet, upon an enforced strain of a contempt, for not answering to their satisfaction, they committed him to the Tower of London, using that outward pretext for a cause of their committing him; the true and inward cause being, for that he had shewed himself dutiful to Us and Our Commandments in the matter concerning Our Customs.

In these Innovations (which We will never permit again) they pretended, indeed, Our service; but their drift was to break by this means through all respects and liga∣ments of Government, and to erect an universal overswaying power to themselves, which belongs only to Us, and not to them.

Lastly, in their proceedings against Our Customers, they went about to censure them as Delinquents, and to punish them for staying some goods of some factious Mer∣chants in Our Store-house, for not paying those duties which themselves had formerly payed, and which the Customers without interruption had received of all other Mer∣chants many years before, and to which they were authorized both by Our great Seal, and by several directions and commandments from Us and Our Privy Council.

To give some colour to their proceedings herein, they went about to create a new Priviledge, which We will never admit; That a Parliament-man hath priviledge for his goods against the King: the consequence whereof would be, that he may not be con∣strained to pay any duties to the King during the time of Priviledge of Parliament.

It is true, they would have made this case to have been between the Merchant and Our Farmers of Our Custom, and have severed them from Our Interest and Commandment, thereby the rather to make them liable to the censure and punishment of that House. But on the other side We, holding it both unjust and dishonourable to withdraw Our self from Our Officers in any thing they did by Our Commandment, or to disavow any thing that We had enjoyned to be done, upon Monday, the three and twentieth day of February, sent a Message unto them by Secretary Coke, thanking them for the respect they had shewed in severing the Interest of Our Farmers from Our own Interest and Commandment: nevertheless We were bound in Honour to acknowledge as truth, that what was done by them was done by Our express direction and commandment; and if for doing thereof Our Farmers should suffer, it would highly concern Us in Ho∣nour. Which Message was no sooner delivered unto them, but in a tumultuous and discontented manner they called, Adjourn, Adjourn; and thereupon, without any cause given on Our part, in a very unusual manner adjourned themselves until the Wed∣nesday following: on which day, by the uniform advice of Our Privy Council, We caused both Houses to be adjourned until the second day of March; hoping that in the mean time a better and more right understanding might be begotten between Us and the members of that House, whereby the Parliament might come to an happy issue.

But understanding by good advertisement that their discontent did not in that time di∣gest and pass away, We resolved to make a second Adjournment until the tenth of March; which was done as well to take time to Our self to think of some means to ac∣commodate those difficulties, as to give them time to advise better: and accordingly We gave commandment for a second Adjournment in both Houses, and for cessation of all businesses till the day appointed. Which was very dutifully obeyed in the Higher House, no man contradicting or questioning it. But when the same commandment was delivered in the House of Commons by their Speaker, it was straightways contra∣dicted: and although the Speaker declared unto them, it was an absolute Right and power in Us to adjourn, as well as to prorogue or dissolve, and declared and read unto them divers precedents of that House to warrant the same, yet Our commandment was most contemptuously disobeyed; and some rising up to speak, saying they had business to do before the House should be adjourned, the Speaker again declared Our express and peremptory command to adjourn, and that himself should presently leave the House, and come unto Us: which he offered to do, but was withstood by two that had of pur∣pose placed themselves, one on either side of the Speaker's Chair, and by force held him in for a time: yet the Speaker finding means to get out of the Chair, and purposing to

come to Us, as We had commanded, those two and divers others caught hold of him, and by strong hand brought him back, and set him in the Chair against his will; and then a member of that House cast out a most seditious paper, framed by himself and his Adherents, without any warrant from the House, and containing a proscription of such as in duty and obedience to Us should advise or assist Us in the re∣ceipt of Tonnage and Poundage, or should pay that duty, as Enemies to the State; and required it to be read. A most audacious insolency, for any to presume to do that of their own heads, which if the whole House had done in that manner, had been above their power, and had deserved the highest censure. But the Speaker re∣fusing to read it, the Author of it took on him most seditiously and factiously to declare the contents of it, and he and other his Adherents required it should be put to the que∣stion. Which being misliked by many grave and wise men in the House, and refused by the Speaker (as We doubt not but all good men will believe he had cause, and even abhor the memory of that insolent and seditious Act) yet many bitter taunts and in∣vectives were uttered against the Speaker by those factious persons, and the doors being fast locked, such as were well-affected to Our service were, against their wills, kept in the House all the time of this tumult and disorder. And when some Advertisement came to Us that the House was in great distemper, We first sent for the Serjeant of the House; whom they, after they knew Our pleasure therein, presumptuously detain∣ed. And after We sent a Message unto them by the Gentleman-usher of the Higher House: but he coming to the door, and declaring that he had a Message from Us, was refused to be admitted; and being kept at the door a long time, at last the House adjourned themselves without receiving Our Message. A proceeding so irregular as no Parliament can parallel; when Our absolute Commands, warranted by Law and precedents of former times, were disobeyed, the Speaker violated, Our Messenger and message excluded, which ought to have been admitted if they were a House; and if they were not a House, they ought not at all to have disputed, much less to blast, the honour of Our Servants, to proscribe Our best Subjects, and give Law to Sove∣reignty, striking at the very essence of Monarchy. By all which it appears, that there wanted not men in that House that would get themselves a name by setting Dia∣na's Temple on fire, and make themselves popular by putting all the Kingdom in com∣bustion. For what other end could there be in that malicious speech, whereby a wick∣ed Shimei at that time would make Us odious in the eyes of all Our people, as if it were meant to transfer all Trade, and give the fatness of the Land to Strangers? A con∣ceipt (We call God to witness) which never entred into Our Soul, and, We think, never harboured in any heart but that seditious heart which first broached it. For God forbid We should love any ends so well, as by any necessity to be driven to forget that indissoluble bond between Us and Our people.

We could and would have expected longer, had We conceived any hope of their re∣turning to their duty. Whilest the Duke of Buckingham lived, He was intituled to all the distempers and ill events of former Parliaments; and therefore much endea∣vour was used to demolish him, as the only wall of separation between us and Our people. But now he is dead, no alteration was found amongst those envenomed spi∣rits, which troubled then the blessed harmony between Us and Our Subjects, and con∣tinue still to trouble it. For now, under the pretence of publick care of the Common∣wealth, they suggest new and causeless fears, which in their own hearts they know to be false; and devise new engines of mischief, so to cast a blindness upon the good affecti∣ons of Our people, that they may not see the truth and largeness of Our heart towards them: so that now it is manifest the Duke was not alone the mark that those men shot at, but was only, as a near Minister of Ours, taken upon the by, and in their passage to their more secret designs; which only were to cast Our Affairs into a desperate condition, to abate the powers of Our Crown, and to bring Our Government into obloquy, that in the end all things may be overwhelmed with anarchy and confu∣sion.

We do not impute these disasters to the whole House of Commons, knowing that there were amongst them many religious, grave, and well-minded men; but the sin∣cerer and better part of the House being over-born by the practices and clamors of the other, who, careless of their duties, and taking advantage of the Times and Our Ne∣cessities, have forced Us to break off this meeting, which had it been answered with like duty on their parts as it was invited and begun with love on Ours, might have pro∣ved happy and glorious both to Us and this whole Nation.

We have thus declared the manifold causes We had to dissolve this Parliament: whereby all the world may see how much they have forgotten their former ingage∣ments at the entry into the War, themselves being perswaders to it, promising to make us feared by Our Enemies, and esteemed by Our Friends; and how they turned the necessities grown by that War, to enforce Us to yield conditions incom∣petible with Monarchy. And now, that Our people may discern that these provo∣cations of evil men (whose punishment We reserve to a due time) have not changed Our good intentions to Our Subjects, We do here profess to maintain the true Re∣ligion and Doctrine established in the Church of England, without admitting or con∣niving at any backsliding either to Popery or Schism. We do also declare, that We will maintain the ancient and just Rights and Liberties of Our Subjects with so much constancy and justice, that they shall have cause to acknowledge, that under Our Go∣vernment and gracious protection they live in a more happy and free estate than any Subjects in the Christian world. Yet let no man hereby take the boldness to abuse that Liberty, turning it to licentiousness, nor misinterpret the Petition, by perver∣ting it to a lawless liberty, wantonly or frowardly under that or any other colour to resist lawful and necessary Authority. For as We will maintain Our Subjects in their just Liberties; so We do and will expect that they yield as much submission and duty to Our Royal Prerogatives, and as ready obedience to Our Authority and Command∣ments, as hath been performed to the greatest of Our Predecessors.

And for Our Ministers, We will not that they be terrified by those harsh proceed∣ings that have been strained against some of them. For as We will not command any thing unjust or dishonourable, but shall use Our Authority and Prerogatives for the good of Our People; so We will expect that Our Ministers obey Us, and they shall assure themselves We will protect them.

As for Our Merchants, We let them know, We shall always endeavour to cherish and enlarge the trade of such as be dutiful, without burthening them beyond that which is fitting; but the duty of five in the hundred for the guarding of the Seas and defence of the Realm (to which We hold Our selves still obliged, and which duty hath continued without interruption so many successions of Ages,) We hold no du∣tiful or good Subject will deny it, being so necessary for the good of the whole King∣dom. And if any factious Merchant will affront Us in a thing so reasonable, and wherein We require no more nor in no other manner than so many of our Predeces∣sors have done, and have been dutifully obeyed; let them not deceive themselves, but be assured that We shall find Honourable and just means to support Our Estate, vindicate Our Sovereignty, and preserve that Authority which God hath put into Our hands.

And now, having laid down the truth and clearness of Our proceedings, all wise and discreet men may easily judge of those rumors and jealous fears that are malici∣ously and wickedly bruited abroad; and may discern by examination of their own hearts, whether in respect of the free passage of the Gospel, indifferent and equal ad∣ministration of Justice, freedom from Oppression, and the great Peace and quietness which every man enjoyeth under his own vine and fig-tree, the Happiness of this Na∣tion can be parallel'd by any other of Our neighbour Countries: and if not, then to acknowledge their own blessedness, and for the same be thankful to God, the Author of all goodness.

By the KING.

A Proclamation for suppressing of false Rumours touching Parliaments.

WHereas, notwithstanding Our late Declaration for satisfying of the minds and affections of Our loving Subjects, some ill-disposed persons do spread false and pernicious Rumours abroad, as if the scandalous and seditious Proposition in the House of Commons, made by an outlawed man, desperate in mind and fortune, which was tumultuously taken up by some few after that by Our Royal Authority We had com∣manded

their Adjournment, had been the Vote of the whole House, whereas the con∣trary is the truth; for it was then decried by the wisest and best affected, and is since disavowed upon examination by such as were suspected to have consented thereunto, and affirmed, as well by them as others who served in the House that day, to be a thing of a most wicked and dangerous consequence to the good estate of this Kingdom: which appeareth to be so, by those impressions which this false Rumour hath made in mens minds, whereby, out of causeless fears, the Trade of the Kingdom is disturbed, and Merchants discouraged to continue in their wonted Traffique: We have thought it expedient, not only to manifest the truth hereof, but to make known Our Royal plea∣sure, that those who raise or nourish such false reports shall be severely punished, and such as chearfully go on with their Trade have all good incouragement, not purposing to overcharge Our Subjects by any new burthens, but to satisfie Our selves with those Duties that were received by the King Our Father of blessed memory: which We nei∣ther can nor will dispense withal, but shall esteem them unworthy of Our Protection who shall deny the same; We intending to imploy it for defence of Our Kingdoms, Dominion of Our Seas, and safeguard of Our Merchants, specially by such Shipping as are now making ready, and such further preparation for aid of Our Friends and Al∣lies as need shall require.

And whereas, for several ill ends, the calling again of a Parliament is divulged; howsoever We have shewed, by Our frequent meeting with Our People, Our love to the use of Parliaments; yet the late abuse having for the present driven Us unwil∣lingly out of that course, We shall accompt it presumption for any to prescribe any time unto Us for Parliaments, the Calling, Continuing, and Dissolving of which is always in Our own power: and We shall be more inclinable to meet in Parliament again, when Our People shall see more clearly into our Intents and Actions, when such as have bred this interruption shall have received their condign punishment, and those who are mis-led by them, and by such ill reports as are raised upon this occasion, shall come to a better understanding of Us and themselves.

Given at Our Court of White-hall, this seven and twentieth day of March, in the fifth year of Our Reign of Great Britain, France, and Ireland.

God save the KING. MDCXXIX.

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.

His MAJESTIE's Declaration to all His loving Subjects of the Causes which moved Him to dissolve His Fourth Parliament.

THE King's most Excellent Majesty well knoweth that the Calling, Adjourning, Proroguing and Dissolving of Parliaments, are undoubted Prerogatives inse∣parably annexed to His Imperial Crown, of which He is not bound to render any ac∣count but to God alone, no more than of His other Regal actions.

Nevertheless His Majesty, whose Piety and Goodness have made Him ever so order and govern all things, that the clearness and Candor of His Royal heart may appear to all His Subjects, especially in those great and publick matters of State that have relation to the weal and safety of His People, and the Honour of His Royal Person and Government, hath thought fit, for avoiding and preventing all sinister constructions and misinter pretations, which the Malice of some persons ill-affected to His Crown and Soveraignty hath or may practise to infuse into the minds an ears of His good and faithful Subjects, to set down by way of Declaration the true Causes as well of His Assembling, as of His Dissolving the late Parliament.

IT is not unknown to most of His Majestie's loving Subjects, what discouragements He hath formerly had by the undutiful and seditious carriage of divers of the lower House in preceding Assemblies of Parliament, enough to have made Him averse to those ancient and accustomed ways of calling His People together, when in stead of dutiful expressions towards His Person and Government, they vented their own Malice and disaffections to the State, and by their subtle and malignant courses endeavoured nothing more than to bring into contempt and disorder all Government and Magistracy.

Yet His Majesty well considering that but few were guilty of that seditious and un∣dutiful behaviour, and hoping that time and experience had made His loving Subjects sensible of the distemper the whole Kingdom was in danger to be put into by the ill∣govern'd actions of those men, and His Majesty being ever desirous to tread in the steps of His most noble Progenitors, was pleased to issue forth His Writs under the great Seal of England, for a Parliament to be holden on the thirteenth day of April last.

At which day His Majesty by the Lord Keeper of His great Seal was graciously pleased to let both Houses of Parliament know, how desirous He was that all His people would unite their hearts and affections in the execution of those Counsels that might tend to the Honour of His Majesty, the Safety of His Kingdoms, and the good and preservation of all His people; and withal how confident He was that they would not be failing in their duties and affections to Him and to the publick.

He laid open to them the manifest and apparent mischiefs threatned to this and all His other Kingdoms by the mutinous and rebellious behaviour of divers of the Scotish nation, who had by their examples drawn many of His Subjects there into a course of disloyalty and disobedience, not fit for His Majesty in Honour, Safety, or Wisdom to endure.

How, to strengthen themselves in their disloyal courses, they had addrest themselves to forein States, and treated with them to deliver themselves up to their protection and defence, as was made apparent under the proper hands of the prime Ring-leaders of that Rebellious Faction.

These courses of theirs, tending so much to the ruine and overthrow of this fa∣mous Monarchy, united by the descent of the Crown of England upon His Ma∣jesty and his Father of blessed Memory, His Majesty (in His great Wisdom, and in discharge of the trust reposed in Him by God, and by the Fundamental Laws of both Kingdoms, for the protection and government of them) resolved to suppress, and thereby to vindicate that Sovereign power entrusted to Him. He had by the last Sum∣mers trial found that his Grace and Goodness was abused, and that, contrary to his expectation and their faithful promises, they had, since his being at Berwick and the Pacification there made, pursued their former rebellious designs; and therefore it was necessary now for his Majesty by power to reduce them to the just and modest condi∣tion of their Obedience and subjection, which whenever they should be brought unto, or seeing their own Errors should put themselves into a way of Humility and Obedience becoming them, his Majesty should need no other Mediatours for

Clemency and Mercy to them than his own Piety and Goodness, and the tender affecti∣on he hath ever born to that his native Countrey.

This being of so great weight and consequence to the whole Kingdo, and the charge of an Army, fit to master such a business, amounting to so great a sum as his Majesty had no means to raise, having not only emptied his own coffers, but issued between three and four hundred thousand pounds, which he borrowed of his servants upon security out of his own estate, to provide such things as were necessary to begin such an action with; his Majesty, after the example of his Predecessors, resorted to his People in their representative Body the Parliament, whom he desired (with all the ex∣pressions of Grace and Goodness which could possibly come from him) that taking into serious and dutiful consideration the nature of these bleeding evils, and how dan∣gerous it was to lose the least minute of time, lest thereby those of Scotland should gain opportunity to frame their parties with forein States, that they would for a while lay aside all other debates, and pass an Act for the speedy payment of so many Sub∣sidies as might enable his Majesty to put in readiness for this Summer those things which were to be prepared before so great an Army could be brought into the field.

For further supply necessary for so great an undertaking, his Majesty declared that He expected it not till there might be a happy conclusion of that Session, and till their just Grievances might be first graciously heard and relieved.

Wherein as His Majesty would most willingly have given them the precedence be∣fore matter of Supply, if the great necessity of his occasions could have permitted; so he was graciously pleased, for their full assurance and satisfaction therein to give them His Royal word, That without determining the Session upon granting of the Sub∣sidies, He would give them before they parted as much time as the season of the year and the great affairs in hand would permit, for considering all such Petitions as they should conceive to be good for the Commonwealth; and what they could not now finish, they should have full time to perfect towards Winter: His Majesty graci∣ously assuring them, that He would go along with them for their advantage through all the expressions of a gracious and pious King, to the end there might be such a happy conclusion of that as might be the cause of many more meetings with them in Parlia∣ment.

From their first assembling until the 21 of April, the House of Commons did nothing that could give His Majesty any content or confidence in their speedy supplying of Him: whereupon He commanded both the Houses to attend Him in the Banquet∣ting House at White-Hall in the afternoon of that 21 day of April. Where by the Lord Keeper His Majesty put them in mind of the end for which they were assembled, which was for His Majestie's Supply; that if it were not speedy, it would be of no use unto Him, part of the Army then marching at the charge of above a hundred thou∣sand pounds a month, which would all be lost if His Majesty were not presently sup∣plied, so as it was not possible to be longer forborn. Yet His Majestie then exprest, that the Supply He for the present desired was only to enable Him to go on with His designs for three or four months, and that He expected no further Supply till all their just Grievances were relieved.

And because His Majesty had taken notice of some misapprehensions about the levy∣ing of the Shipping-money, His Majesty commanded the Lord Keeper to let them know, That He never had any intention to make any Revenue of it, nor had ever made any; but that all the money collected had been paid to the Treasurer of the Navy, and by Him expended, besides great sums of money every year out of His Majestie's own purse.

That His Majesty had once resolved this year to have levied none; but that He was forced to alter His resolution, in regard He was of necessity to send an Army for re∣ducing those of Scotland, during which time it was requisite the Seas should be well guarded: And besides, His Majesty had knowledge of the great Fleets prepared by all neighbouring Princes this year, and of the insolencies committed by those of Algiers, with the store of Ships which they had in readiness.

And therefore though His Majesty for this present year could not forbear it, but ex∣pected their concurrence in the levying of it; yet for the future to give all His Subjects as∣surance how just and Royal His intentions were, and that all His aim was but to live like their King, able to defend Himself and them, to be useful to His friends and con∣siderable to His enemies, to maintain the Soveraignty of the Seas, and so make the King∣dom flourish in trade and commerce, He was graciously pleased to let them know that the ordinary Revenue now taken by the Crown could not serve the turn, and therefore that

it must be by Shipping-money or some other way, wherein He was willing to leave it to their considerations what better course to find out, and to settle it how they would, so the thing were done, which so much imported the honour and safety of the King∣dom; and His Majesty for His part would most readily and chearfully grant any thing they could desire for securing them in the propriety of their Goods and Estates, and in the Liberty of their Persons.

His Majesty telling them it was in their power to make this as happy a Parliament as ever was, and to be the cause of the King's delighting to meet with His people, and His People with Him.

That there was no such way to effect this as by putting obligations of trust and con∣fidence upon Him: which as it was the way of good manners with a King, so it was a surer and safer course for themselves than any that their own jealousies and fears could invent; His Majesty being a Prince that deserved their trust, and would not lose the honour of it, and a Prince of such a gracious nature that disdained His People should overcome Him by kindness.

He had made this good to some other Subjects of His; and if they followed His counsel, they should be sure not to repent it, being the people that were nearest and dearest to Him, and Subjects whom He did and had reason to value more than the Sub∣jects of any His other Kingdoms.

His Majesty having thus graciously expressed Himself unto them, He expected the House of Commons would have the next day taken into consideration the matter of Sup∣ply, and laid aside all other debates till that were resolved of according to His desire.

But in stead of giving an Answer therein, such as the pressing and urgent occasions required, they fell into discourses and debates about their pretended Grievances and raised up so many, and of so several natures, that in a Parliamentary way they could not but spend more time than His Majestie's great and weighty Affairs could possibly afford.

His Majesty foreseeing in His great Wisdom that they were not in the way to make this an happy Parliament, which He so much desired and hoped; that nothing might be wanting on His part to bring them into the right way for His Honour, the safety of the Kingdom, and their own good, He resolved to desire the assistance of the Lords of the higher House, as persons in rank and degree nearest to the Royal Throne, and who having received Honour from Him and His Royal Progenitors, He doubted not would for those and many other reasons be moved in honour and dutiful affection to His Person and Crown, to dispose the House of Commons to express their duties to His Majesty, in expediting the matter of Supply, for which they were called toge∣ther, and which required so present a dispatch.

For this purpose, His Majesty in His Royal Person came again to the Lords House on Wednesday the 24. day of April, where Himself declared to the Lords the cause of His coming, which was, to put them in mind of what had been by the Lord Keeper in His name delivered unto both Houses the first day of the Parliament, and after at White-Hall; how contrary to His expectation the House of Commons, having held consultation of matter of Religion, Property of Goods, and Liberty of Parlia∣ment, and voted some things concerning those three heads, had thereby given them the precedence before the matter of His Supply; that His necessities were such they could not bear delay; that whatever He had by the Lord Keeper promised He would perform, if the House of Commons would trust Him. For Religion, that His Heart and Conscience went together with the Religion established in the Church of Eng∣land, and He would give order to His Archbishops and Bishops, that no Innovation in matter of Religion should creep in. For the Ship-money, that He never made or intended to make any profit to Himself of it, but only to preserve the Dominion of the Seas, which was so necessary, that without it the Kingdom could not subsist; but for the way and means, by Ship-money or otherwise, He left it to them. For Property of Goods and Liberty of Parliament, He ever intended His People should enjoy them, holding no King so great as He that was King of a rich and free people; and if they had not Property of Goods and Liberty of Persons, they could be neither rich nor free. That if the House of Commons would not first trust Him, all His affairs would be disordered, and His business lost. That though they trusted Him in part at first, yet before the Parliament ended He must totally trust them, and in conclusion they must for execution of all things wholly trust Him. Therefore since the matter was no more than who should be first trusted, and that the trust of Him first was but a trust in part, His Majesty desired the Lords to take into their considerations His and their own Honour, the Safety and welfare of this Kingdom, with the great danger it was

in, and that they would by their advice dispose the House of Commons to give His Supply the precedence before the Grievances.

His Majesty being departed, the Lords took into serious consideration what His Ma∣jesty had commended to their care; and forthwith laying aside all other debates (such was their Lordships dutiful and affectionate carriage) they remembring well what had been formerly declared in His Majestie's name to both Houses, His Majestie's gracious promises and expressions then and at this time, with the pressing and ur∣gent occasions which so much imported the Honour of His Majesty and the good of this Kingdom, their Lordship's delivered their votes in these words, We are of opinion that the matter of His Majestie's Supply should have precedence, and be resolved of before any other matter whatsoever; and we think fit there shall be a Conference desired with the House of Commons to dispose them thereunto.

Accordingly the next day, being Saturday the 25. day of April, a Conference was had in the Painted Chamber by a Committee of both Houses, where the Lord Keeper, by the Lords command, told the House of Commons of His Majestie's being the day before in person in the higher House, how graciously he had expressed Himself in matter of Religion, Property of Goods, and Liberty of Parliament, and that He would therein graciously hear and relieve them, and give them what in reason could be desired, with the effect of what else had been graciously delivered unto them by his Ma∣jesty, as well touching His constant Zeal and affection to the Religion established in the Church of England, as touching the Ship-money, and the necessity of His affairs, which was such, that delay was as prejudicial as denial, and that if time were lost, both Houses could not recover it: and therefore their Lordship's, though they would move no∣thing, nor give any advice concerning Subsidies, but decline it, as that which natu∣rally was to begin with the House of Commons; yet being alike interessed and con∣cerned in the Honour and Safety of the Kingdom, they held it fit to let them know their opinions and desires, which was, That they should go first on with the matter of his Majestie's Supply, as that which was most necessary and fit to have precedence; and that being done, they would chearfully joyn with them in the presenting of their Grievances.

The House of Commons having heard their Lordships opinion and desire, in stead of concurring with their Lordships in preferring the consideration of his Majestie's Supply before their Grievances, they spent the whole day on Monday following, be∣ing the 27 of April, in taking causless exceptions to what had been at the Conference related to them: and the next day, being Tuesday the 28. of April, they desired a Con∣ference with the Lords: and their Lordships meeting them presently in the Painted Chamber, they were so far from their expressing of any willingness to joyn with their Lordships in what had been upon so weighty reasons recommended unto them, that on the contrary they challenged the Lords for invading the Privileges of the House of Commons; alledging, That the Lords having in the former Conference acknowledged that the matter of Subsidie and Supply ought to begin in the House of Commons, had in their voting that it was fit and most necessary that matter of Supply should have precedence before all other business, not only been transported beyond the bounds which their Lordships had formerly set to themselves, but by medling with matter of Supply had, as far as in them lay, concluded both the matter and order of proceeding, which the House of Commons took to be a breach of their Privilege, and for it desired reparation of their Lordships.

And because the Lords had in the first Conference enumerated those three particulars, of Religion, Propriety of Goods, and Privilege of Parliament, the House of Commons collected they had taken notice of some proceedings in their House concerning those particulars, and thereby broken another great Privilege of the House of Commons established in Parliament, and called the Indempnity of the Commons.

This, how strange and unexpected soever, the Lords heard with patience; and be∣ing desirous to remove all impediments, and clear any mistakings that might retard or avert the resolutions of supplying his Majesty, they seriously debated in the higher House what had been objected by the House of Commons, and resolved, first, That their Lordships former voting, That in their opinions His Majestie's Supply should have precedence be∣fore all other matters, was no breach of the Privileges of the House of Commons; and secondly, That it was no breach of the Privileges of the House of Commons for their Lordships to hear what His Majesty declared to them, and thereupon to report the same to the House of Commons.

And to the end the House of Commons might have a right understanding of their Lordships proceedings, their Lordships desired another Conference with them, which

was accordingly had on Friday the first of May in the Painted Chamber; where, by the Command of the Lords, the Lord Keeper declared to the House of Commons, That the Lords of the higher House had, as in duty and affection to his Majestie's Crown and Government they were bound, taken into serious consideration the great and weighty motives of his Majestie's calling this Parliament, the great evils and calamities that hung over their heads, and the apparent danger the Kingdom was like to run into, if by speedy and fitting supply his Majesty were not enabled to prevent it; how in∣supportable delay and protraction was, and how impossible for both Houses to re∣cover the loss of time in a matter of so pressing and urgent necessity; that his Ma∣jesty had both in the higher House and in the banqueting house at White-Hall, expres∣sed his gracious and Princely desire to do all that from a just and gracious King might be expected, whereby this Parliament might have a happy conclusion; how his Ma∣jesty had promised all their just Grievances should be graciously heard and relieved, that their Lordships were witnesses His Majesty had given His Royal word herein, which their Lordships for their parts did as much trust and confide in as ever Sub∣jects did.

It was also then further declared unto them, That His Majesty had lately honoured their House with His presence again, and had there renewed the remembrance of what had before been delivered to both Houses, with the impossibility of admitting delay, and the clearness of His Majestie's intentions and resolutions, to give all just satisfaction to what with reason could be desired of Him.

That His Majesty had taken notice of somewhat voted in the House of Commons concerning Religion, Propriety of Goods, and Liberty of Parliament, by which His Majesty conceived the matter of His Supply set aside, which He had so often and with such weight of reason desired might have precedence.

That His Majesty after very gracious assurances of His constant affection and zeal for true Religion, and for preventing all Innovations therein, relterating His often promises for relieving all their just Grievances, with His Royal intentions in that par∣ticular of Ship-money which he found much stood upon, was pleased to desire their Lordships (as persons in rank and degree nearest Him, in Honour as much or more concern'd than others, and in the safety and prosperity of the Kingdom at least equally interessed with others) that in a case of this great and important weight, their Lordships would by their counsel and perswasion encline the House of Commons to give His Majesty a speedy answer and resolution in the matter of Supply. That their Lordships had taken His Majestie's desire into serious and dutiful consideration, and upon great and solemn debate had only voted in these words, We are of opinion that the matter of His Majestie's Supply should have precedence, and be resolved of before any other mat∣ter whatsoever; and that they did think fit there should be a Conference d••sired with the House of Commons to dispose them thereunto: which as it was just and honourable for their Lordships to do, so it was no breach of any Privilege of the House of Commons.

For though their Lordships did admit, that the Bill of Subsidies ought to begin in the House of Commons, and when it is agreed unto by the Lords, must be returned back, and be by their Speaker presented, and therefore their Lordships disclaimed to meddle with Subsidy or Supply by such beginning in the higher House, or by naming the num∣ber of Subsidies, times of payment, or any such circumstances incident to a Bill: yet their Lordships might confer and talk about Supplies in general, and give their advice therein, that being no whit derogatory to the Privileges of the House of Commons, their Lordships in all reason being likelier to communicate in the Counsels and se∣crets of State, as those that were nearer to the Royal Throne, and having just cause therein to impart their fears and foresight of dangers to the House of Commons.

That such proceedings of their Lordships, as they were grounded upon just and weighty reason, so they were agreeable to ancient usage and custom, and were fully justified by that establishment in Parliament mentioned by the House of Commons at the last Conference, being made at Gloucester in the 9^th year of Henry the Fourth, and styled, not The Indempnity of the Commons (as had been said) but The Indempnity of Lords and Commons.

And for the other breach of Privilege which had been objected, their Lordships de∣clared, That His Majesty had told them the House of Commons had resolved some∣thing concerning those three heads, of Religion, Propriety of Goods, and Privilege of Parliament.

How His Majesty knew of this resolution, belonged not to their Lordships to enquire into, their Lordships not medling with any thing that others said to the King, but what the King said to them.

And that their Lordships were so far from holding it any violation of the Privileges of the House of Commons for their Lordships to hear what the King declared to them, and for them thereupon to report the same to the House of Commons, that on the con∣trary in duty to His Majesty their Lordships could do no other; and the communica∣ting of it was an argument of affection and desire of good correspondence with the House of Commons, and merited no such misconstruction as had been made of it: neither did that establishment in Parliament 9 H. 4. contain any words that could be construed to make their Lordships proceedings in this behalf any breach of the Privileges of the House of Commons.

Their Lordships proceedings and intentions being thus cleared, the Lord Keeper by their Lordships command added further, That their Lordships could not but return to their first grounds and resolutions, which were in all fair and affectionate man∣ner to stir up in those of the House of Commons the just consideration of those great and imminent Dangers that threatned the Kingdom at this time, and how dangerous and irrecoverable delay was, and withal to dispose them to take into their first and best thoughts the matter of His Majestie's Supply, and give Him a speedy answer therein.

Which their Lordships were confident would be the means to make this a happy Parliament, and to avert the publick Calamities that menaced the ruine and overthrow of this famous Monarchy.

This having been delivered at that Conference in their Lordships names, was by His Majesty most gratiously interpreted as the noble testimony of their Lordships affections to His Person and Government; for which His Majesty by the Lord Keeper the next day gave their Lordships hearty thanks.

And withal, that nothing on His part might be left undone, His Majesty that morn∣ing also, being Saturday the second of May, sent a Message to the House of Commons, which was delivered to them in these words;

That His Majesty hath divers times and by sundry ways acquainted this House with the ur∣gent necessity of Supply, and with the great danger inevitably to fall upon the whole State, upon His own Honour, and the Honour of this Nation, if more time shall be lost therein. That ne∣vertheless His Majesty hither to hath received no answer at all. And therefore considering that as heretofore His Majesty hath told this House, that a delay of His Supply is as destructive as a denial, His Majesty doth again desire them to give Him a present answer concerning His Sup∣ply, His Majesty being still resolved on His part to make good whatsoever He hath promised by Himself or the Lord Keeper.

After which Message delivered unto them, they spent from nine in the morning till six a clock at night in many discourses and debates touching their pretended Grievan∣ces, but never came to any resolution what Supply they would give His Majesty, or whether they would give Him any at all, but adjourned the farther debate till Monday following.

At which time, because His Majesty had understood the matter of Shipping-money was that which was most insisted upon, and that the taking away of that not only for the present but for the future would be pleasing and acceptable unto them, His Majesty sent another Message unto them, which was before they entred into any debate de∣livered unto them in these words;

Whereas upon Saturday last His Majesty was pleased to send a Message to this House, desiring you to give a present answer concerning His Supply, to which as yet His Majesty hath had no other answer, but that upon this day you will take it into further consideration; therefore His Majesty, the better to facilitate your resolutions this day, hath thought fit to let you know, That of His grace and favour He is pleased, upon your granting of twelve Subsidies to be presently passed, and to be paid in three years, with a Proviso that it shall not determine the Session, His Majesty will not only for the present forbear the levying of any Shipping-money, but will give way to the utter abolishing of it by any course that your selves shall like best. And for your Grievances, His Majesty will, according to His Royal Promise, give you as much time as may be now, and the rest at Michaelmas next. And His Majesty expects a present and positive answer upon which He may rely, His affairs being in such condition as can endure no longer delay.

Notwithstanding this gracious Message, and all other His Majestie's former Desires and Promises, and the Lords earnest perswasions, the House of Commons spent eight or nine hours more in debating the matter of Supply, without coming to any resolu∣tion at all; and so mixed the consideration of that with other matters impertinent, and trenching highly to the diminution of His Majestie's Royal Prerogative, that His Majesty plainly discerned they went about to weary and tire Him with delays: And

though in words some did not deny to supply Him, yet in that also most moved to clog the Bill of Subsidies in such sort, that His Majesty could not have accepted it with∣out great prejudice to His Prerogative; and they were so far from declaring what they would do, that they entertained themselves with discourses tending to render odious to His people that gracious Government of His, under which all his People have during his happy Reign lived in such Peace and Felicity, when all the neighbouring Kingdoms and States were in Troubles and Combustions.

His Majesty was hereupon enforced by the advice of his Privy Council to resolve to break up and dissolve the Parliament, from which he could hope for no other fruit than the hindring of his great Affairs, and disordering his happy Government.

And therefore on Tuesday the fifth of May his Majesty came again in person to the Lords House, and sending for the Speaker and the House of Commons, when they were come up, said thus;

My LORDS,

THere can no occasion of My coming to this House be so unpleasing to Me as this is at this time. The fear of doing that which I am to do this day made Me not long ago come to this House, where I expressed as well My Fears, as the Remedies I thought necessary for the eschewing of it: Vnto which I must confess and acknowledge that you (My Lords of the Higher House) did give Me so willing an ear, and with such affection did shew your selves thereafter, that cer∣tainly, I may say, if there had been any means to have given an happy end to this Parliament, you took it; so that it was neither your Lordships fault, nor Mine, that it is not so. Therefore in the first place, I must give your Lordships thanks for your good Endeavours.

I hope you remember what My Lord Keeper said to you the first day of the Parliament in My Name; what likewise he said in the Banqueting-House in White Hall, and what I lately said to you in this place My self. I name all this unto you, not in doubt that you do not well remem∣ber it, but to shew you, that I never said any thing in way of favour to My people, but that by the grace of God I will punctually and really perform it.

I know that they have insisted very much on Grievances, and I will not say but that there may be some, (though I will confidently affirm, that there are not by many degrees so many as the pub∣lick voice doth make them.) Wherefore I desire you to take notice, now especially at this time, that out of Parliament I shall be as ready (if not more willing) to hear and redress any just Grievances, as in Parliament. There is one thing that is much spoken of, though not so much insisted on as others, and that is Religion; concerning which, albeit I expressed My self fully the last day in this place to your Lordships, yet I think it fit again, on this occasion, to tell you, that (as I am most concerned, so) I shall be most careful to preserve that purity of Religion which, I thank God, is so well established in the Church of England, and that as well out of as in Parliament.

My Lords, I shall not trouble you long with words, it being not My fashion: wherefore to con∣clude, what I offered the last day to the House of Commons, I think is well known to you all, as likewise how they accepted it; which I desire not to remember, but wish that they had remembred how at first they were told in My Name by my Lord Keeper, That delay was the worst kind of de∣nial. Yet I will not lay this fault on the whole House (for I will not judge so uncharitably of those whom, for the most part, I take to be Loyal and well-affected Subjects) but that it hath been the malicious cunning of some few seditiously-affected men that hath been the cause of this Misunderstanding.

I shall now end as I began, in giving your Lordships thanks for your affection shewn to Me at this time; desiring you to go on to assist me in the maintaining of that Regal power that is truly Mine: and as for the Liberty of the People, that they now so much seem to startle at, know, (My Lords) that no King in the world shall be more careful to maintain them in the Property of their Goods, Liberty of their Persons, and true Religion, than I shall be.

And now, My Lord Keeper, do what I have commanded you.

Then the Lord Keeper added,

My Lords, and you Gentlemen of the House of Commons, The King's Majesty doth dissolve this Parliament.

BY all the proceedings herein declared, it is evident to all men how willing and de∣sirous his Majesty hath been to make use of the ancient and noble way of Parlia∣ment, used and instituted by his Royal Predecessors, for the preservation and honour of this famous Monarchy; and that on his Majestie's part nothing was wanting that could be expected from a King, whereby this Parliament might have had an happy conclusion, for the comfort and content of all his Majesties Subjects, and for the good

and safety of this Kingdom. On the contrary, it is apparent how those of the House of Commons (whose sinister and malitious courses enforced his Majesty to dissolve this Parliament) have vitiated and abused that ancient and noble way of Parliament, per∣verting the same to their own unworthy ends, and forgetting the true use and institu∣tion of Parliaments. For whereas these meetings and assemblies of his Majesty with the Peers and Commons of this Realm were in their first original, and in the practice of all succeeding ages, ordained and held as pledges and testimonies of Affection be∣tween the King and his People, the King for his part graciously hearing and redressing such Grievances as his People in humble and dutiful manner should represent unto Him, and the Subjects on their part, as Testimonies of their Duty, supplying His Majesty upon all extraordinary occasions, for the support of his Honour and Soveraignty, and for preserving the Kingdom in glory and safety; those ill-affected Members of the House of Commons, instead of an humble and dutiful way of presenting their Grie∣vances to his Majesty, have taken upon them to be the Guiders and Directors in all matters that concern his Majestie's Government, both Temporal and Ecclesiastical, and (as if Kings were bound to give an account of their Regal Actions and of their manner of Government to their Subjects assembled in Parliament) they have in a very audacious and insolent way entred into examination and censuring of the present Go∣vernment, traduced his Majestie's administration of Justice, rendred (as much as in them lay) odious to the rest of his Majestie's Subjects not only the Officers and Ministers of State, but even his Majestie's very Government; which hath been so just and gra∣cious, that never did this or any other Nation enjoy more Blessings and Happiness than hath been by all his Majestie's Subjects enjoyed ever since his Majestie's access to the Crown, nor did this Kingdom ever so flourish in Trade and Commerce as at this pre∣sent, or partake of more Peace and Plenty in all kinds whatsoever.

And whereas the ordinary Revenues of the Crown not sufficing to defray extraordi∣nary charges, it hath ever been the usage in all Parliaments to aid and assist the Kings of this Realm with free and fitting supply towards the maintenance of their Wars, and for making good their Royal undertakings, whereby the Kingdom intrusted to their protection might be held up in splendor and greatness; those ill-affected persons of the House of Commons have been so far from treading in the steps of their Ancestors by their dutiful expressions in this kind, that contrarily they have introduced a way of bar∣gaining and contracting with the King, as if nothing ought to be given Him by them but what He should buy and purchase of them, either by quitting somewhat of His Royal Prerogative, or by diminishing and lessening His Revenues. Which courses of theirs how repugnant they are to the duty of Subjects, how unfit for His Majesty in Honour to permit and suffer, and what hazard and dishonour they subject this King∣dom to, all men may easily judge that will but equally and impartially weigh them.

His Majesty hath been by this means reduced to such streights and extremities, that were not His care of the Publick good and safety the greater, these men (as much as in them lies) would quickly bring ruine and confusion to the State, and render con∣temptible this glorious Monarchy.

But this frowardness and undutiful behaviour of theirs cannot lessen His Majestie's care of preserving the Kingdoms intrusted to His Protection and Government, nor His gracious and tender affection to His people; for whose good and comfort His Ma∣jesty by God's gracious assistance will so provide, that all His loving Subjects may still enjoy the happiness of living under the blessed shade and protection of His Royal Scepter.

In the mean time, to the end all His Majestie's loving Subjects may know how graciously His Majesty is enclined to hear and redress all the just Grievances of His People, as well out of Parliament as in Parliament, His Majesty doth hereby further declare His Royal will and pleasure, that all His loving Subjects, who have any just cause to present or complain of any Grievances or Oppressions, may freely address themselves by their humble Petitions to His Sacred Majesty, who will graciously hear their complaints, and give such fitting redress therein, that all His people shall have just cause to acknowledge His Grace and Goodness towards them, and to be fully sa∣tisfied, that no persons or assemblies can more prevail with His Majesty than the Piety and Justice of His own Royal nature, and the tender affection He doth and shall ever bear to all His people and loving Subjects.