which He

dees;

The Bill re ceiv'd.

Balfour

WITHIN few days after, He brought in a very short Bill; in which was mention'd by way of Preface, "That the Power "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 clause, "That hence"forward the Militia, and all the Power thereof, fhould be "velted in &c; and then a large Blank left, for inferting "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

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 fo.

AND with this Answer the Bill was receiv'd, notwithftanding all opposition, 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 expofed to the fame hazards, if they should be requir'd to act upon the like occafions, concurring in the defire, that fomewhat might be done for a general Security; and They who had contriv'd it, were well enough contented that it was Once read; not defiring to profecute it, till fome more favourable conjuncture should be offer'd and fo it refted.

The King ABOUT this time, the King not being well fatisfied in the difmiffes affection or fidelity of Sr William Balfour; whom He had Swilliam fome years before, to the great and general Scandal, and Of from 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

Colonel

Lunsford

put in bis

place.

Loyalty of the meaner People towards the Government of the Church and State; refolv'd to put that Place (which some 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 raifed 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

THIS was no fooner known, than the House of Commons found themselves concern'd in it; and upon pretence "That fo excellent a Person, as Sr William Balfour (who in truth was very gracious to them, for the fafe keeping the 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 desperate acts; for which He had been formerly "Imprifon'd by the State, and having made his efcape, fled "the Kingdom: They defir'd the Lords to joyn with Them "in a Petition to the King, to put the Tower into Better "hands; making fuch arguments against the Perfon of the Man, as before spoken of. The Lords replied to them, "That it was an argument of that nature, They thought not "themselves competent Advisers 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 joyn in a Publick Defire to the King, They intimated Privately Their Advice to him, "That He fhould make choife of a Fitter Person, "against whom no Exceptions could be made. For indeed, St Thomas Lunsford was not then known enough, and of re- The Colonel putation equal to fo invidious a province; and thereupon, reigns, and within two or three days at most, He refign'd the Place, and the King gave it St John Byron.

Byron is

put in. 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 fee that the King's Counfels were not fo fix'd, but Their Clamour might alter them; and that doing Hurt, being as defireable 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.

the Bishops

Votes, de

ALL this time, the Bill depended in the Lords House, Touching the "For the taking away the Votes of Bishops, and removing Bill againft "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 Peers. 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 against as AntiChristian; The Preffes fwell'd with the most virulent In

vectives

A Petition

publif'd, in

Prelates.

vectives against them; and a Sermon was Preach'd at Westminfter, and afterwards Printed, under the Title of The Proteftation Protefted, by the infamous Burton, wherein He declar'd, "That all Men were oblig'd by their late Protestation, "by what means foever, to remove both Bishops and the "Common-Prayer Book out of the Church of England, as "Impious and Papistical: whilst all the Learned and Orthodox Divines of England, were look'd upon under the notion of Scandalous Minifters; and if the Meanest, and most Vitious Parishioner They had, could be brought to prefer a Petion against either of them to the Houfe of Commons (how False foever) He was fure to be Profecuted as fuch.

IN the end, a Petition was Publifh'd, in the name "Of the Apprentices, and Those whofe Apprenticeships were lately the name of expir'd, in and about the City of London; and directed, the App To the King's most excellent Majefty in the Parliament now tices, againft Papifts and "affembled; Shewing, "That They found by experience, "both by their Own and Masters Tradings, the beginning of great Mischiefs coming upon them, to nip them in the bud, "when they were first entring into the World; the Cause of "which, They could attribute to no others but the Papifts, "and the Prelates, and that Malignant Party which adhered "to them: That they stood folemnly engaged, with the ut"most of their Lives and Fortunes, to Defend his Sacred Ma"jefty, and Royal Iffue, together with the Rights and Liber"ties of Parliaments, against Papifts, and Popifh Innovators; «fuch as Arch-Bifhops, Bifhops, and their dependents, ap"pear to be. They defir'd his Majefty in Parliament to take "notice, that, notwithstanding the much unwearied pains " and industry of the House of Commons, to fubdue Popery, "and Popish Innovators; neither is Popery yet fubdued, nor "Prelates are yet remov'd; whereby Many had taken en"couragements defperately to Plot against the Peace and "Safety of his Dominions: witness the most Barbarous and «Inhuman Cruelties perpetrated by the Papifts in Ireland; "from whence (They faid) a new fpring of Fears and Jea"loufies arofe in them: and therefore They defir'd, that the "Popish Lords, and other eminent and dangerous Papists, in "all the parts of the Kingdom, might be look'd unto, and "Secur'd; the Laws against Priests and Jefuits fully executed; "and the Prelacy rooted up: That fo the work of Reforma"tion might be profperoully carried on; Their diftracting "Fears remov'd; that the freedom of Commerce and Trade "might pafs on more chearfully, for the encouragement of "the Petitioners, &c.

THIS, and fuch stuff, being Printed, and fcatter'd amongst the People; Multitudes of mean Perfons flock'd to Westmin

fter- Hall,

fter-Hall, and about the Lords Houfe; crying as they went up and down, No Bishops, No Bishops, "That fo they might carry "on the Reformation.

I SAID before, that upon the King's return from Scot- The Comland, He difcharg'd the Guards that attended upon the Houses. mons PetiWhereupon, the House of Commons (for the Lords refufed tion the to joyn with them) Petition'd the King "In regard of the King for a "Fears They had of fome Design from the Papists, that "They might continue fuch a Guard about them as They "thought fit.

Guard.

To which His Majefty anfwer'd, "That He was confi- His Majesty's "dent they had no juft caufe of Fear; and that They were as Answer. "Safe, as Himself and his Children: but, fince They did "avow fuch an apprehenfion of Danger, that He would ap"point a fufficient Guard for them. And thereupon, directed the Train'd-bands of Westminster and Middlefex (which confifted of the most substantial Houfholders, and were under known Officers) in fit numbers to attend.

THIS Security was not liked; and it was ask'd, Quis cuftodiet ipfos Cuftodes? And when the diforderly Rabble, fpoke of now, first came down, They refifted them, and would not fuffer them to disturb the Houfes; and Some of them, with great rudeness, preffing to the door of the House of Peers, their Lordships appointed the Guards to be call'd up to remove them; and the Earl of Dorfet, being then Lord Lieutenant of Middlefex (the Crowd oppreffing him, and refufing to leave the Room) in fome Paffion, call'd upon the Guard "To give Fire upon them; whereupon, the Rabble Frighted, left the place, and hafted away.

THE House of Commons, incensed that Their Friends fhould be fo ufed, much Inveigh'd againft the Earl of Dorfet; and talk'd, "Of Accufing him of High Treafon; at least, "of drawing up fome Impeachment against him; for fome Judgment he had been Party to, in the Star-Chamber, or Council-Table: and fo giving these hints of Their Difpleafure, that He might have the more care how he carried himfelf; They concluded, that fince They could not have fuch a Guard as pleased Them, They would have None at all and fo fent to the Lords "For the Discharge of the "Train'd-bands that attended: who willingly confented to it; and it was done accordingly: The Houfe of Commons de claring "That it fhould be Lawful, for every Member to "bring his own Servant, to attend at the door, Arm’d. with "fuch Weapons as They thought fit.

IT was quickly understood abroad, that the Commons Great Tuliked well the Vifits of their Neighbours: So that the People mults about assembled in greater Numbers than before, about the Houfe the House of

of

Peers,

The Lords

out to appoint Watches.

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.

HEREUPON, the House of Peers defir'd 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 thofe many good Laws They had already Pafs'd, "as well as Prevent the making more; and therefore defir'd "them, that They would, for the Dignity of Parliaments, joyn "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 importance.

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 threaten'd, "They "would come with greater numbers, and pull down the «Church.

HEREUPON, the Lords fend again to the House of Commons to joyn with them in their Declaration; and many Members of that Houfe 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 procur'd; the Debate being still put off to fome other time; after feveral Speeches had been made in Justification of them, and Commendation of their affections: Some faying, "They "must not Discourage 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 cc way, to Difhearten people to obtain their Juft Defires in «Such a way.

IN the end, the Lords requir'd the advice of the Judges, direct a writ « What courfe was Legally to be taken, to Supprefs and Preto be iffued vent thofe Disorders; and thereupon, directed the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, "To iffue out a Writ, upon the Sta"tute of Northampton, to the Sheriff and Justices, to appoint "ftrong Watches in fuch places as They judg'd most con"venient, to hinder that unlawful conflux of People to Weft"minfter, 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

Water