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.

The Commons Remonstrance a∣gainst the Duke.

Most Dread Sovereign,

AS with humble thankfulness we your dutiful Commons now Assembled in Parliament, do acknowledge the great com∣fort which we have in your Majesties pious and gracious disposition, so we think it a meet and most necessary Duty, being called by your Majesty, to consult and advise of the great and urgent affairs of this Church, and Commonwealth, finding them at this time in apparent danger of ruin and destru∣ction, faithfully, and dutiful to inform your Majesty thereof, and with bleeding hearts and bended knees, to crave your speedy re∣dress therein, as to your own wisdom (unto which we most humbly submit our selves and our desires) shall seem most meet and conve∣nient. What the multitude and potency of your Majesties Enemies are abroad; What be their malicious and ambitious ends; and how vigilant and constantly industrious they are in pursuing the same, is well known to your Majesty; Together with the dangers threatned thereby to your Sacred Person, and your Kingdoms, and the Calamities which have already fallen, and do daily increase up∣on your Friends and Allies, of which we are well assured your Majesty is most sensible, and will accordingly in your great wisdom, and with the gravest and most mature Coun∣sel, according to the exigency of the times and occasions, provide to prevent and help the same.

To which end we most humbly intreat your Majesty first, and especially to cast your eyes upon the miserable condition of this your own Kingdom, of late so strangely weakened, and dejected, that unless through your Ma∣jesties most gracious Wisdom, Goodness, and Iustice, it be speedily raised to a better con∣dition, it is in no little danger to become a sudden prey to the Enemies thereof; and of the most happy and flourishing, to be the most miserable & contemptible Nation in the world. In the discoveries of which dangers, mis∣chiefs, and inconveniences lying upon us, we do freely protest that it is far from our thoughts to lay the least aspersion upon your Sacred Person, or the least scandal upon your Government; for we do in all sincerity of our hearts, not only for our selves, but in the Name of all the Commons of the Realm (whom we present) ascribe as much duty, as a most loyal and affectionate people can do, unto the best King, (for so you are, and so have been pleased abundantly to express your self this present Parliament by your Majesties clear and satisfactory answer to our Petition of Right: For which both our selves and our posterity shall bless God for you, and ever pre∣serve a thankful memory of your great good∣ness and justice therein,) and we do verily believe, that all or most of these things which we shall now present unto your Majesty, are either unknown unto you, or else by some of your Majesties Ministers offered under such specious pretences as may hide their own ill intentions, and ill consequen∣ces of them, from your Majesty. But we assure our selves according to the

good example of your Majesties Predecessors, nothing can make your Majesty (being a wise and judicious Prince, and above all things desirous of the welfare of your Peo∣ple) more in love with Parliaments than this, which is one of the principal ends of calling them, that therein your Majesty may de truly informed of the state of all the seve∣ral parts of your Kingdom, and how your Officers and Ministers do behave themselves in the trust reposed in them by your Majesty, which is scarce able to be made known unto you, but in Parliament, as was declared by your blessed Father, when he was pleased to put the Commons in Parliament assembled in mind, That it would be the greatest unfaith∣fulness, and breach of Duty to his Majesty, and of the trust committed to them by the Country that could be, if in setting forth the Grievances of the People, and the condition of all the parts of this Kingdom from whence they come, they did not deal clearly with him, without sparing a∣ny how near and dear soever they were unto him, if they were hurtful or dangerous to the Common∣wealth.

In considence therefore of your Majesties gracious acceptation in a matter of so high importance, and in faithful discharge of our Duties; We do first of all most humbly be∣seech your Majesty to take notice that howso∣ever we know your Majesty doth with your soul abhor, that any such thing should be ima∣gined or attempted; Yet there is a general fear conceived in your people of secret work∣ing and combination to introduce into their Kingdom innovation and change of our holy Religion, more precious unto us than our lives, and whatever this world can afford. And our fears and jealousies herein are not meerly conjectural, but arising out of such certain and visible effects, as may demonstrate a true and real Cause; For notwithstanding the many good and wholsome Laws, and the Provisions made to prevent the increase of Popery within this Kingdom, and notwith∣standing your Majesties most gracious and satisfactory Answer to the Petition of both Houses in that behalf, presented to your Ma∣jesty at Oxford; We find there hath followed no good execution nor effect, but on the contra∣ry (at which your Majesty out of the quick sense of your own Religious heart cannot but be in the highest measure displeased) those of that Religion do find extraordinary favours and respect in Court from persons of great quality and power, whom they continually resort unto, and in particular to the Countess of Buckingham, who her self openly professing that Religion is a known favourer and sup∣porter of them that do the same, which we well hoped upon your Majesties Answer to the a∣foresaid Petition at Oxford, should not have been permitted, nor that any of your Maje∣sties Subjects of that Religion, justly to be suspected, should be entertained in the service of your Majesty, or your Royal Consort the Queen. Some likewise of that Religion have had Honours, Off••ces, and places of Command and Authority lately conferred upon them. But that which striketh the greatest terror in∣to the hearts of your Loyal Subjects con∣cerning this, is, that Letters of Stay of Le∣gal proceedings against them have been pro∣cured from your Majesty (by what indirect means we know not:) And Commissions un∣der the Great Seal, granted and executed for composition to be made with Popish Recu∣sants, with Inhibitions and Restraint both to the Ecclesiastical and Temporal Courts and Officers, to intermeddle with them, which is conceived to amount to no less than a Tolera∣tion, odious to God, full of dishonour, and extream disprofit to your Majesty, of extream scandal and grief to your good People, and of apparent danger to the present state of your Majesty, and of this Kingdom, their numbers, power, and insolency daily increasing in all parts of your Kingdom, and especially about London, and the Suburbs thereof, where ex∣ceeding many Families do make their abode, publickly frequent Mass at Denmark-house, and other places, and by their often meetings and conferences, have opportunities of com∣bining their Counsels and Strength together, to the hazard of your Majesties safety, and the State, and most especially in these doubtful and calamitous times. And as our fear concerning change or subversion of Reli∣gion is grounded upon the daily increase of Papists, the open and professed Enemies thereof, for the Reasons formerly mentioned; So are the hearts of your good Subjects no less perplexed, when with sorrow they be∣hold a daily growth and spreading of the Faction of the Arminians, that being, as your Majesty well knows, but a cunning way to bring in Popery, and the professors of those Opinions, the common distur••ers of the Protestant Churches, and Incendi∣aries in those States wherein they have gotten any Head, being Protestants in shew, but Iesuits in Opinion; which caused your Royal Father, with so much pious wis∣dom, and ardent zeal, to endeavour the suppressing of them, as well at home as in the Neighbour Countreys. And your gra∣cious Majesty, imitating his most worthy Example, hath openly, and by your Pro∣clamation declared your mislike of those per∣sons, and of their opinions; who notwith∣standing are much favoured and advanced, not wanting Friends even of the Clergy, near to your Majesty; namely, Doctor Neal Bishop of Winchester, and Doctor Laud Bi∣shop of Bath and Wells, who are justly su∣spected to be unsound in their Opinions that way. And it being now generally held the way to preserment and promotion in the Church, many Scholars do bend the course of their Studies to maintain those Errors; their Books and Opinions are suffered to be printed and published; and on the other side, the imprinting of such as are written against them, and in defence of the Orthodox Church, are hindered and prohibited; and (which is a boldness almost incredible) this restraint of Orthodox Books, is made under colour of your Majesties formerly mentioned Procla∣mation, the intent and meaning whereof we know was quite contrary. And further, to in∣crease our fears concerning Innovation of Re∣ligion, we find, that there hath been no small l••∣labouring to remove that which is the most powerful means to strengthen and encrease our own ••eligion, and to oppose both those, ••hich is the diligent teaching and instruction of the people in the true knowledge and worship of Almighty God. And there∣fore

means hath been sought out to depress and discountenance pious, and painful, and Orthodox Preachers, and how conformable soever, and peaceable in their disposition and carriage they be, yet the preferment of such is opposed, and instead of being encou∣raged, they are molested with vexatious courses, and pursuits, and hardly permit∣ted to Lecture. And in those places where are no constant preaching Ministers, where∣by many of your good people (whose Souls, in this case, we beseech your Majesty to commiserate) are kept in ignorance, and are apt to be easily seduced to error and superstiti∣on: It doth not a little also increase our dangers and fears this way, to understand the miserable condition of your Kingdom of Ireland, where, without controll, the Popish Religion is openly professed and practised in every part thereof, Popish Iu∣risdiction being there generally exercised and avowed, Monasteries, Nunneries, and o∣ther superstitious Houses newly erected, re∣edified, and replenished with men and women of several Orders, in a plentiful manner maintained at Dublin, and most of the great Towns, and divers other places of the King∣dom; which, of what ill consequence it may prove, if not seasonably repressed, we leave to your Majesties wisdom to judge: But most humbly beseech you (as we assure our selves you will) to lay the serious considera∣tion thereof to your royal and pious Heart, and that some speedy course may be taken for redress therein.

And if now to all these your Majesty will be pleased to add the consideration of the Cir∣cumstances of time, wherein these courses, tending to the destruction of true Religion, within these your Kingdoms, have been ta∣ken here, even then when the same is with open force and violence prosecuted in other Countreys, and all the Reformed Churches in Christendom, either depressed, or misera∣bly distressed: We do humbly appeal unto your Majesties Princely Iudgment, whe∣ther there be not just ground of fear that there is some secret and strong co-operating here with the Enemies of our Religion a∣broad, for the utter extirpation thereof? and whether, if those courses be not speedily redressed, and the profession of true Religion more encouraged, we can expect any other but misery and ruin speedily to fall upon us? especially, if besides the visible and apparent dangers wherewith we are compassed about, you would be pleased to remember the dis∣pleasure of Almighty God, always bent a∣gainst the neglect of his holy Religion, the strokes of whose Divine Iustice we have al∣ready felt, and do still feel with smart and sorrow in great measure.

And besides this fear of Innovation in Religion, we do in like faithful discharge of our Duties, most humbly declare to your Majesty, that the hearts of your People are full of fear of Innovation and Change of Government, and accordingly possessed with extream grief and sorrow; yet in this point by your Majesties late Answer to our Petition of Right touching ou•• Liberties much comforted, and raised again out of that sadness and discontent, which they ge∣nerally had conceived throughout the whole Kingdom, for the undue courses which were the last year taken for raising of Moneys by Loans, (than which (whatever your Ma∣jesty hath been informed to the contrary) there were never any Moneys demanded nor paid with greater grief, and general dislike of all your faithful Subjects; though many, partly out of fear, and partly out of other respects (yet most unwillingly) were drawn to yield to what was required.

The Billetting of Soldiers did much aug∣ment both their fears and grief, wherein likewise they find much comfort upon your gracious Answer to our Petition of Right, and to that we presented to your Majesty con∣cerning this particular. Yet we most hum∣bly beseech your Majesty, that we may in∣form yon, that the still continuance, and late re-enforcing of those Soldiers, the conditions of their persons (many of them not being Natives of this Kingdom, nor of the same, but of an opposite Religion) the placing them upon the Sea-coast, where making head amongst themselves, they may unite with the Popish Party at home, if occasion serve, and joyn with an invading Enemy to do extream mischief; and that they are not yet dismissed, both still minister cause of jealousie in your loving Subjects; for that the Soldiers cannot be continued without ex∣ceeding great danger of the peace and safety of your Kingdom.

The report of the strange and dangerous purpose of bringing in German Horse and Riders, would have turned our doubts in∣to despair, and our fears into a certainty of confusion, had not your Majesties gracious Message (for which we humbly give you thanks) comforted us by the assurance of your Royal Word, that they neither are, nor were intended by your Majesty, for any ser∣vice in England, but that they were design∣ed for some other Foreign Imployment. Yet the sight of the Privy Seal, by which, it seemeth, they were to be levied; the great sun••s of Money, which, upon examinations, we found to be paid for that purpose, gave us just cause of fear, That much about the same time there was a Commission under the Great Seal granted unto the Lords, and others of the Privy Council, to consider of other ways for raising of Moneys, so particularly by Impositions, gave us just cause to suspect, that whatsoever was your Majesties gracious intention, yet there wanted not those, that under some colou∣rable pretence, might secretly by this, as by other ways, contrive to change the frame both of Religion and Government, and there∣by undermine the safety of your Majesty, and your Kingdoms.

These men could not be ignorant, that the bringing in of Strangers for aid, hath been pernicious to most States, where they have been admitted, but to England fatal. We do bless God that hath given your Maje∣sty a wise understanding heart to discern of those courses, and that such power produ∣ceth nothing but weakness and calamity. And we beseech your Majesty to pardon the vehemency of our expression, if in the Loyal and Zealous affections we bear to your Majesty and your Service, we are bold to declare to your Majesty, and the

whole World, that we hold it far beneath the heart of any free English-man to think, that this victorious Nation should now stand in need of German Soldiers to defend their now King and Kingdom.

But when we consider the course formerly mentioned, and these things tending to an apparent change of Government, the often breaches of Parliament, whereby your Ma∣jesty hath been deprived of the faithful Coun∣sel, and free Aids of your People, by ta∣king of Tunnage and Poundage, without grant thereof by Act of Parliament, ever since the beginning of your Majesties Reign to this present, The standing Commission granted to the Duke of Buckingham to be General of an Army in the Land in the time of Peace, the discharging of faithful and sufficient Officers and Ministers, some from Iudicial places, and others from the Offices and Authorities which they former∣ly held in the Commonwealth: We cannot but at the sight of such an apparent desola∣tion as must necessarily follow these courses, out of the depth of sorrow, lift up our cries to Heaven for help, and next, under God, apply our selves unto your Sacred Majesty, who, if you could hear so many thousand speaking together, do joyntly im∣plore speedy help and Reformation.

And if your Majesty would be pleased to take a further view of the present state of your Realm, we do humbly pray you to consider, Whether the miserable Disasters, and ill success that hath accompanied all your late designs and actions, particularly chase of Cales, and the Isse of Rhee, and the last Expedition to Rochel, have not extream∣ly wasted that Stock of Honour that was left unto this Kingdom, sometimes terrible to all other Nations, and now declining to contempt beneath the meanest.

Together with our Honours, we there lost those (and that not a few) who had they lived, we might have some better hope of recovering it again, our valiant and ex∣pert Colonels, Captains, and Comman∣ders, and many thousand common Soldi∣ers and Mariners: Though we have some cause to think, that your Majesty is not as yet rightly informed thereof; and that of six or seven thousand of your Subjects lost at the Isse of Rhee, your Majesty received information but of a few hundreds. And this dishonour and loss hath been purchased with the consumption of above a million of Treasure.

Many of the Forts are exceeding weak, and decayed, and want both Men and Mu∣nition. And here we cannot but with grief consider, and complain of a strange impro∣vidence (we think your Majesty will ra∣ther call it Treachery) That your Store of Powder, which, by Order of your Privy Council, dated the Tenth of December, 1626. should be constantly Three hundred Last, be∣sides a continual Supply of Twenty Last a Month for ordinary Expences, and were now fit (as we conceive) to be double the proportion, is at this time in the Tower (the present Warrants being served) but Nine Lasts and Forty eight pounds in all; which we tremble to think of. And that not∣withstanding this extream scarcity of Pow∣der, great quantities have been permitted to be sold out of your Majesties Store, to par∣ticular persons for private gain; whereof we have seen a Certificate, six Last sold sithence the fourteenth of January last, and your Ma∣jesties Store being unfurnished of Powder, which by a contract made with Mr. Evelyn by advice of your Lords in Parliament, ought to be supplied monthly with Twenty Last, at the rate of Three pound ten shillings ten pence a Barrel; your Majesty hath been forced to pay above Seven pound a Barrel for Powder, to be brought in from beyond Seas; for which purpose, Twelve thousand four hundred pounds was impressed to Mr. Burlemack the last year, and that Powder not so good as that by Contract your Maje∣sty should have, by one third part: All which are most fearful and dangerous abuses. But what the poverty, weakness, and misery of our Kingdom is now grown unto by decay of Trade, and destruction and loss of Ships and Mariners, within these three years, we are almost afraid to declare; And could we by any other means have been sure, that your Majesty should any other way have had a true information thereof, we should have been doubtful to have made our weak∣ness, and extremity of misfortune in this kind, to appear: But the importunate and most pitiful complaints from all parts of the Kingdom near adjoyning to the Sea in this kind, would rend, as we think, the s••oniest heart in the world with sorrow, and the sense we have of the miserable condition your Kingdom is in by reason thereof, e∣specially, for that we see no possible means (being now shortly to end this Session) how to help the same, adds such a weight of grief unto our sad thoughts, as we have not words to express it: But for your Ma∣jesties more exact information therein, we beseech you be pleased to peruse the Kalendar of particulars, which, with the Remon∣strance, we most humbly present unto your Majesty.

One reason amongst many of this decay of Trade, and loss of Ships and Mariners, is, the not guarding of the Narrow Seas, the Regality whereof, your Majesty hath now in a manner wholly lost, being that wherein a principal part of the Honour and Safety of this Kingdom heretofore consisied; and now having absolutely neglected it, the Town of Dunkirk doth so continually rob and spoil your Subjects, that we can assure your Ma∣jesty (if some present and effectual remedy be not forthwith provided) the whole Trade of this Kingdom, the Shipping, Mariners, and all belonging thereunto, will be utterly lost and consumed. The principal cause of which evils and dangers we conceive to be the excessive power of the Duke of Bucking∣ham, and the abuse of that power: And we humbly submit unto your Majesties excel∣lent wisdom, whether it be safe for your Self or your Kingdoms, that so great power as rests in him by Sea and Land, should be in the hands of any one Subject whatsoever.

And as it is not safe, so sure we are, it can∣not be for your service, it being impossible for one man to manage so many and weig••ty Affairs of the Kingdom as he hath under∣taken, besides the ordinary Duties of those

Offices which he holds, some of which well performed, would require the time and in∣dustry of the ablest men both of Counsel and Action, that your whole Kingdom will afford, especially in these times of com∣mon danger.

And our humble desire is further, That your most excellent Majesty will be pleased to take into your most Princely considera∣tion, whether, in respect the said Duke hath so abused his Power, it be safe for your Majesty and your Kingdom, to con∣tinue him either in his great Offices, or in his place of nearness and Counsel about your Sacred Person.

And this in all humility, aiming at no∣thing but the Honour of Almighty God, and the maintenance of his true Religion, the safety and happiness of your most ex∣cellent Majesty, and the preservation and prosperity of this Church and Common∣wealth; we have endeavoured, with faith∣ful hearts and intentions, and in discharge of the duty we owe to your Majesty and our Countrey, to give your Majesty a true Re∣presentation of our present danger, and pres∣sing calamities, which we humbly beseech your Majesty graciously to accept, and to take the same to heart, accounting the safe∣ty and prosperity of your People, your greatest happiness, and their love, your richest Treasure. A ruful and lamentable spectacle, we confess, it must needs be, to behold those ruins in so fair an House, so many Diseases, and almost every one of them deadly, in so strong and well tempered a Body as this Kingdom lately was. But yet we will not doubt, but that God hath reserved this Honour for your Majesty, to restore the safety and happiness thereof, as a work worthy so excellent a Prince, for whose long life and true felicity we daily pray, and that your Fame and never-dying Glory may be continued to all succeeding Generations.

HEreupon a Message was sent to his Majesty, desiring access to his Person with the Re∣monstrance, and the Speaker was appointed to deliver it; who much desired to be excused, but the House would not give way thereunto. The House also sent up the Bill of Subsidy unto the Lords. Soon after the King sends a Message by Sir Humphrey May, that he means to end this Session on the 26. of June: Whereupon the Commons fall upon the Bill of Tonnage and Poundage. In the mean time, this ensuing Or∣der concerning the Duke was made in the Star∣chamber, upon the signification of his Majesties pleasure, viz. That his Majesty of his own cer∣tain knowledge, as well as by other proofs, be∣ing certified of the Dukes Innocency, that all the proceedings be in that Court taken off the File.

ON the Sixteenth of June the Duke desired leave of the House of Peers to vindicate him∣self in the House of Commons for some words falsly charged upon (as spoken by) him, by Mr. Lewkenor, a Member of the Commons House; and he had leave by the House given him so to do, and they ordered that the Duke shall be left to himself to do herein what he thinks best in the House of Commons: Whereupon the Duke gave their Lordships thanks, and protested upon his Honour, that he never had those words so much as in his thoughts. The which Protestation the Lords commanded to be entred, that the Duke may make use thereof as need shall be.

At the same time the Duke also charged one Mr. Mel∣vin for speaking words against him to this purpose.

First, That Melvin said, That the Duke's Plot was, that the Parliament should be dissolved, and that the Duke and the King, with a great Army of Horse and Foot, would war against the Commonalty, and that Scotland should assist him; so that when War was amongst our selves, the Enemy should come in; for this Kingdom is already sold to the Enemy by the Duke.

2. That the Duke had a stronger Counsel than the King, of which were certain Jesuits, Scotch-men, and that they did sit in Counsel every night, from one of the Clock till three.

3. That when the King had a purpose to do any thing of what consequence soever, the Duke could alter it.

4. That when the Ordnance was ship'd at St. Mar∣tin's, the Duke caused the Soldiers to go on, that they might be destroyed.

5. That the Duke said, he had an Army of 16000 Foot, and 1200 Horse.

6. That King James's his blood, and Marquis Hamilton's, with others, cries out for vengeance to Heaven.

7. That he could not expect any thing but ruine of this Kingdom.

8. That Prince Henry was poisoned by Sir Tho∣mas Overbury, and he himself served with the same sawce, and that the Earl of Somerset and others could say much to this.

9. That he himself had a Cardinal to his Ʋn∣kle, or near Kinsman, whereby he had great intel∣ligence.

About the same time the Lord Keeper reported to the House of Lords what his Majesty said, touch∣ing the Commission of Excise: viz.

That their Lordships had reason to be satisfied with what was truly and rightly told them by the Lords of the Council, that the Commission for Excise before mentioned, was no more but a Warrant of Advice, which his Majesty knew to be agreeable to the time, and the manifold occasions then in hand; but now having a Supply from the loves of his People, he e∣steems the Commission useless; and therefore though he knows no cause why any jealousie should have risen thereby, yet, at their desires, he is content it be can∣celled; and he hath commanded me to bring both the Commission and Warrant to him, and it shall be cancel∣led in his own presence.

The day following he reported, that his Maje∣sty had cancelled the Commission, and the War∣rant for putting the Seal thereunto, and did there openly shew it; and a Message was sent to the Commons to shew them the said cancelled Com∣mission and Warrant.

The Commons resume again the Debate upon the Bill of Tonnage and Poundage; whereupon Mr. Selden said, Whereas the King's Council objected that 1 Eliz. saith, It was granted time out of mind to the King, I fear his Majesty is told so, and some body doth ascertain him so: But we may clear that, for not only 1 Eliz. but also in the Statute of 1 Jac. the word Time out of Mind is, That where∣as H. 7. and other his Majesties Progenitors, have had some Subsidy for the guarding of the Seas; and there was never a King but had some Subsidy,

in that sense it is indeed time out of mind; yet is it a matter of free gift: For publick Bills, the King saith, Le Roy veult, for Petitions of Right, Soit droit fait come est desire.

For the Bill of Subsidies, it is thus, The King heartily thanking the Subjects for their good wills; In all the Bills of Tonnage and Pound∣age is the very same Answer, save one, which was 1 Eliz. and but for that only mistake of the Clerk, it hath ever the same assent as the Bill of Subsidy.

Upon the Debate the Commons order a Remon∣strance against the undue taking of Tonnage and Poundage and Impositions without Act of Parlia∣ment, which Remonstrance followeth.

Notes

• The Spea∣ker ap∣pointed to deliver the Remon∣strance.
• The Co••∣missio•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Excise cance••••ed.
• Mr. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 concern∣ing T••••∣nage and Poundage.