330 ing more modeft, and yet were more infolent; and endea vour'd, by fetting new Counfels on foot, to entangle, and engage, and indeed over-reach the Houfe; by cozening them into Opinions which might hereafter be applicable to their Ends, rather than to pursue their old Defigns, in hope to obtain in the end a Succefs by their Authority. The Night of the Remonftrance had humbled them in that point: and from that time, They rather contriv'd ways to Silence those who opposed them; by traducing them abroad, or taking advantage against them in the House, for any Expreffions they used in Debate which might be mif-interpreted; and so calling them to the Bar, or committing them to the Tower: which did in truth ftrike fuch a Terrour into the minds of many, that they forbore to come to the House, rather than expose themselves to many uneafineffes there.

for a Com

A Propofal THERE was at that time, or thereabout, a Debate started in the House in the Houfe, as if by meer chance, which produced many of Commons, Inconveniences after; and, if there had not been too many wittee to concurrent Causes, might be thought the fole cause and ground confider of of all the Mischiefs that enfued. Upon fome report or difthe prefent courfe of fome Accident, which had happen'd upon or in State and the Disbanding the late Army, an obfcure Member moved, "That the Houfe would enter upon the confideration, Whe"ther the Militia of the Kingdom was fo Settled by Law, "that a fuddain Force or Army could be drawn together, "for the Defence of the Kingdom if it fhould be Invaded, or "to Supprefs any Infurrection or Rebellion if it should be attempted.

Power of the

Militia:

This Des wared:

THE House kept a long Silence after the motion, the newness of it amufing moft Men, and few in truth understanding the meaning of it; until one and another of the Members, who were leaft taken notice of, feeming to be moved by the weight of what had been faid, enlarged upon the fame Argument: and in the end it was propofed, "That a Com"mittee might be appointed, to confider of the prefent State "of the Militia, and the Power of it; and to prepare fuch a "Bill for the Settling it, as might provide for the Publick Peace, and for the Suppreffing any Forreign Enemy, or "Domestick Infurrection.

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HEREUPON, They were inclined to nominate a Committee, to prepare fuch a Bill as fhould be thought neceffary: Upon which, Mr Hyde fpoke against the making any fuch Committee; faid, "There could be no doubt, that the Power "of the Militia refided in the King, in whom the Right of making War and Peace was invested; that there had never yet appear'd any defect of Power, by which the Kingdom "had been in Danger, and we might reasonably expect the

"fame

clares the

"fame Security for the future. With which the House feem'd well fatisfied, and compofed, and inclined to go on upon fome other Debate; until Saint-John, the King's Sollicitor, and the only Man in the Houle of his Learned Council, ftood up, and faid, "He would not fuffer that Debate, in and Soll. "which there had been fo many weighty particulars men- Gen. Saint❝tion'd, to be difcontinued without fome Refolution; That John de"He would be very glad there were that Power in the King Tower of it "(whofe Rights He was bound to defend ) as the Gentleman Not to be m "who spoke last seem'd to imagine; which for his part he the King: "knew there was not; That the question was not about "taking away Power from the King, which was vested in "Him (which was his Duty always to oppofe) but to enquire, "whether there be fuch a Power in him, or any where elfe, "as is neceffary for the Preservation of the King and the "People, in many cafes that may fall out; and if there be "not, then to fupply him with that Power and Authority; and faid, "He did take upon him with confidence to af"firm, That there was a defect of fuch Power and Authority: He put them in mind, "how that Power had been executed "in the Age in which we live; That the Crown had granted "Commiffions to great Men, to be Lord Lieutenants of "Counties; and They, to Gentlemen of Quality, to be their "Deputy Lieutenants; and to Colonels, and other Officers, "to Conduct and Lift Soldiers; and then He wish'd them to "confider, what Votes they had pafs'd, of the illegality of "all thofe Commiffions, and of the unjuftifiableness of all "the Proceedings which had been by virtue of those Com"miffions; So that let the Occafion or Neceffity be what it "would, He did prefume, no Man would hereafter Execute "any fuch Commiffion; and if there were any Man fo hardy, "that no body would Obey them; and therefore defired Them "to confider, whether there be not a Defect of Power, and "whether it ought not to be fupply'd.

IT was now evident enough, that the Debate was not begun by chance, but had been fully deliberated; and what use they would make upon occafions, of thofe Volumes of Votes, They had often poured out upon all accidental Debates; and no Man durft take upon him to Answer all that had been alledg'd, by faying, all thofe Votes were of no Validity; and that the King's Right was, and would be judg'd the fame it had been before, notwithstanding thofe Votes; which is very true: But this being urged by the King's own Sollicitor, They appointed Him "to bring in and prepare fuch He is ap"a Bill as He thought neceflary; few Men imagining, that fuch pointed to a Sworn Officer would not be very careful and tender of all his Bill to fle Mafter's Prerogatiyes, which He was exprefsly Sworn to defend. that matter;

bring in a

The Bill re.

ceiv'd.

The King difmiffes Sr William

Balfour

WITHIN few days after, He brought in a very fhort Bill; in which was mention'd by way of Preface, "That the Power cc over the Militia of the Kingdom was not Settled in any "fuch manner, that the Security of the Kingdom was pro"vided for, in cafe of Invafion, or Infurrection, or any fud"dain Accidents; and then an Enacting claufe, "That hence"forward the Militia, and all the Power thereof, fhould be "vefted in &c; and then a large Blank left, for inserting Names; and afterwards, "the abfolute Authority to Execute c. The ill meaning whereof was eafily understood; and with fome warmth prefs'd: "That by this Bill, all the "Power would be taken out of the Crown, and put into the "hands of Commiffioners. To which the Sollicitor made Anfwer, "That the Bill took no Power from any body who "had it, but provided to give Power where it was not; nor cc was there mention of any Commiffioners; but a Blank was "therefore left, that the Houfe might fill it up as They "thought fit, and put the Power into Such hands as They "thought proper; which, for ought He knew, might be the "King's; and He hoped it would be so.

AND with this Answer the Bill was receiv'd, notwithftanding all oppofition, and Read: all Thofe perfons who had been formerly Deputy Lieutenants, and lay under the Terrour of that Vote, prefuming, that this Settlement would provide for the Indemnity of all that had pafs'd before; and the Reft, who might still be exposed to the fame hazards, if they should be required to act upon the like occafions, concurring in the defire, that fomewhat might be done for a general Security; and They who had contrived it, were well enough contented that it was Once read; not defiring to profecute it, till fome more favourable conjuncture fhould be offer'd: and fo it rested.

ABOUT this time, the King not being well fatisfied in the affection or fidelity of St William Balfour; whom He had fome years before, to the great and general Scandal, and Offrom being fence of the English Nation, made Lieutenant of the Tower; Lieutenant and finding that the Seditious Preachers every day prevail'd of the Tower, in the City of London, and Corrupted the Affections and

Loyalty of the meaner People towards the Government of the Church and State; refolv'd to put that Place (which fome Men fancied to be a Bridle upon the City) into the Hands of fuch a Man as He might rely upon: and yet, He was willing to be quit of the Other, without any Act of Difobligation upon him; and therefore gave him three thousand pounds, ready Money, which was raised by the Sale of fome of the Queen's own Jewels: and immediately caufed Colonel Lunfford to be Sworn in his place, Lieutenant of the Tower.

THIS was no fooner known, than the House of Com- (olonel mons found themselves concern'd in it; and upon pretence Lunsford "that fo excellent a perfon, as Sr William Balfour (who input in his truth was very gracious to them, for the fafe keeping the place. Earl of Strafford) "could not be remov'd from that Charge, "but upon fome eminent Defign against the City and the "Kingdom; and that the man who was appointed for his "Succeffor was a perfon of great Licence, and known only "by fome Defperate acts; for which He had been formerly "Imprifon'd by the State, and having made his escape, filed "the Kingdom: They defired the Lords to join with Them "in a Petition to the King, to put the Tower into Better "hands; making fuch arguments against the Person of the man, as before fpoken of. The Lords replied to them, "That it was an argument of that nature, They thought "not themselves competent Advifers in it; the cuftody of the "Tower being folely at the King's difpofal, who was Only "to judge of the Fitness of the Perfon for fuch a Charge: But, at the fame time that They refused to join in a Publick Defire to the King, They intimated Privately Their Advice to him, "That He fhould make choice of a Fitter Perfon, "against whom no Exceptions could be made. For indeed, Sr Thomas Lunsford was not then known enough, and of re- The Colonel putation equal to fo invidious a province; and thereupon, refigns, and within two or three days at moft, He refign'd the Place, and the King gave it Sr John Byron.

THIS gave them no Satisfaction in the Change, fince it had no reference to Their Recommendation; which They only look'd after but it gave them great delight, to see that the King's Counfels were not fo fix'd, but Their Clamour might alter them; and that doing Hurt, being as defirable a degree of Power, to fome men, as doing Good, and likely to gain them more Profelytes, They had Marr'd a man, though They could not Make one. And without doubt, it was of great Difadvantage to the King, that That Counsel had not been form'd with fuch deliberation, that there would need no alteration; which could not be made, without a kind of Recognition.

Sr John

Byron is

put in.

Votes, de

ALL this time, the Bill depended in the Lords Houfe, Touching the "for the taking away the Votes of Bifhops, and removing Bill against the Bishops "them from the Houfe of Peers; which was not like to make a more profperous progrefs there, than it had fix Months be-pending in fore; it being evident, that the Jurifdiction of the Peerage the House was invaded by the Commons; and therefore, that it was of Pers. not reasonable to part with any of their Supporters. But the Virulence against them ftill increased; and no Churches frequented, but where They were Preach'd againft, as AntiChriftian; The Preffes fwell'd with the most virulent In

vectives

Book IV. of Peers; calling ftill out with one Voice, No Bishops, No Popish Lords, Crowded and Affronted fuch Lords as came near them, who They knew affected not their ends, calling them Rotten-hearted Lords.

་་

The Lords

watches.

HEREUPON, the Houfe of Peers defired a Conference with the Commons; at which, They complain'd of those Tumults; and told them, "That fuch Disorders would be an "Imputation upon the Parliament, and make it be doubted "Whether they had Freedom; and fo might happily become a "Blemish to those many good Laws They had already Pafs'd, « as well as Prevent the making more; and therefore defired "them, that They would, for the Dignity of Parliaments, join "with Them in a Declaration, for the Suppreffing fuch Tu"mults. This was reported to the Commons; and as foon laid afide, "for the handling of other matters of more im66 portance.

THE Tumults continued: and their Infolencies increas'd; infomuch, as many Diffolute and Prophane People, went into the Abby at Westminster, and would have pull'd down the Organs, and fome Ornaments of the Church; but being refifted, and by force driven out, They threatned, "They would come with greater numbers, and pull down the "Church.

HEREUPON, the Lords fend again to the House of Commons, to join with them in their Declaration; and many Members of that House complain'd, "that they could not come "with fafety to the House; and that fome of them had been "affaulted, and very ill entertain'd, by thofe People that "crowded about the door. But this Conference could not be procured; the Debate being ftill put off to fome other time; after feveral Speeches had been made in Juftification of them, and Commendation of their affections: Some faying, "They "muft not Difcourage their Friends, This being a time They "must make ufe of All friends; Mr Pym himself faying, "God forbid the Houfe of Commons fhould proceed, in any way, to Difhearten people to obtain their Just Defires in "Such a way.

IN the end, the Lords required the advice of the Judges, direct a writ "what courfe was Legally to be taken, to Supprefs and Preto be fed vent thofe Disorders; and thereupon, directed the Lord out to appoint Keeper of the Great Seal, "to iffue out a Writ, upon the Sta"tute of Northampton, to the Sheriff and Juftices, to appoint "ftrong Watches in fuch places as They judg'd moft convenient, to hinder that unlawful conflux of People to Weft"minster, to the disturbance of Their confultations. Which Writ iffuing accordingly, the Juftices of the Peace, in obedience thereunto, appointed the Conftables to attend at the

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