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.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

YOu may well remember, upon the beginning of this Parliament his Majesty commanded me, to deli∣ver unto you the causes of calling of it, which was, for the Assistance and Supply of his Majesty in so great, weighty, and important Affairs, as ever King of Eng∣land had to require at his Subjects hands.

I am now to put you in mind what I then said unto you, and withal to let you know, that such and so great are his Majesties occasions at this time, that if the supply be not speedy, it will be of no use at all: For the Army is now Marching, and doth stand his Majesty in at least One hundred thousand pounds a Month, and if there be no means used to go on with this as is fitting, his Majesties design will be lost, and the charge all cast away. It is not a great and ample supply for the perfecting of the work, that his Majesty doth now expect, but it is such a supply (as without which) the Charge will be lost, and the Design fru∣strated, being built upon those weighty Reasons which tend to the infinite good of the Kingdom, and preserva∣tion of you all.

This done, his Majesty will give you scope and li∣berty to present your just Grievances unto him, and he will hear them with a gracious Ear, and give them such an Answer, as you and all the Kingdom shall have rea∣son to joy therein.

His Majesty takes notice of one particular, and that is concerning Ship-money; wherein his Majesty hath commanded me to declare thus much unto you: First, His Majesty never had it in his Royal heart, to make an Annual Revenue of it, nor ever had a thought to make the least benefit or profit of it: But whatsoever he did or intended in it, it was for the Common good of you all; for the honour, glory, and splendor of this Nation, and that every one of us are made sharers and partakers in the benefits, fruits, and successes of it, which otherwise you would have felt the woes of it. He hath been so far from making the least benefit of it, that he hath expended great Sums of Money out of his own Coffers to work with, to those necessary ends I have named unto you.

The Accompts of such Moneys so received, have been brought to the Council Table, the Moneys delive∣red to Sir William Russel the Treasurer of the Navy, and by them all it may appear whether there hath been a fulness and clearness of truth in the disbursements thereof, for the good and safety of the Kingdom.

It is true, his Majesty had once intended this year not to have taken that course, but an Army, which his Majesty so just a King for the preservation of the Kingdom hath now taken into Consideration; And I must tell you, that his Majesty prizeth nothing more than his honour, and he will not lose for any earthly thing, his honour in the least; They cannot make those expressions of love, duty, and affection to him, which the graciousness of his Nature will not exceed in.

Of all his Kingdoms, this ought to be the nearest and dearest unto him, yet for his Kingdom of Ireland the last Parliament before this, the very second day of the Parliament they gave him six Subsidies, they relied upon his gracious Words, the success was that before the end of the Parliament, they had all that they did desire granted, and had it with an advan∣tage. This last Parliament there, it is well known un∣to you all, what a cheerful supply they have given unto his Majesty, for their hearts went with it; and let it not be apprehended, that Subsidies there are of small Value; there is not a Subsidy that is granted, but it is worth Fifty or sixty thousand pounds at the least: Consider that Kingdom, what proportion it holdeth with this of England, and you will find, that it is a considerable Gift, as hath been given in many years. It hath wrought this effect, That certainly his Maje∣sty will make it apparent to all the World, what a good construction, and how graciously he doth esteem and in∣terpret this Act of theirs. I have directed hitherto my Speech to you that are of the House of Com∣mons; Now I shall address my self to your Lord∣ships.

It is true, the proper and natural Supply preceeds from the House of Commons, yet in aid at this time, his Majesty hath called you hither; and hopeth he shall not find the House of Commons backward to his desires, nor your Lordships to concur with them.

To you of the House of Commons, I did forget one thing, of an Objection that might perhaps be made; That Tunnage and Poundage is given towards the maintenance of a Fleet at Sea, let me tell you, that Tunnage and Poundage was never intended, but for ordinary preservation of the Sea, not that that should be to defend the Dominion of the Narrow Seas, when the Navies of all the Princes of Christendom are so in∣creased as they are. It is fit for his Majesty (as things now stand) to have such a strength at Sea, as may be a terror to others abroad.

His Majesty was once resolved that no Shipping Writs should have issued out this year, but he was en∣forced for your good, and the good of the Kingdom, and for his Honour, upon necessary and weighty rea∣sons to send forth Writs, and those reasons were these.

It was of necessity for his Majesty to prepare an Ar∣my to reduce his disaffected Subjects of Scotland to their due Obedience. This very year all the Neigh∣bouring Princes are preparing with great Fleets of Ships, so as it is time for his Majesty to put himself into a strength that he may be able to preserve the Dominion of the Narrow Seas, without which this Kingdom will be lost, he not able to maintain his right of being the Moderator of the Sea, whereby there may be Freedom and Commerce of Trade, which adds exceedingly to the flourishing of this Kingdom. Another reason for Shipping Writs this year is, That those of Argier are grown to that insolency, that they are provided of a Fleet of sixty sail of Ships, and have taken divers Ships, and one called the Rebecca of London (well known to the Merchants upon the Exchange) taken upon the Coasts of Spain, worth at the least Two hundred and sixty thousand pounds. And therefore the Writ having gone out upon those weighty Reasons, before it was possible the Parliament could give any supply to provide for those things, his Majesty cannot this year forbear it, but he doth ex∣pect your Concurrence in the Levying of it for the fu∣ther. I shall speak that unto you by his Majesties Command, which may comfort any English heart; His Majesty hath no thoughts of inriching himself by the monies coming in upon these Writs; he doth desire but to live as it behoves a King of England, able to defend you and this Nation in honour and in lustre, which is famous abroad, and glorious at home, and to live but like such a King, as eve∣ry true English heart desireth their King should be.

Be Masters of your own way, settle it so secure and so safe, that it may never come to the least benefit and advantage to himself, but for the common good, and those necessary ends wherein you shall all share in your plenty, peace, honour, and whatsoever any English man can glory in.

His Majesty commands me to tell you, You shall propound nothing wherein you may receive all security for the property of your Goods, and nothing for secu∣ring your own Liberties, wherein he will not most readily listen unto you; and be as willing to grant, as you to ask. His Majesty doth now offer unto you the reasons, occasions, and the way to make this the most blessed and most happy Parliament that ever was, and that may produce such effects, that the King may delight in his People, and the People in their King. And he layeth before you not only the Counsel to do so, but he will tell you the way, and that is by putting an obligation of trust and confidence upon him, which shall more secure you, then all that you can in∣vent; or Fears or Jealousies can imagine to be provi∣ded for; It is a course that good Manners, Duty, and Reason should require of you to take into Considera∣tion.

WEdnesday, April 22. the Lord Keeper's Speech was reported to the House, and they entred upon the Debate thereof, and of the Supplies demanded; and upon the whole, were resolved, notwithstanding what had been offered to the contrary, to persist, and to go on to con∣sider of Grievances, which they did for several days following.

ON Saturday, being the 25th, the Commons received a Message from the Lords (in whose House it had been carried, That the Con∣sideration of Supplies for his Majesty should pre∣cede the Debate of Grievances) desiring a pre∣sent Conference; which was granted: And the Matters therein debated were reported to the House Munday following by Mr. Herbert the Queens Solicitor, as followeth.

THat it pleased his Majesty to honour the Lords House so much, as to come thither in per∣son, and to make many Gracious expressions; and that he put them in mind, of what had been by my Lord Keeper in his Majestics Name delivered, first in the Lords House, and after to both Houses, in the Ban∣quetting-House in Whitehall, and then he gave us his Royal Word and Assurance, that he would not de∣part from one tittle of that, which in his Majesties name had been delivered to the House of Commons, but perform it really to the utmost.

He gave us to understand, That ••he necessity of his Affairs was such as would bear no delay, and a delay would be as good as a denial, both in regard of the Affairs themselves, and of the dangers that did attend them, as well as of his honour in Forreign States,

which so much concerned him to uphold, as he held •••• as dear as his life, and of as great importance to maintain.

His Majesty did think, that in Civility and good Manners, as well as Necessity, it was fit for him to be trusted first.

There must be a Trust, and whether it begin with him or you, in the execution the total trust must be in him; the difference is but in point of time; though we trust him in the beginning, yet it is but in part, he must trust us in all before the end of this Parlia∣ment.

It is but a present Supply that he expects at this time, to go on with the things in hand, or else all the things which hath been told us will be lost, and that a very little time delayed will make it impossible for my Lords and us, to recover the same.

That the Lords commanded him to tell us of the necessity of the Affairs, and the urgency of the danger of somewhat that is lately come to their knowledge: The War is begun, and the men in Scotland have pitched their ••ents at Dunce, and threaten an Inva∣sion in Northumberland, and have taken some of the Troopers of Sir William Brounkards, so as their in∣tention is plain; besides the Letter which may shew their purpose, to put themselves into the Protection and Defence of Foreign States.

The necessity is such, that his Majesty could not transfer the Trust to us, to begin with us, or other∣wise he would most willingly let you go on in your own course, to begin with redress of your Grievances; but his Majesties necessity requires a present supply for this purpose, after which he will let us go on with our Grie∣vances, and doth promise a Princely and Gracious care, and will relieve you therein, as far as in Justice and Reason you can ask.

His Majesty did express that he holds nothing so glo∣rious, as that he is King of a rich and free People, and if he do not secure you in your Liberties and Property of Estate, he cannot account you a rich and free Peo∣ple, and consequently himself not Glorious: And therefore his Majesty declared, that for those three things, Religion, Property of Estate, and Priviledg••s of Parliament, he would graciously listen unto you.

For Religion, his Heart and his Conscience doth stand with the Religion of the Church of England, and as he hath lived in it, so he would dye in it; and no man can be more careful to keep out Innovati∣ons then his Majesty will be; and for that purpose he would lay a great Charge upon his Archbishops and Bishops, that they should take order according∣ly.

For Ship-money, his Majesty declared, it was never in his thoughts to make the least profit or benefit of it, and that he never did make advantage of it. But contrarily had laid out many Thousand pounds out of his own Treasury towards that Defence, for which that was intended, as many of the Lords can witness.

All his Majesties care and aim was for the preser∣vation of your safety, peace, and plenty, and his own honour abroad: That he may Reign among you a great and glorious King, as you ought to desire he should: Therefore think you of any other way for the guard and preservation of the Seas, which (con∣sidering the great Naval preparations abroad) doth so much import, that he may be able to maintain a Na∣vy, whereby he may be Moderator, and keep Domini∣on of all the Narrow Seas, without which it is impossi∣ble for us to subsist. Keep the Sea which is the way by which God hath enabled his Majesty to protect and de∣fend us; put it into what way you will, his Majesty will joyn with us in it.

The Lords have taken into consideration his Maje∣sties gracious expression; we have the Word of a King, and as some of the Lords were pleased to say, not only of a King but a Gentleman, and they would no more be guilty of distrusting him, then they would be of the highest ••ndutifulness towards him.

And upon all these Considerations, though my Lords would not meddle with matters of Subsidy, which be∣long properly and naturally to you, no not to give ad∣vice therein, but have utterly declined it; yet being Members of one Body, Subjects of the same King, and all concerned in the common safety, their duty to his Majesty, and in their zeal and natural love to their Country, themselves and their Posterity, they have de∣clared by Vote, that they hold it most necessary and fit that the matter of Supply should have the precedence before any other Matter or Consideration whatsoever, and therefore desired a Conference with you, to let you know their Reasons for the same.

This taken into consideration, and done by you, trusting in his Majesties promise, (which they hold the greatest obligation upon him, and the greatest security to your selves) they will freely joyn with you in all that concerns Matter of Religion, Property of Estate, and Priviledge of Parliament. This course being fol∣lowed, their Lordships are of opinion we shall have a most happy and blessed Parliament.

This being reported to the House, it was by them Resolved upon the Question;

First, That the House of Lords have violated the Priviledges of the Commons by Matters propounded to the Commons by them at their late Conference.

Secondly, That this Matter be referred to a Com∣mittee to prepare Heads for a Conference to be had and to be desired with the Lords hereupon; and that a Message be sent to the Lords to desire a Conference on the Heads following.

First, That at the Conference it being admit∣ted by their Lordships, that Matters of Subsidy naturally and properly belong to this House, and that their Lordships would not meddle there∣with, or give advice therein, but had declined it; the Committee therefore conceives, that this House shall not need to labour therein, or to think of Presidents or Reasons for the maintain∣ing of this Priviledge.

Secondly, That notwithstanding this Decla∣ration, their Lordships meddled with, and advised concerning both the matter of Supply, and the time when, and that before such time as the same was moved to them by the Commons. It appears by their Lordships Declaration (viz.) that they had Voted, That they held it most ne∣cessary and fit the matter of Supply should have the Precedence before any other matter or consi∣deration whatsoever; and therefore desired that Conference with the Commons to let them know their Lordships Reasons; and that being taken into consideration, and done by the Commons, their Lordships would freely joyn with them in all that concerns matter of Religion, Property of Estate, and Priviledge of Parliament.

Thirdly, To desire reparations from the Lords hereupon, for repair of this breach of Priviledge; and that their Lordships be desired in their wis∣dom to find out some way of Reparation of their Priviledges for the present, and of prevention of the like infringement for the future.

And lastly, Whereas the Committee was in∣duced to conceive, that their Lordships had been informed that the Commons upon debate thereof had taken into consideration the matter of Religion, property of Estate, and Priviledges of Parliament, and that they mean to let the same have the precedency before the Supply, they humbly offer that the same may be pre∣sented to their Lordships in words to this ef∣fect.

That in case their Lordships have taken no∣tice of any Orders, or proceedings of the Com∣mons concerning matters of Religion, proper∣ty of Estate and Priviledge of Parliament, that they were to have precedency before the Supply, which they seem to conceive by these words, That this being done, then their Lordships will free∣ly joyn to the avoiding of all mis-understanding be∣tween their Lordships and the Commons for time to come: They desire their Lordships to take no notice of any things which shall be debated by the Commons, until they shall themselves de∣clare the same to their Lordships, which the Commons will alwaies observe towards the pro∣ceedings of their Lordships.

After a debate hereon had in the House of Commons, they agreed with the Committee in the report, and appoint one to manage the Confe∣rence with the Lords. The day following they spent in further debate of heads to be added to the foregoing in the Conference to be desired with the Lords, and these were Innovations in Religion, Liberty, and Property, and Privi∣ledge of Parliament; the Conference was had accordingly with the Lords on Wednesday, April 29. and was managed by Mr. Pym, as to matters of Religion, by Mr. St. John as to Monopolies, and by Mr. Holborne as to Priviledge of Parliament.

Thursday was spent in the matter of Ship-mo∣ney; and on Friday the House met at a Confe∣rence in the Painted Chamber upon the Subject matter of the last Conference, where the Lord Keeper spake as followeth: