had been to destroy the enterprize: I therefore than to declare against the Catholic Cause. adjourned you to this place; a place then free In the Low Countries, the sect of the Armifrom that infection, with which it hath pleased nians prevailed much, who inclined to the PaGod since also to visit. Here, then, to hold pists rather than to their own safety, notwithyou long against your own desires, were to ex- standing that the enemy had a great and powpress little care of your safeties; and to adjourn erful army near them; so that his majesty was it, without your further helps, were to destroy enforced to protect and countenance them the preparations already made: I therefore with an army of 6000 men from hence, with a leave the care of both to your elections, reso- caution of repayment of the Charges, and the lutions, and answers; only acquainting you like Supply further, if required. Moreover, he with my own opinion, which is, That it is bet- sought alliance with France, by a Match for ter far, both for your honours and mine, that, his royal majesty that now is, thereby to have with hazard of half the fleet, it be set forth, interest in that king, and to make him a party. than, with the assured loss of so much provi- The last consideration was his majesty's own sion, it he stayed at home. The whole parti- honour, who had laboured with the two kings cular of all Expences about this Preparation of Denmark and Sweden, and the German shall be laid before you, when you shall be princes, from whom he received but cold anpleased to overlook them, and the Lord Trea-swers, they refusing to join, unless they first surer, with other ministers employed, shall acquaint you with them.” it feasible to enter into a league with the French king, and the duke of Savoy and Venice. Ilcreupon an army was committed to count Mansfield, the charge whereof came to 20,0001.❤ a month for his majesty's part; also he commanded the preparing of this great fleet: all which so heartened the princes of Germany, that they sent ambassadors to the kings of Denmark and Sweden, and those two kings offered a greater army, both of horse and foot, to which his maj. was to pay a proportion. Count Mansfield's army, though disastrous, saw his majesty in the field: but of this he was very tender, unless the league was broken, or he first warred upon. The forces of an army were Lord Conway and Sir John Cooke declare considered, and the way of proceeding, whether the State of the King's Affairs.] After his maj. by invasion or diversion: the Charges thereof had ended this speech, he commanded his appeared in parliament to be 700,000l. a year; secretaries, the lord Conway and sir John besides Ireland was to be fortified, the Forts Cooke, more particularly to declare the pre-here repaired, and a Navy prepared, he thought sent State of his Affairs; which they did to this effect: "That our sovereign lord king James, of famous memory, at the suit of both houses of parliament, and by the powerful operation of his maj. that now is, gave consent to break off the two Treaties with Spain, touching the Match and the Palatinate: That it was then foreseen a war would ensue, there being no other means to recover the Palatinate, nor to vindicate the many wrongs and scorns done unto his majesty and his royal children: besides, if the king of Spain was suffered to proceed in his conquests, under pre-produced these happy effects: 1. It prevented tence of the Catholic Cause, he would become the Diet intended by the emperor: 2. The the Catholic Monarch, which he so much af German princes gained new courage to defend fects, and aspires unto. Also amidst these themselves and oppose their enemies: 3. The necessities, our late king considered that he king of Denmark hath raised an army, with might run a hazard with his people, who being which he is marched in person as far as Minso long inured to peace, were unapt to war; den: 4. The confederates of France and Italy that the uniting with other provinces in this have prosecuted a war in Milan, and Peace is undertaking, was a matter of exceeding difli- now made by the French king with his own culty. This drew him to new treatics for re-subjects; so that by this army, breath is given gaining his children's right, which were expulsed by the friends and agents of Spain; and wherein his majesty proceeded as far as the wisest prince could go, and suffered himself to be won unto that, which otherwise was impossible for his royal nature to endure. He considered also the many difficulties abroad; the duke of Bavaria, by force and contract, had the Palatinate in his own possession; most of the electors and princes of Germany were joined with him; the estates of other princes, most likely to join in a War of Recovery, were seized and secured, and all by a conquering army: besides, the emperor had called a diet, in which he would take away all possibility of recovering the honour and inheritance of the Palatinate: thus it stood in Germany. And, in France, the king there chose to sheath his sword in the bowels of his own subjects, rather to our Affairs.-This parliament is not called in meer formality upon his now majesty's first coming to the crown; but upon these real occasions, to consult with the lords and commons: two Subsidies are already given, and graciously accepted; but the monies thereof, and much more, are already disbursed. A Fleet is now at sea, and hastening to their rendezvous, the Army is ready at Plymouth, expecting their commanders. His majesty's honour, religion, and the kingdom's safety, is here engaged; besides, he is certainly advised of designs to infest his dominions in Ireland, and upon our own coasts, and of the enemy's increase of shipping in all parts. These things have called the parliament hither, and the present Charge of all amounts to above 400,000l. the further prosecution whereof, the king be*In Rushworth 70,000l. ing unable to bear, hath left it to their consul- | tollit. Commune periculum,commune auxilium. tations. His maj. is verily persuaded, that No king can subsist in an honourable estate withthere is no king that loves his subjeets, reli- out three abilities: 1. To be able to maintain gion, and the laws of the land, better than himself against sudden Invasions. 2. To aid himself; and likewise, that there is no people his Allies and Confederates. 3. To reward that better love their king; whicle he will | his well-deserving servants. But, he urged, cherish to the uttermost. It was thought that there was a leak in the government, of which this place had been safe for this assembly; yet, leak such as these were the causes; Frauds in since the sickness hath brought some fear there- the Customs; Treaty about the Spanish Match; of, his maj. willeth the lords and commons to new invented offices, with large fees; old put into the ballance, with the fear of the sick- unprofitable offices, which the king might ness, his and their great and weighty occasions. .justly take away with law, love of his people, The Commons resume the Complaint against and Wales; multiplicity of offices in one man; and his own honour; the presidentships of York Dr. Montagu.] On the first day of the session, the affair of Dr. Montagu's books was renewed every officer to live on his own office; the in the commons by sir Edw. Coke and others. | king's Household ont of order; new tables The serjeant at arms told the house, that he kept there made the leakage the greater; uphad the doctor's bond of 20001. for his appear- | which ought to be stopped till the king was start officers; voluntary annuities or pensions, ance; but that he had lately got a letter from him, that he was sick of the stone: On which Hen. IV. no man was to beg of the king till he out of debt, and able to pay them. In the 4th the serjeant was ordered to produce both the bond and the letter. The Solicitor General was out of debt. Lastly, that all unnecessary begg'd leave to put the house in mind of his charges, costly diet, apparel, buildings, &c. increase still the leakage.-To apply some means majesty's message to them before the last recess; and moved to acquaint the king with the parks, now a great charge to the king, might for remedy; the multiplicity of forests and particulars and consequences of the Book, and doubted not but they would have leave to send for him. Hereupon a debate arose, Whether any of the king's servants might be questioned in that house ? Mr. Alford urged the danger of such an exemption; and others named some instances where they had ; as, particularly, the case of sir Tho. Parry, who was a privy councellor, whom the king desired might be left to him; but the house would not consent, but expelled him. Mr. Wentworth (afterwards Earl of Strafford) mentioned the lord chancellor Bacon's and the lord treasurer Middlesex's cases, whom this house dealt with; he said Montagu reproached Bible-bearers, which was the Arms of that University; and moved to proceed against him for a contempt of that house. This was agreed to, and to pray a conference with the lords about it; not to meddle with his tenets, but to leave them to the bishops. The serjeant was commanded, at his peril, to bring dr. Montagu to the house, with all convenient speed, and he to stand committed till he shall be discharged by the house. king's Ordinary Charge in Edw. III.'s time, be drawn into a great benefit to him. The was borne by the king's ordinary revenue. Ireland, at that time, was also 30,000l. a year benefit to the king; but now a great charge to than a rhetorique hand; a strait, than an open him. To petition the king rather for a logique one. mittee to put down these, and such other He concluded by moving for a comheads as shall be offered." The Solicitor General moved to petition the king to declare the king of Spain an enemy, since it was he that had done them all the wrong: to take care of Papists at home, whose hearts were with the Spaniards, and are dangerous here whilst our navy was abroad. Two Subsidies and two Fifteens, to be paid in Oct. and April come twelve months. Others deand not to graft Subsidy upon Subsidy in one clared against granting Subsidies in reversion; moved for, the Duke to be called to it, “ That parliament. A committee for this matter was he may give satisfaction for these aspersions that had been laid upon him." But no resolution was come to on this day. Debate on a Motion for the Supply.] Aug. 5. The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved for Aug. 6. Sir H. Mildmay said, “That they the supply; which, he said, must be two Sub-were called thither for two reasons; for the sidies, and two Fifteenths, for that less would not serve for the present occasions. Sir S. Weston urged to know the cause for this Supply, and the enemy against whom the preparations were destinated: and that the estates of the papists, who contributed to their enemies, may be speedily looked into to supply the king. Sir Edw. Coke said: Necessitas affectata, invincibilis, & improvida.' The two last, he said, break all laws and orders, and must be supplied : but, if their necessities came by im providence, then there existed no such cause to give. Neutralitas nec amicos parit nec inimicos cause of Religion, and granting a Supply to his majesty. That their coldness in Religion was one of the principal causes of the grievous visi tation then upon them. To add to our former Petition to his majesty, that he will upon no account give any connivance to the Papists. That they were not absolutely bound to maintain a war, but to assist and supply the King in a war. Moved, first, to know what money will serve for the Fleet; then to raise the Supply, if not by subsidy, yet by some other course, of which there are precedents; and which, being done in parliament, is a parliamentary course. 1 Mr. Coryton moved for a committee, to cousider of what was fit to be done, both for Supply of the king, and relief of the kingdom. Sir J. Cooke moved that the Commission for the Navy might be examined. Mr. Strode moved, for a grand committee presently, to consider of the King's Supply, and that all who spoke in the committee might apply themselves to this, How two Subsidies and Fifteens, payable more than one year hence, can supply a navy, to go out in fourteen days. "That he should kneel at the Bar, and the Speaker to let him know the house had taken just offence at his words; and therefore that he should stand committed to the serjeant during the pleasure of the house." But, the next day, upon submission made, he was released.--In the course of this Debate, Sir Robert Cotton, the learned Antiquary, spoke as follows: "Mr. Speaker; Although the constant wisdom of this house of commous did well and worthily appear, in censuring that ill-advised member the last day, for trenching Sir Nath. Rich said, that they ought not to so far into their ancient liberties; and might refuse to give at all; but, first, to represcut encourage each worthy servant of the public their wants to the king, first, for Religion, to here, to offer up freely his counsel and opinion: have his majesty's answer in full parliament, yet, since these walls cannot conceal from the and then enrolled; which then would be of ears of captions, guilty and revengeful men force with an act of parliament. Next, to without, the counsel and debates within; I will know the enemy against whom War was to endeavour, as my clear mind is free from any to be made. The Necessity of an advised personal distaste of auy one, so to express the Counsel for governing of the great affairs of the honest thoughts of my heart, and discharge the kingdom. The Necessity of looking into the best care of my trust, as no person shall justly King's Revenue. To have his majesty's An- tax my innocent and public mind; except his swer concerning Impositions on Wines. And conscience shall make him guilty of such though the time was not now fit for the deci- crimes as worthily have, in parliament, imsion of all these points, yet a select committee peached others in elder times. I will thereto be appointed to set down the heads of them, fore, with as much brevity as I can, set down and then to have the King's Answer to them in how these disorders have, by degrees, sprung up parliament; the doing of which, he said, was in our own memories; how the wisdom of the no capitulation with his majesty, but an ordi- best and wisest ages did of old redress the like; nary parliamentary course, as 22 Edw. 3. and and, lastly, what modest and dutiful course I that without which the commonwealth could would wish to be followed by ourselves, in this neither supply the king, nor subsist. so happy spring of our hopeful master. For, Mr. Rushworth tells us, that the anti-cour-mr. Speaker, we are not to judge, but to pretiers were freer than all this with the ministry.sent: the redress is above ad querimoniam At this debate, he says, they urged, "That vulgi.'-Now, mr. Speaker, so long as those great sums of money were given for places, to attended about our late sovereign master, now the value of 140,000l. at least. That the king with God, as had served the late queen of ought to contribute to help the Palatinate's happy memory, debts of the crown were not cause with his own estate. That the time of so great; commissions and grants not so often the year was too far spent for the fleet to complained of in parliament; trade flourished; go out for service. That enquiry ought to be pensions not so many, though more than in the made, Whether the duke brake not the Match late queen's time, for they exceeded not 18,000l. with Spain, out of spleen and malice to the now near 120,0001. all things of moment were Conde Olivares? Whether he made not the carried by public debate at the council-table; Match with France upon harder terms? Aud no honours set to sale; nor places of judicawhether the ships, employed against Rochel, ture; laws against priests and recusants were were not maintained with the Subsidies executed; resort of Papists to ambassadors given for the relief of the Palatinate?" Of houses barred and punished; his maj. by daily all which there is no mention in the Jour- direction to all his ministers, and, by his own nals. Though, indeed, there is sufficient rea- pen, declaring his dislike of that profession; son to believe they might have been said in no wasteful expences in fruitless ambassages, the course of this debate, by what follows: nor any transcendent power in any one miFor Mr. Edward Clarke, a member, used an nister. For matters of state, the Councilexpression in a speech, "That there had been Table held up the fit and ancient dignity. So speeches there, with invective bitterness, and long as my lord of Somerset stood in state of very unseasonable for the time." On which grace, and had, by his maj.'s favour, the trust there was a general acclamation, "To the of the signet seal, he oft would glory justly, Bar" and, being ordered to explain himself that there passed neither to himself, or his there, he gave still greater offence. He was friends, any long grants of his highness's lands then further ordered to withdraw, whilst this or pensions: for of that which himself had, he matter was debated in the house. Some ar- paid 20,000l. towards the marriage-portion of gued for expulsion; others said, though the the king's daughter. His care was to pass no offence was great, yet the punishment ought to monopoly or illegal grant; and that some be more moderate. At length, it was agreed, * See Collections, Vol. I. p. 180. * Taken from his Posthumous Works, published by mr. Howell, anno 1651. Suffolk, that he had procured for himself, and some some few others, such Titles of Honour, and those so irregular, that he was the first that ever was earl, marquis, and duke of the self-same place. Edw. I. restrained the number, in policy, that would have challenged a writ by tenure: and how this proportion may suit with the profit of the state, we cannot tell. Great deserts have now no other recompence than costly rewards from the king; for, we are now at a vile price of that which was once inestimable. If worthy persons have been advanced freely to places of greatest trust, I shall be glad. Spencer was condemned in the 14 Edw. 2. for displacing good servants about the king, and putting in his friends and followers; not leaving, either in the church or commonwealth, a place to any, before a fine was paid unto him for his dependence. The like in part was laid by parliament on De la Pole. It cannot but be a sad hearing unto us all, what my lord treasurer lately told us of his maj.'s great debts, high engagements, and members of this house can witness by his charge unto them. No giving way to the Sale of honours, as a breach upon the nobility, (for such were his own words) refusing sir John Roper's office, then tendered to procure him to be made a baron. The Match with Spain then offered, (and with condition to require no further toleration in religion than ambassadors here are allowed) he, discovering the double dealing and the dangers, dissuaded his maj. from; and left him so far in distrust of the faith of that king, and his great instrument Gondomar, then here residing, that his maj. did term him long time after a Juggling Jack.' Thus stood the effect of his power with his maj. when the clouds of his misfortune fell upon him. What the future advices led in, we may well remember. The marriage with Spain was again renewed: Gondomar declared an honest man: Popery heartened, by employing suspected persons for conditions of conveniency. The forces of his majesty in the Palatinate withdrawn, upon Spanish faith in proved here and believed, by which his high-present wants: the noise whereof I wish may ness's children have lost their patrimony; and more money been spent in fruitless ambassages, than would have maintained an army fit to have recovered that country. Our old and fast allies disheartened, by that tedious and dangerous treaty: and the king our now master exposed to so great a peril, as no wise and faithful council would ever have advised. Errors in government, more in misfortune by weak counsels, than in princes.-The loss of the county of Poyntois in France, was laid to bishop Wickham's charge in the first of Rd. 2. for persuading the king to forbear sending aid when it was required: a capital crime in parliament. The loss of the duchy of Maine was laid to De la Pole duke of Suffolk, 28 Hen. 6. in singly and unwisely treating of a Marriage in France.-A Spanish Treaty lost the Palatinate. Whose counsel hath pronounced so great power to the Spanish agent (as never before) to effect freedom to so many priests as have been of late; and to become a solicitor almost in every tribunal for the ill-affected subjects of the state, is worth the inquiry?— What Grants of Impositions, before crossed, have lately been complained of in parliament? As that of Ale-Houses, Gold-Thread, Pretermitted Customs, and many more; the least of which would have, 50 Edw. 3. been adjudged in parliament an heinous crime, as well as those of Lyon and Latymer.-The duke of Suffolk in the time of Hen. 6. in procuring such another grant, in derogation of the common law, was adjudged in parliament.-The Gift of Honours, kept as the most sacred treasure of the state, now set to sale. Parliaments have been suitors to the king to bestow those graces; as in the times of Edw. 3. Hen. 5. and Hen. 6. More now led in, by that way only, than all the merits, of the best deservers have got these last 500 years. So tender was the care of elder times, that it is an article 28 Hen. 6. in parliament against the duke of ever rest inclosed within these walls. For, quence of it determined the fate of this parliament. It is very imperfectly inserted in the Journals of the Commons, and more so in Rushworth. Aug. 8. This day the Lords sent a Message to the Commons, "That they had received one from the king, which was to be delivered to the lords and commons together, by the lord keeper and the duke of Buckingham, and that his maj, had commanded the lord keeper to require the lord treasurer, the lord Conway, and sir John Cook, to assist his grace therein. Upon which account, the lords required a present meeting with their whole house, in the great hall of Christ Church, if it suited their conveniency." within themselves, That, as the Speaker and the whole house went up, if the Lords kept bare, to do the same; if they covered, then the Speaker and the rest to cover also. nues of the crown were so rent away by ill counsel, that the king was inforced to live de tallagiis populi:' that the king was grown in debt quinque centena millia librarum:' that his great favourite, in treating of a foreign marriage, had lost his master a foreign duchy: that to work his ends, he had caused the king to adjourn the parliament in villis & remotis partibus regni,' where few people, propter defectum hospitii & victualium' could attend; and by shifting that assembly from place to place, to inforce (I will use the author's own word) illos paucos, qui remanebant de communitate regni, concedere regi quamvis pessima.' When the parliament endeavoured by an act of resumption, the just and frequent way to repair the languishing state of the crown The Answer returned was, "That the Com(for all from Hen. 3. but one, till the 6 Hen. 8. mons would meet, at the time and place aphave used it) this great man told the king it pointed, with their Speaker and the whole was ad dedecus regis,' and forced him from house. And, as intimation was given, that it: to which the Commons answered, although there might be occasion for a worthy member 'vexati laboribus & expensis, nunquam con- of their house, in delivering the message from cederent taxam regi,' until by authority of par- his maj.; though it was against the very funliament, resumeret actualiter omnia perti- damental privileges of the house of commons, nentia coronæ Angliæ:' and that it was 'magis yet they gave way to it, with this proviso; That ad dedecus regis,' to leave so many poor men he speak, as the king's servant and commisin intolerable want, to whom the king stood sioner, and not as a member of their house." then indebted. Yet nought could all good-At the same time, the Commons ordered, counsel work, until by parliament that bad great man was banished; which was no sooner done, but an act of resumption followed the inrollment of the act of his exilement. That was a speeding article against the bishop of Aug. 9. The Report of this grand ConWinchester and his brother, in the time of ference between the two houses was made in Edw. 3. that they had ingrossed the person of the house of lords, by dr. Abbot, abp. of Canthe king from his other lords. It was not for-terbury: and first, on what had been offered gotten against Gaveston and the Spencers, in the time of Edward 2. The unhappy ministers of Rd. 2. Hen. 6. and Edw. 6. felt the weight, to their ruin, of the like errors. I hope we shall not complain in parliament again of such.-I am glad we have neither just cause, or undutiful dispositions, to appoint the king a counsel to redress those errors in parliament, as those 42 Hen. 3. We do not desire, as 5 Hen. 4. or 29 Hen. 6. the removing from about the king any evil counsellors. We do not request a choice by name, as 14 Edw. 2. 3. 5. 11. Rd. 2. 8 Hen. 4. or 31 Hen. 6. nor to swear them in parliament, as 35 Edw. 1. 9 Edw. 2. or 5 Rd. 2. or to line them out their directions of rule, as 43 Hen. 3. and 8 Hen. 6. or desire that which Hen. 3. did promise in his 42d year, se acta omnia per assensum magnatum de concilio suo electorum, & sine eorum assensu nihil.' We only in loyal duty offer up our humble desires, that since his majesty hath, with advised judgment, elected so wise, religious, and worthy servants, to attend him in that high employment; he will be pleased to advise, with them together, a way of remedy for those disasters in state, brought on by long security and happy peace; and not be led with young and single counsel." A grand Conference relating to Religion.] We now return to the Lords Journals, for an affair of no small moment, since the conseVOL. II. by the Commons concerning Religion. "That they presented a Petition, directed to his maj. desiring this house to join with them therein; the effect whereof was, That whereas the lords and commons did, at their last meeting, present a Petition to his maj. for advancement of God's true Religion and suppressing the contrary; unto which his maj. vouchsafed, as well by his own mouth, as by the lord keeper's, on the 11th of July last, to return such an Auswer as gave them assurance of his royal performance thereof; yet, at this meeting, they find that, on the 12th of July last, his maj. granted a pardon unto Alexander Baker, a Jesuit, and ten other Papists; which, as they are informed, was upon the importunity of some foreign ambassador; and that it passed by immediate warrant, and was recommended by the principal secretary of state, without paying the ordinary fees. Also, That divers Copes, Altars, Chalices, &c. being found in the house of one Mary Estmond, in Dorsetshire, by two justices of the peace; they thereupon tendered her the oath of allegiance; which she refusing, they committed her to the constable, from whom she made her escape and complained to the king. That the said secretary of state did write unto these justices in her favour; all which they humbly desired his maj. to take into consideration, and to give a due, effectual, and speedy redress therein." C |