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.

Sir Robert Philips assumed the Debate upon the Message delivered by the Speaker, and said;

I Rise up with a disposition, somewhat in * 1.1 more hope of comfort than yesterday; yet in regard of the uncertainty of Counsels, I shall not change much: In the first place I must be bold without flattering, a thing not incident to me, to tell you (Mr. Speaker) you have not only at all times discharged the duty of a good Speaker, but of a good man, for which I render you many thanks.

Another respect touching his Majesties Answer to our Petition; First, if that Answer fall out to be short, I free his Majesty, and I believe his reso∣lution was, to give that that we all expected: But in that, as in others, we have suffered, by reason of interposed persons between his Majesty and us; but this day is by intervenient accidents diverted from that, but so, as in time we go to his Majesty: therefore let us remove those jea∣lousies in his Majesty of our Proceedings, that by some men over-grown, have been mispresented: we have proceeded with temper in confidence of his Majesties goodness to us, and our fidelity to him, and if any have construed that what we have done hath been out of fear, let him know, we came hither Free-men, and will ever resolve to endure the worst; and they are poor men that make such interpretations of Parliaments; in this way and method we proceeded, and if any thing fall out unhappily, it is not King Charles that ad∣vised himself, but King Charles misadvised by o∣thers, and misled by misordered Counsel; it be∣comes us to consider what we were doing, and now to advise what is fit to be done. We were taking consideration of the State of the Kingdom, and to present to his Majesty the danger he and we are in, if since any man hath been named in particular (though I love to speak of my betters with humility) let him thank himself and his Counsels, but those necessary Jealousies give us occasion to name him; I assure my self we shall proceed with temper, and give his Majesty satis∣faction, if we proceed in that way. His Majesties Message is now explanatory in point of our Li∣berties, that he intends not to barr us of our Rights, and that he would not have any aspersi∣on cast on the Counsels past; let us present to his Majesty shortly and faithfully, and decla••e our in∣tentions, that we intend not to lay any aspersions upon him, but out of necessity to prevent immi∣nent dangers we are surrounded with, and to pre∣sent to him the Affairs at home and abroad, and to desire his Majesty, that no interposition or misinformation of men in fault may prevail, but to expect the issue that shall be full of duty and loyalty.

The Commons sent a Message to the Lords, that they would joyn in an humble request to the King, that a clear and satisfactory Answer be gi∣ven by his Majesty in full Parliament to the Peti∣tion of Right; whereunto the Lords did agree.

Afterward the House was turned again into a Committee, and considered of some more Heads to be inserted into the Declaration or Remon∣strance, as the design to bring into this Nation Foreign Forces, under the command of Dolbier: And Burlemack was called into the House, who * 1.2 confessed, he received thirty thousand pound by Privy Seal for the buying of Horses, that one thou∣sand of them are levied, that those Horse and their Riders are to come over, and Arms are pro∣vided for them in Holland; but he hears a Coun∣termand is gone to stay them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The King's Message gives the Commons more hope than for∣merly.
• * 1.2

  ••••••lemack called into the House.