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.

A Proclamation before the Lord Steward.

THE King's Most Excellent Majesty doth straightly charge and command all manner of Persons, chosen for the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses, to attend in this present Parliament, that they nor any of them, do presume to sit or take their places in the Lower-House of Parlia∣ment, until they, and every of them, have first taken the Oathes of Supremacy and Allegiance in the usual manner and place; nor until the She∣riff shall make return of his Writ according to Statute, unto the Clerk of the Crown in Chance∣ry, and his, or their names be there entred in such manner as hath heretofore been accustomed, upon pain of the peril shall fall threon.

God save the King.

All Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, chosen to attend this present Parliament, make your ap∣pearance, and answer to your Names as you shall be called.

Our Reader is not here to expect from us a List of that Parliament, but for that many of the same Persons were Members of the more fatal Parliament, which began on the third of Novem∣ber following, we shall then give you an exact Catalogue thereof.

His Majesty being placed with his Regal Orna∣ments on his Throne in the Lords House of Par∣liament, the Commons were by the Black-Rod commanded to attend in the Lords House, where being come, his Majesty spake as fol∣loweth:

My Lords and Gentlemen,

THere was never a King that had a more great and weighty cause to call his People together than my Self: I will not trouble you with the Par∣ticulars; I have informed my Lord Keeper, and command him to speak and desire your Attenti∣on.

Sir John Finch Lord Keeper spake as followeth:

My Lords, and you the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses of the House of Commons,

YOU are here this day Assembled by his Majesties gracious Writ and Royal Com∣mand to hold a Parliament, the general, anci∣ent and greatest Council of this Renowned Kingdom. By you, as by a select choice and abstract the whole Kingdom is presented to his Majesties Royal view, and made happy in the beholding of his excellent and Sacred Person. All of you not only the Prelates, Nobles, and Grandees, but in your persons that are of the House of Commons every one, even the mean∣est of his Majesties Subjects are graciously al∣lowed to participate and share in the honour of those Counsels, that concern the great and weighty Affairs of the King and Kingdom. You come all armed with the Votes and Suf∣frages of the whole Nation: and I assure my self, your hearts are filled with that zealous and humble affection to his Majesties Person and Government, that so just, so pious, and so gracious a King hath reason to expect from all his Subjects. I doubt not, but you rejoyce at this daies meeting, and methinks you should do so too; and good reason you have to do so, and with all humbleness of heart to ac∣knowledge the great goodness of his Majesty, who sequestring the memory of all former dis∣couragements in preceding Assemblies, is now of a Fatherly affection to his people, and a con∣fidence that they will not be failing in their duty to him, who is pleased graciously to invite you and all his loving Subjects to a sacred Unity of hearts and affections, in the services of him and of the Common-wealth, and in the execution of those Counsels that tend only to the honour of his Majesty, and to the good preservation of you all. His Majesties Kingly resolutions are seated in the Ark of his Sacred Breast, and it were a presumption of too high a nature, for any Ʋzzah uncalled to touch it: yet his Ma∣jesty is now pleased to lay by the shining beams of Majesty, as Phoebus did to Phaeton, that the distance between Soveraignty and Subjection should not bar you of that filial freedom of ac∣cess to his Person and Counsels, only let us be∣ware how with the Son of Clymene, we aim not at the guiding of the Chariot; as if that were the only testimony of Fatherly affection; and let us ever remember, that though the King sometimes laies by the Beams and Rayes of Ma∣jesty, he never laies by Majesty it self.

In former Parliaments you have been advised with, for the preventing and diverting of those dangers, which by Foreign and more remote Counsels might have tended to the dishonour and ruin of this Nation; therein his Majesties great Wisdom and Providence hath for many years eased you of that trouble, his Majesty having with great judgment and prudence, not only seen and prevented our danger, but kept up the Honour and Splendor of the Eng∣lish Crown, of which at this day we find the happy and confortable experience, Almighty God having vouchsafed such success to his Ma∣jesties Counsels, that our Fleece is dry, when it raineth blood in all the Neighbour States. But what availeth this the Kingdom? Si foras ho∣stem non inveniat, si modo domi inveniet. You are now summoned to Counsels and Resolutions that more nearly concern you, to prevent a danger and a dishonour, that knocks at our Gates, and that moves from such, from whom we had little reason to suspect it. It's well known upon what happy and solid Counsels, one of our Wisest Kings made a match with Scotland for his eldest Daughter. We cannot forget (I'm sure we should not) the blessed Success that waited upon those Counsels, when the Crown of Eng∣land descended upon King James of ever blessed and famous memory, who with the fulness of Joy to all true English hearts, made his Entry not by Bloodshed. The Wall of Separation was thereby taken away; and that glorious King to make his word good, faciam eos in Gen∣tem unam, made all England rejoyce, and Scot∣land I'm sure had no reason to be sorry for it: They participated of English Honours, the Wealth and Revenue of this Nation they shared in, and no good thing was withholden from them, such was the largeness of heart in that most excellent King, and such was the com∣fort we took in this Fraternity, or rather Unity: When both of us had but one Bra∣zen Wall of Fortification to look unto, the Sea, and all things so equally and evenly carri∣ed between us, that Tros Tyriusque nullo discrimi∣ne habentur. His Majesty our most gracious Soveraign became Heir, as well to his Fathers Vertues as to his Kingdoms, Pacatumque Regis, &c. and in his gracious and tender affection to that Nation, hath given as many indulgent te∣stimonies of Love and Benignity, as they could expect. Thus became we both like a Land flowing with Milk and Honey; Peace and Plen∣ty dwelt in our Streets, and we have had all our Blessings crowned with the sweet hopes of Per∣petuity. God found out for my Lord the King, a Companion meet for him, his Royal Consort our most gracious Queen, who as she is not to be paralleled for her Person and Vertue, so hath she made his Majesty and the whole Kingdom most happy and blessed, in the sweetest pledges of their love and our hopes which ever stood like Olive-branches about the Throne or Ta∣ble: But which I sorrow for, Civiles furores pa∣triae nimia infelicitas, and when his Majesty had

most reason to expect a grateful return of Loy∣alty and Obedience from all the Scottish Nation, some men of Belial, some Zeba hath blown the Trumpet there, and by their Insolencies and rebellious Actions drawn many after them, to the utter desertion of his Majesties Government; his Majesties and his Kingly Fathers love and bounty to that Nation quite forgotten, his good∣ness and piety unremembred.

They have led a multitude after them into a course of disloyalty and rebellious Treason, such as former times have not left in mention, nor this present Age can any where equal; they have taken up Arms against the Lords Anoint∣ed, their rightful Prince and undoubted Sove∣raign, and following the wicked Counsels of some Achitophel, they have seized on the Tro∣phies of Honour, and invested themselves with Regal Power and Authority: such and so many Acts of disloyalty and disobedience, as (let their pretences be what they will be,) no true English or Christian heart, but must acknow∣ledge them to be the effects of foul and horrid Treason.

The last Summer his Majesty at his own charge, and at the vast expence of many of his faithful and loving Subjects of England, went with an Army, and then they took upon them the boldness to out-face and brave his Royal Army, with another of their own raising; Yet for all this, his Majesties goodness was not lessened by that, nor could his gracious Nature forget what he was to them, nor what they were to him; but considering with himself they were such (quos nec vincere, nec vinci gloriosum fuerat) out of his Piety and Clemency chose rather to pass by their former miscarriages, upon their humble protestations of future Loyalty and Obe∣dience, than by just vengeance to punish their Rebellions.

But his Majesty (who is ever awake for the good and safety of all his Subjects) hath since too plainly discovered, that they did but pre∣varicate with him to divert the storm which hung over their heads, and by gaining time to purchase themselves more advantage, for pur∣suing their rebellious purposes.

For since his Majesty came from Berwick, it is come to his certain knowledge, that instead of performing that Loyalty and Obedience, which by the Laws of God, of Nature, and Nations they owe unto him, they have addres∣sed themselves to Foraign States, and treated with them to deliver themselves up to their protection and power (as by God's great Pro∣vidence and Goodness, his Gracious Majesty is able to shew under the hands of the prime Ring-Leaders of that Faction) than which nothing could be of more dangerous con∣sequence to this and his Majesties other King∣doms. Whosoever they be that do, or shall wish England ill, they may know it to be of too tough a Complexion and Courage, to be assailed in the face, or to be set upon at the Fore-door: and therefore it is not unlikely, but they may (as in former times) find out a Postern-gate.

There were heretofore two of them, Scot∣land and Ireland, and both of them had their se∣veral Defences.

Ireland through his Majesties just and pru∣dent Government, is not only reduced from the distemper of former times, but settled in such a condition of peace, and during his Ma∣jesties happy Reign, so altered and civilized, that instead of being a charge to him (as it was to his Predecessors) hath yielded to him some Revenue, and his Subjects there do daily give very acceptable testimonies of their Loyal and Dutiful affection, both to his Person and Go∣vernment. And now lately at the Parliament assembled, they have not only with full and free consent, made his Majesty a chearful Aid to∣wards his present preparations, to reduce his disaffected Subjects in Scotland to their due obe∣dience, but they have also professed and pro∣mised, that they will be ready with their Persons and Estates, to the uttermost of their Ability, for his Majesties future Supply, as his great Oc∣casions by the continuance of his Forces against that distemper, shall require; so that the hopes of hurting England that way, are quite extinct.

Scotland then only remains, whither (as to a weak and distempered part of the body) all the Rheumes and Fluxes of factious and sed∣tious humours make way.

His Majesty hath taken all these, and much more into his Princely Consideration, and to avoid a manifest and apparent mischief, threat∣ned to this and his other Kingdoms, hath re∣solved by the means of a powerful Army, to reduce them to the just and modest Conditions of Obedience.

It is a course his Majesty takes no delight in, but is forced unto it; for such is his Majesties Grace and Goodness to all his Subjects, and such it is and will be to them (how undutiful and rebellious soever they now are) that if they put themselves into a way of humility be∣coming them, his Majesties Piety and Clemen∣cy will soon appear to all the World: But his Majesty will not endure to have his honor weigh∣ed at the Common Beam: nor admit any to step between him and his vertue: and therefore as he will upon no terms, admit the mediation of any person whatsoever; so he shall judge it as high presumption in any person to offer it, and as that which he must account most dangerous to his Honour, to have any conceit, that the soli∣citation of others can by any possibility better incline him to his people than he is, and ever will be, out of his own grace and goodness.

The Charge of such an Army hath been throughly advised, and must needs amount to a very great sum, such as cannot be imagined to be found in his Majesties Coffers, which how empty so ever, have neither yet been exhausted by unnecessary Triumphs, or sumptuous build∣ings, or other magnisicence whatsoever, but most of his own Revenue, and whatsoever hath come from his Subjects, hath been by him em∣ployed, for the common good and preservati∣on of the Kingdom. And like vapours arising out of the Earth and gathered into a Cloud, are fallen in sweet and refreshing Showers upon the same ground. Wherefore his Majesty hath now at this time, called this Parliament, the second means under God's blessing to avert these publick Calamities threatned to all his King∣doms, by the mutinous behaviour of them.

And as his Majesties Predecessors have accu∣stomed to do with your Fore-fathers, so his Ma∣jesty now offers you the Honour of working to∣gether with himself, for the good of him and his, and for the common preservation of your selves and your posterity.

Counsels and Deliberations that tend to bene∣fit or profit, may endure Disputes and Debates, because they seem only accompanied with per∣swasions, But deliberations that tend to preser∣vation, are waited upon by necessity, and can∣not endure either Debate or delay; of such na∣ture are the bleeding evils, that are now to be provided against.

This Summer must not be lost, nor any mi∣nute of Time forestowéd, to reduce them of Scotland, lest by protraction here they gain time and advantage, to frame their parties with Fo∣raign States.

His Majesty doth therefore desire, upon these pressing and urgent occasions, that you will for a while lay aside all other Debates, and that you would pass an Act for such, and so many Subsidies as you in your hearty affection to him, and to your common good, shall think fit and convenient for so great an Action, and withal that you would hasten the payment of it, as soon as may be: And his Majesty assures you all, that he would not have proposed any thing, out of the ordinary way, but that such is the straitness of Time, that unless the Subsi∣dies be forthwith past, it is not possible for him to put in order such things, as must be prepared before so great an Army can be brought into the Field.

And indeed, had not his Majesty upon the credit of his Servants, and security out of his own estate, taken up and issued between three and four hundred thousand Pounds, it had not been possible for his Majesty, to have provided those things to begin with, which were necessary for so great an Enterprize, and without which we could not have secured Berwick and Carlisle, or avoided those affronts, which the Insolency of that Faction might have put upon us, by in∣juring the persons and fortunes of his Loyal Sub∣jects, in the Northern parts.

To avoid all question and dispute that may arise, touching his Majesties taking of Tonnage and Poundage, his Majesty hath commanded me to declare unto you, that he hath taken it only de facto, according to the example of former Kings, from the death of their past Predecessors, until the Parliament had passed an Act for it themselves. That in like manner, his Majesty desires not to claim it, but by grant of Parlia∣ment; for this purpose his Majesty hath caused a Bill to be prepared in the same form as it pas∣sed to his Royal Father of blessed memory, add∣ing only words to give it him, from the first of ••is Majesties Reign.

This and the Bill of Subsidies, his Majesty expects (for the pressing reasons before deli∣vered unto you) may be dispatched with all speed, which his Majesty commanded me to tell you he shall graciously accept, as the wel∣come pledges of your loving, happy, and dutiful affection to him, his person, and Go∣vernment.

And his Majesty is most graciously pleased, to give you his Royal word, that afterwards he will give you time for considering of such Peti∣tions, as you shall conceive to be good for the Common Wealth, even now before you part, according as the season of the year, and the great affairs in hand will permit; and what is now omitted, his Majesty will give you time to perfect towards Winter, when your own lei∣sure and conveniency may better attend it, he knowing well, that these Subsidies can be of lit∣tle use, without that more ample supply, which his Majesty expects upon the happy conclusion of this Session, and therein his Majesty is graci∣ously pleased (according to the ancient way of Parliaments) to stay till your just grievances be heard and redressed.

And his Majesty assures you, that he will go along with you for your advantage, through all the gracious expressions of a just, a pious, and gracious King, to the end there may be such a happy conclusion of this Parliament, that it may be a cause of many more meetings with you.

I have now delivered what I have in Command from his Majesty.

The KING.

My Lords,

YOƲ shall see he hath spoken nothing hyperboli∣cally, * 2.1 or nothing but what I shall make good one way or other.

And because he did mention a Letter by my Sub∣jects in Scotland, who did seek to draw in Foraign power for aid, here is the Original Letter, which I shall command him to read unto you.

And because it may touch a Neighbour of mine, whom I will say nothing of, but that which is just (God forbid I should); for my part, I think it was never accepted of by him; indeed it was a Letter to the French King, but I know not that ever he had it; for by chance I intercepted it, as it was going unto him; and therefore I hope you will understand me right in that.

His Majesty delivering the Letter to the Lord Keeper, his Lordship began to read it, and ob∣serve as followeth:

Lord Keeper.

The Superscription of the Letter is this:

AU ROY.

FOR the nature of which Superscription, it * 3.1 is well known to all that know the style of France, that it is never written by any French man to any, but to their own King; and there∣fore being directed (AƲ ROY) it is to their own King, for so in effect they do by that Su∣perscription acknowledge.

Then his Lordship read the Letter in French, being the Original Language wherein it was Writ.

The Letter being read in French, his Lordship added.

His Majesty Commanded me to read it in Eng∣lish to you, as it is Translated, for that is the Original under their own hands.

SIR,

YOƲR Majesty being the Refuge and Sanctua∣ry of afflicted Princes, and States, We have found it necessary to send this Gentleman Mr. Col∣vil, by him to represent unto your Majesty, the Candor and Ingenuity, as well of our Actions and Proceedings, as of our Intentions, which we desire should be Engraven and Written to the whole World, with the Beams of the Sun, as well as to your Majesty. We most humbly beseech you therefore, to give Faith and Credit to him, and all he shall say on our part concerning us, and our Affairs: being most assured of an assistance, equal to your accustomed Clemency here∣tofore, and so often shewed to this Nation, which will not yield to any other whatsoever, the Glory to be eternally

Your Majesties most humble, obedient, and affectionate Servants,

• Rothes.
• Montross.
• Lesley.
• Marre.
• Montgomery.
• Lowdon.
• Forester.

Then the KING added.

OF these Gentlemen, that have set their hands to this Letter, here is one, and I believe you would think it very strange, if I should not lay him fast, and therefore I have Signed a Warrant, to lay him close Prisoner in the Tower.

My Lords, I think, (but I will not say posi∣tively, because I will not say any thing here, but what I am sure of,) I think I have the Gentleman that should have carried the Letter, fast enough; but I know not, I may be mistaken.

And then my Lord Keeper concluded.

Gentlemen,

YOU of the House of Commons, his Ma∣jesties pleasure is, that you do now re∣pair to your own House, there to make choice of your Speaker, whom his Majesty will expect to be presented to him on Wednes∣day next, at two of the Clock in the After∣noon.

The day following the Convocation sate at St. Paul's, and was somewhat longer liv'd than the Parliament, at which some Members there∣of took great exceptions, as well to the Subsi∣dies therein granted to his Majesty as the Ca∣nons by them made, as we shall, God willing, make manifest in due time and place, but with what Reason or Law, others will judge. The day following, being the fifteenth, the Commons presented their Speaker, whom they had elected Mr. Sejeant Glanvile at the Bar of the Lords House, who in his own excuse spake as fol∣loweth:

The Speaker's Speech.

May it please your Majesty,

THE Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, of your Commons House of Parliament, in conformity to most ancient and most con∣stant usage (the best guide in great Solemni∣ties) according to their well-known privi∣ledges, (a sure Warrant for their proceedings) and in obedience to your Majesties most Graci∣ous Counsel and Command (a duty well be∣coming Loyal Subjects) have met together in their House and chosen a Speaker, one of them∣selves to be the Mouth, indeed your Servant of all the rest, to steer watchfully and prudently in all their weighty Consultations and debates, to collect faithfully and readily the genuine sence of a numerous Assembly, to propound the same seasonably, and in apt questions of their final Resolutions, and so represent them and their Conclusions, their Declarations and Petitions, upon all urgent occasions with truth, with right, with life and with luster, and with full advantage to your most excellent Majesty. With what Judgment, what Temper, what Spi∣rit, what Elocution ought he to be endowed and qualified, that with any hope of good success should undergo any such Employment, Your Majesty in your great Wisdom, is best able to discern and judge; both as it may relate to your own peculiar and most impor∣tant Affairs of State and Government, and as it must relate to the proper business of your House of Commons, which was never small nor mean, and is like at this time to be exceeding weighty.

Had your House of Commons been as hap∣py in their choice (as they were regular, well warranted, and dutiful) of my self, who stand elected yet to be their Speaker, and am now presented by them to your Majesty, for your gracious and Royal approbation, I should not have needed to become troublesom to your Ma∣jesty in this suit, for my releasment and dis∣charge, which now in duty to your Majesty, and care for the good, prosperity, and success of your Affairs, I hold my self obliged to make. My imperfections and disabilities are best known to my self, and to your Majesty I suppose not altogther unknown, before whom in the course of my Practice and Profession, I have divers times had the honour and favour to appear and bear a part, as an ordinary pleader.

It is a Learned Age wherein we live, under your Majesties most peaceful and flourishing Government, and your House of Commons (as it is now composed) is not only the repre∣sentative body, but the abstracted quintessence of the whole Commonalty, of this your no∣ble Realm of England; there be very many amongst them, much fitter for this place than I am, few or none in my opinion, so unfit as my self.

I most humbly beseech your Majesty, as you are the Father of the Common-wealth and Head of the whole Parliament, to whom the care of all our welfare chiefly appertains, have respect to your own ends, have regard to your House of Commons, have compassion up∣on me the most unworthy member of that Body,

ready to saint with fears, before the burthen light upon me.

In the fulness therefore of your Kingly power, your piety and your goodness, be graciously pleased to command your House of Commons, once more to meet together to consult and de∣liberate better, about their choice of a meet Speaker, till they can agree of some such person, as may be worthy of their choosing, and of your Majesties acceptation.

His Majesties pleasure being enquired of by the Lord Keeper, he was commanded to Reply, as followeth:

Notes

• * 2.1

  The Kings Speech.
• * 3.1

  A Letter from the Scots to the French King.