The annals of King James and King Charles the First ... containing a faithful history and impartial account of the great affairs of state, and transactions of parliaments in England from the tenth of King James MDCXII to the eighteenth of King Charles MDCXLII : wherein several material passages relating to the late civil wars (omitted in former histories) are made known.

At the Court at White-hall, the 27th of January, 1638.

Present

The King's Most Excellent Majesty.

• Lord Archbishop of Canterbury.
• Lord Keeper.
• Lord Treasurer.
• Lord Privy-Seal.
• Lord Duke of Lenox.
• Lord Marquess Hamilton.
• Lord High Chamberlain.
• Earl Marshal.
• Lord Admiral.
• Lord Chamberlain.
• Earl of Dorset.
• Earl of Salisbury.
• Earl of Holland.
• Lord Cottington.
• Lord Newburgh.
• Mr. Treasurer.
• Mr. Comptroller.
• Mr. Vice-Chamberlain.
• Mr. Secretary Cook.
• Mr. Secretary Windebanck.

THis day was read at the Board (His Majesty sitting in Council) the Draught of the Writ hereafter mentioned, and by His Majesties express Command, it was ordered, That Mr. Attorney-Gene∣ral should be hereby required forthwith to send Writs accordingly to the Lord William Howard, the Lord Clifford, the Lord Wharton, the Lord Grey of Wark, Sir Richard Lumly, Knight, Vicount Wa∣terford in Ireland. Mr. Attorney is to take care not to fail to issue out these Writs.

As also Letters were dispatched to the Majors of Newcastle and Hull, for the fortifying of those Towns according to the usage of former times, and for that divers of the Nobility and Gentry did voluntarily offer their Service to his Majesty to serve him in his Wars, the Privy-Council ordered

Letters of License to all such to train, maintain and discipline their Servants, men and associates which they were ordered to have under the hand of the Earl Marshal of England, as also a place of Rendevouze was appointed at Selby in Yorkshire, and the Lieutenants of the respective Counties were to pay the charge of the Souldiers conduct, and the moneys to be allowed them in the Exche∣quer. All Lord Lieutenants of Counties were ordered to repair into their Counties respective∣ly, and the Earl of Bridgwater to his Presidency in Wales, and all Governours of Town, City or Ca∣stles, to their particular Governments according∣ly. And in regard the Scotish Tumults were more than likely to end in a War, the Lord Deputy of Ireland, the Loyal Earl of Strafford, gave his Ma∣jesty his Sentiments of that was as followeth:

The Lord Deputy of Ireland's Letter to the King.

May it please your Sacred Majesty,

HAving of late in a short space written sundry Letters, I chose hitherto to forbear an∣swering those of the 28 of December, lest my Liberty might seem a violence to the modesty and Reverence I ought and shall ever observe, so often as I have the Honour to appear before your Majesty be it in Person or Writing.

But now the Acknowledgments of your Princely Aspect toward your absent Servant break forth from me.

First, In a most humble sense of your graci∣ous admitting me the Honour to perform unto the Queen a small Service, in the Suit I last men∣tioned, and thereby express my ambition to be commanded something by her Majesty.

And next, the comfort I have to find my self under the protection, and shelter of your Maje∣sties most excellent Judgment and Justice, all along that storm raised in my Country (when I least looked for it) by the Earl of Holland, and others.

The Passages indeed I have understood from Mr. Raylton, for which I most humbly thank your Majesty.

It seemeth the Earl of Holland now saith, That he never refused to be examined; excepting on∣ly against the looseness of the Interrogatories. Sure his Lordship hath thought better of it of late; for, either I have been strangely mis-in∣formed, or at first his Lordship insisted positive∣ly, That by his Priviledge of a Peer and Coun∣cellor, he ought not to be examined at all, and laboured to procure an Order at the Council-Board it self to settle it accordingly.

Then your Majesty conceives, I should have looked so into the Interrogatories, as might have rendred them without exception. I have been heretofore thrice Defendant and twice Plan∣tiff in that Court; and upon my Faith, Sir, ne∣ver read over any Interrogatory in all my Life, this being the Work of the Sollicitor and Coun∣sel, and not of the Client; and so having given Direction, nothing should pass of that kind, but under the Eye of your Majesties Attorney Ge∣neral, and Solicitor; I held my self by that means safer, and in a more perfect way, than any poor advice or skill of mine own could have set me, albeit I had been present upon the place.

As for that which your Majesty with so much tenderness above any merit, or consequences of my poor Services, mentions in the latter part of this gracious Letter concerning Sec. Win. 182. I beseech your Majesty believe, that I have so intirely assigned my Will and Affections to your Pleasure; am so perfectly delighted to follow and serve you your own way, how much soever my private Opinion might else lead me into your Paths; that there is neither Person, nor Thing, that I shall not readily and chearfully join hands withal, where your Majesty is pleased once to signifie it is fit for your Service to have it so, how much more then with this Lady, against whom I protest I never had the least Exception for any private interest of my own.

And here having answered the former. I re∣ceive your Majesties other Letter of the 28th of January; this 5th of February.

By the Blessing of Almighty God, these five hundred Men, provided in all respects as becomes your Service, shall be at Carlisie by the first of April, according to your Majesties appointment, nothing but cross Winds to hinder; for that fa∣vourable, I have them all on Board, and moving thitherward by the twentieth of the next Month, provided of fifteen daies Bread and Beef, for Cheese this Place affords none: But still, under favour, me-thinks the Garrison of Carlisie would not be less than two hundred Horse and one thousand Foot, and that of Berwick four hun∣dred Horse and two thousand Foot.

I congratulate exceedingly the forwardness of your English Subjects, the readiness of your Ar∣my, and your gracious Purpose of going in Per∣son to York, as passing wise and noble, will give infinite chearfulness to your Army, countenance and advantage to all your Affairs; yet I trust there is no thought of your going any further, It will be sufficient the rest under your Majesties Directions be managed by such as have that Charge committed to them.

The season of this year is so past, as nothing can be done in present, but against the next Winter. If I knew the proportions, I conceive I might, at good Rates, victual Carlisle with Beef, Butter, Corn, or Bisket, and Herring, to be delivered at White-haven, and so carried thir∣ty miles over Land to Carlisle; and after I under∣stand your Pleasure, shall attend that Service, as all other your Gracious Commands, with my uttermost care and pains.

My Lord of Antrim doth not by one word make known his desire to me for Arms, which is advisedly done; his Lordship perceiving I am not ignorant of his great want of Money; his credit to be so low, as not able to take up, at this very instant, in this Town poor three hundred pounds; therefore his great Undertakings are more like to be believed on abroad, than they would be nearer home. I shall be able to fur∣nish him with Arms, when the Supply comes We have sent for into the Low-Countries, if it be your Pleasure to have it so: But I crave to know who it is your Majesty purposeth shall pay for them.

Yet I might accuse my self, should I not hum∣bly certifie your Majesty, I am alto••ether of opinion, his Lordship in so great a ••••reight of his own Fortune, is not a Person at all to trouble the Earl of Argile now come back again into Cantire, or in present much considerable to your Majesties Affairs; and consident I am this w••ll appear most true, how great soev•••• his desir••••

on that side are expressed, and I may believe them to be to serve the Crown.

The Secrets your Majesty gives me in charge, shall never be discovered to any Creature; yet that I be not thought upon for other Mens faults, I send inclosed a passage that I my self read in a Letter writ thence to Captain Biron. The Wri∣ter is one Mr. Daniel Neal, a very slight and bu∣sie Person; His principal dependance on the Earl of Antrim; and if I be not mistaken, very conversant at Arundel-House: Nevertheless my hands once freed of this Packet, I shall so colour the Matter, as to take away all thoughts of go∣ing to Carlisle.

Mr. Raylton informs me, There are Summons gone out for all the Nobility to attend your Ma∣jesty at York, Letters made ready for me among the rest, which your Majesty was pleased to order the stay of, for which I thus return my most humble thanks.

Were I not really and importunately fixed by my Employment, as a decent Complement at least to the Peace and Safety of the Affairs on this side, I should be most mightily out of countenance to be found in another place, than at your Maje∣sties Feet, to receive and execute your Commands, to the utmost of my Power and Life.

Yet, Sir, I am your most obliged Creature, why should I be cared for, or considered, where your greatest Interests are in question? Hence it is, that I thought of sending thither fifty of my Horse-Troop, but that they are not to be sup∣plied again on this side, nor durst I disfurnish your Service of them here, and to furnish so many there, my self absent, and in so short a time, I am out of hope: yet have I thought of another Expedient, which perchance may prove as much for your Service, as good in the Example, which I humbly crave may be accepted.

Therefore, if it shall not please God to put the Scotish Subjects into their right Wits again, that they do not humbly and repentantly conform to your Majesties Will: I shall give order that for this next year, there be paid at York to Sir Willi∣am Ʋdal, your Treasurer for the Wars, as my Rents come in, one thousand pounds at Midsum∣mer, and one thousand pounds at Christmas; and if this be not sufficient, I do most humbly beseech your Majesty command all I have there to the ut∣termost Farthing.

Nor have I on this side more Friends than three, that have Lands there; and I am desired, by the Master of the Rolls, and Sir George Rad∣cliff, that 500 l. betwixt them may be accepted upon the same terms, and some daies of Pay∣ment: And in like manner a young Captain of your Majesties, my Brother, that hath some For∣tune by his Wife there, 100 l.

Our Sons are all Children; but if they were able to bear Arms, we should send the young Whelps to be entred in your Majesties Militia, Judge it to be their greatest honour it might be so; and for a Conclusion, so as it might be bet∣ter for your Service, hang up the old Dogs.

Above all, I beseech your Majesty intend your Horse, and make your self as strong in them as possibly can be effected in this short time: For as it will be no great difficulty to your Majesty to over-top your Rebels, and Master them in Horse; so shall that Point gained, and fortified alone, se∣cure your Kingdom of England from the preju∣dice it might otherwise sustain, if they went forth to such Insolence, as to make an Offensive War upon the Crown.

My next Work, I sear, will be to trouble your Majesty with a Letter touching my own Particu∣lar. I beseech you vouchsafe to read it; and af∣ter, rather than disquiet your Majesty, or your Affairs, burn it, and command Mr. Raylton to go on with the Examination, as it is already dire∣cted; only, Sir, there is a Credit, which among Men, I ought so far forth to care for, as it may enable me to fulfill your Commands with more Effect and Honour, which I trust howsoever will plead my excuse. The Great God of Battels long and long preserve your Majesty.

Dublin, Feb. 10. 1638.

Your Majesties Most faithful, and most humble Subject and Servant, WENTWORTH.

And in regard the War was likely to prove very expensive, and more than his Majesties Re∣venues without Parliamentary Aid would well bear, the Clergy were required to assist his Majesty herein, and the Lord Archbishop of Can∣terbury wrote to them by his Majesties Command as followeth:

Feb. 11. The Archbishop of Canter∣bury's Letter to the Clergy.

After my hearty Commendations, &c.

I Have received a Warrant from the Lords of his Majesties most Honourable Privy-Council, which requires me to write to all the Bishops in my Province to call their Clergy together, and put them in mind of the great danger this Kingdom is in, by the Traiterous Conspiracies of some ill-affected in Scotland. These Seditious Persons have begun, and continued hitherto their foul Disloyalty under the pretence of Religion, which by factious Spirits in all times is made the Cloak to cover and hide, (if it might be) their Designs. But now it appears clearly to the State, that they daily strengthen themselves by Arms and Ammunition, and other Preparations for War. And though his Majesty hath graciously condescended to more than they could justly ask in all things concerning their Religion and their Laws, yet they go on still, and are satisfied with nothing but their rebellious Disobedience, and have no less aim than to Invade or annoy England. The Let∣ters to the several Bishops I have sent, as I was com∣manded, and I doubt not but they and the Clergy in ge∣neral, will give very freely towards this great and ne∣cessary Defence of the Kingdom. And because this great and common Danger cannot be kept off, but by a common Defence; and for that the Reverend Judges, and others of the Common-Law have bountifully expres∣sed themselves already; I am required to write to you also, that you calling to you the rest of the Doctors of the Commons, propose to them now while most of them are together, this great and weighty Business belonging as much to their Defence as to other mens; and let eve∣ry man set down what he will give to this Service: when this is done, I will acquaint his Majesty with it, and yours and their forwardness herein. And it is expected that you hasten this with all convenient speed. So to God's blessed Protection I leave you, and rest,

Lambeth, Feb. 11. 1638.

Your very loving Friend, W. CANT.