Feb. 19. The lord-keeper reported the king's Answer to the above Petition, to this effect: That the raatter was of weighty consequence; nd as their lordships had sat some days to repare the same, so he would take some time consider of an Answer to it. That the form f the Petition and manner of delivering of it as such, as he could not but interpret well of eir lordships proceedings; yet he must say at it is easier to prevent an inconveniency, an redress it when it has happened."-It is robable that the disagreement then arising etween the king and the house of commons, hich occasioned the sudden dissolution of this arliament, was also the reason why no further nswer was given to this Petition; for we incet ith no more about it. And nothing else of my consequence happening in the upper house his session, we shall pass on to the transacons of the commons. Sir John Elliot. I see by this relation what cause we have to be tender of the liberty of the kingdom, [and of this house]* and yet withal to retain that moderation, as to give satisfaction to the world that our hearts are fixed to serve his maj. and to free us from all jealousy. Three things are involved in this complaint. 1. The right of the particular gentleman. 2. The right of the subject. 3. The right and privi lege of the house. Let the committee consi der of the two former; and for the violation of the liberties of this house, let us not do less than our forefathers. Was ever the information of a member committed to a committee? Let us send for the parties: is there not here a flat denial of the restitution of the goods? Was it not also said, That if all the parlia ment were contained in him, they would do as they did? Let them be sent for.-It was hereupon ordered that the officers of the customhouse be sent for. Then Mr. Selden reported from the commit tee concerning the printing of the Petition of Right, That there were 1500 copies printed without any Addition at all, which were pub lished in the time of the last parliament; other copies have been printed since with additions, the former suppressed and made waste paper; which the printer did, as he said, by the com from his maj. And the printer further said, That Mr. Attorney was with the lord privy-seal at Whitehall, and there the said lord delivered to the printer papers with divers hands to them; and on the backside were indorsed these words, We will and command you that these copies be printed.' Complaint of seizing the Goods of a Member or refusing to pay Tonnage.] Feb. 10. The aforeaid Complaint respecting the scizing of Mr. tolles's goods, having been made to the house, Sir Robert Philips got up and said, By his information you see the misfortunes of these imes, and how full time it was for this assemly to meet to serve his maj. and preserve our elves; and I am confident we came hither to do oth; andmay all we shall do conduce to an hap-mand of Mr. Attorney, which he received y end and conclusion,'to the king's honour and our own safety! Great and weighty things ound deep; cast your eyes which way you please, you may see violations upon all sides: ook on the liberty of the subject'; look on the rivilege of this house; let any say, if ever he ead or saw the like violations by inferiour miisters that overdo their cominands. They The King's Speech on that Occasion.] Jan. 23, new the party was a parliament-man: nay, A Message was brought by Secretary Cooke hey said, if all the parliament was in him, from the king to the lower house: viz. "Wherethis they would do and justify, meaning the as there hath been debate in this house condenial of the replevin. If we suffer the liberty cerning the seizure of Merchants Goods by his of the house to wither, out of fear or compli- maj.'s officers and ministers: his maj. willeth nent, we shall give a wound to the happiness that any further debate or proceedings, in that of this kingdom. Here the course of justice case, may be forborn till to-morrow at 2 of the was interrupted: order was made in the exche-clock in the afternoon; when his maj. is re er for the stay of the goods; and since there sa seizure, upon the approach of parliament, f goods amounting unto 5000/. for pretended futies of 2001. In the 1st of king James, by eason of the sickness, that then was, the parFument was prorogued; and then there was one boldness to take Tonnage and Poundage; ret, after, we questioned the men that demanded it, for there was no right to demand it. Let us proceed with perseverance in our duies to make up breaches: let a committee be appointed to consider of these duties.' Mr. Littleton. We have had good admonitions, and we have followed them. We have had moderation preached to us in parliament, and we follow it. I would others did the like out of parliament. Let the parties be sent for that violated the liberties of parliament, that they may have their doom. [This speech was occasioned by Secretary Cooke, who had desired moderation might be used.] solved to speak with both houses in the Banqueting house at Whitehall; and hereof we are to take notice."-The king's Speech was as follows: "My lords and gentlemen; The care I have to remove all obstacles that may hinder the good correspondency, or cause a misunderstanding betwixt me and this parliament, made me call you hither at this time, the particular occasion being a Complaint lately moved in the lower house.--For you, my lords, I am glad to take this and all other occasions, whereby you may clearly understand both my words and actions; for as you are nearest in degree, so you are the fittest witnesses for kings. The complaint I speak of, is for staying Men's Goods that deny The passages in crotchets [ ] are supplied from the MSS. before mentioned. There are also several corrections passim, too minute to be particularized. Tonnage and Poundage. This may have an easy and short conclusion, if my words and actions be rightly understood: for, by passing the bill as my ancestors have had it, my by-past actions will be concluded, and my future proceedings authorized which certainly would not have been struck upon, if men had not imagined, that I had taken those duties as pertaining unto my hereditary prerogative, in which they are much deceived; for it ever was, and still is my meaning, by the gift of my people to enjoy it; and my intention in my speech at the end of the last session, was not to challenge Tonnage and Poundage as of Right, butfde bene esse; shewing you the necessity, not the right, by which I was to take it, until you had granted it unto me: assuring myself, according to your general professions, that you wanted time and not goodwill to give it me.Wherefore, having now opportunity, I expect that, without loss of time, you make good your forner professions; and so, by passing the bill, to put an end to all questions arising from this subject, especially since I have removed the only scruple that can trouble you in this business. To conclude: let us not be jealous one of the other's actions; for, if I had been easily moved at every occasion, the order made in the lower house, on Wednesday night last, might have inade me startle: there being some shew to suspect, that you had given yourselves the liberty to be the inquisitors after complaints, the words of your order being somewhat too largely penned: but, looking into your actions, I find you only hear complainers, not seck complaints; for I am certain you neither pretend nor desire to be inquisitors of men's actions before particular complaint be made.-This I bave spoken to shew you how slow I am to believe harshly of your proceedings; likewise to assure you, that the house's Resolutions, not particular men's speeches, shall make me judge well or ill; not doubting but, according to my example, you will be deaf to all ill reports or rumours concerning me, until my words and actions speak for themselves: that so this session beginning with a confidence one towards another, it may end in a perfect and good correspondency between us, which God grant." Jan. 26. Mr. Waller informed the house of divers ships laden with Corn for Spain and other enemies countries: whereupon a committee was appointed about the trading into Spain and other Enemies Countries, and concerning the transporting Corn and Munition thither. It was thereupon ordered, that some of the privycouncil should move the king about the stay of the said ships. Debate on Grievances in Religion.] Mr. Secretary Cooke inoved, That the bill of Tonnage and Poundage might be read: but, after some debate, it was diverted; and then the house fell upon point of Religion.' Mr. Sherland said, We have a religion that is worth the loving with all our hearts. It was conlod with the bload of marters and kent by miracles; and now to have our noses wip of this would grieve any heart; much more see our religion quite taken away; desig daily made on it; and Arminianism still to i crease as it doth, it maketh me not a little admire. I am persuaded that the greater pa of the nobility, clergy, and gentry are fir but it is the desires of some few that labour bring in a new faction of their own; and they drop into ears of his majesty, that tho that oppose them, oppose his maj. putting hi upon designs that stand not with publick berty; and tell him, that he may comman what he listeth, and do as he pleaseth with ou goods, lives and religion; whereby they has involved all good truc-hearted Englishm and Christians under the name of Puritan and make their quarrels to be his majesty's which is treason in the highest degree and qua lity.' Mr. Rouse. "We have of late entered int consideration of the Petition of Right, and th violation of it, and upon good reasons; for concerns our goods, liberties and lives; bu there is a right of an higher nature that pro serves us far greater things, even the Eter nal life, our souls, yea our God himself; arigh of religion derived to us from the King o Kings, confirmed to us by the kings of the kingdom, and enacted by laws in this place streaming down to us in the blood of the martyrs, and witnessed from heaven by miracles, even miraculous deliverances: and this right, in the name of this nation, I thi day claim and desire that there may be a deep and serious consideration of the violations of it. I desire, first, it may be considered what new paintings are laid on the old face of the Whore of Babylon, to make her more lovely, and to draw more suitors to her. I desire that it may be considered how the see of Rome doth eat into our religion, and fret into the banks and walls of it, I mean the laws and statutes of this realm; especially since those laws have been made, in a manner by themselves, even by their own treasons and bloody designs; and since their popery is a confused mass of errors; casting down kings before popes; the precepts of God before men's traditions and living and reasonable men before dead and senseless stocks and stones.-I desire that we may consider the increase of Arminianisin, an error that maketh the grace of God lackey it after the will of man; that maketh sheep to keep the shepherd, and makes mortal seed of an immortal God. I desire that we may look into the very belly and bowels of this Trojan Horse, to see if there be not in it men ready to open the gates to Romish tyranny and Spanish monarchy: for an Arminian is the spawn of a, Papist; and if there come the warmth of court-favour upon him, you shall see him turned into one of those frogs that arise out of the bottomless pit.-And if ye mark it well, you shall see an Arminian reaching out his hand to a Papist; a Papist to a Jesuit; a Jesuit gives one hand to the Pone, and the : other hand to the king of Spain: and these men having kindled fire in our neighbours country, have now brought over some of it hither to set on flane this kingdom also.-Yet let us further search and consider the men that broke in upon the goods and liberties of this kingdom; for by this means they make way for the taking way of our religion.-It was an old trick of the Devil, when he meant to take away Job's religion; he begins at his goods, lay thy hand on all he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. Either they think hereby to set a distaste between prince and people, or to find some other way of Supply to avoid or break off parliaments, that so they may break in upon our religion, and bring in their own errors.But let us do as Job did; he held fast his religion, and then his goods were restored to him with advantage: and if we hold fast our religion, these things shall be added unto us. Let us consider the time past, how we flourished in honours and abundance, when religion flourished amongst us; but as religion decayed, so the honour and strength of our nation decayed: when the soul of the common-wealth is dead, the body cannot long over-live it. If a man meet a dog alone, the dog is fearful, though never so fierce by nature: but if the dog have his master with him, he will set upon that man, from whom he tled before. This shews that lower natures, being backed by higher, increase in courage and strength; and certainly man, being backed with Omnipotency, is a kind of omnipotent creature. All things are possible to him that believeth; and where all things are possible, there is a kind of omnipotency. Wherefore, let it be now the unanimous consent and resolution of us all, to make a vow and covenant, from henceforth to hold fast our God and our religion; and then shall we from henceforth certainly expect prosperity in this kingdon and nation; and to this covenant let every one say, Amen.' Mr. Kirton. This business that we have in hand concerning our Religion is of dangerons consequence, if it be not strictly looked into. I think no man that sits here but is sensible in what danger it now stands, if this honourable house doth not find some present remedy for it. It is apparent to every man, that new opinions are brought in by some of our churchmen, to disturb the peace that our church was formerly in; the meaning of it can be no other than to bring in the Romish religion amongst us: for it hath been ever a Jesuitical policy, first to work a disturbance, then afterwards a change. We must seek the cause; I shall freely speak my opinion, That this proceeds from the ambition of some of the clergy that are nigh his majesty; for it is well known, that the church of Rome at first, and that which we now profess, were all one; and then the ambition of the clergy begot and brought in all these differences that are now amongst us. The highest dignity that they can attain unto here in England is an archbishop; but a cardinal's cap is not here to be had. I believe some of them affect that too well, and in some we see the effects; how they change their opinions for advancement, and they will turn white into black, and black into white-This being so, our endeavours must be to take away the root, and then the branches will decay of themselves. It is not the calling in of the " Appeals to Cæsar" that will do it.* for if they can get bishopricks by writing such books we shall have many more that will write books in that kind. It behoves us all, every man, according to his best ability, to employ himself for the search of these things, that we may find out the matter and the men; that we may present them and the dangers that this kingdom stands, in by them, to his majesty; and for my part, I, as God shall enable me, will do my best herein. Jan. 27. The debate was resumed, when Mr. Pym spoke as follows: The hinderances of religion are to be enquired after, and redress to be therein taken. There are two diseases, the one old, the other new. The old, Popery. The new, Arminianism. There are 3 things to be enquired after concerning Popery. 1. Of the cessation of the execution of the laws against Popery. 2. How the Papists have been employed and countenanced. 3. The late bringing in of superstitious rites and ceremonies amongst us. For Arminianism, be advised, 1. That a way may be opened for the Truth. 2. That by the articles set forth in 1552; and by the catechism set forth in Edw. 6.'s days; and by the writings of Peter Martyr, Martin Bucer, Wickcliffe, and others; and by the constant profession sealed by the blood of So many martyrs, as Cranmer, Ridley, aud others; and by the 59 Articles set forth in queen Elizabeth's time; and by the Articles set forth at Lambeth, as the doctrine of the church of England; which king James sent to Dort and to Ireland, as the truth professed here. Lastly, By his majesty's Declaration and Proclamation to maintain unity in the settled religion, as appears by his proclamation, and other courses tending that way; which are perverted and abused to the ruin and subversion of religion, which breed a fear of innovation: as also by the preferments which such have received since the last parliament, who have heretofore taught contrary to the truth. Then consider again for what overt act those men have been countenanced and advanced, what pardons they have had for false doctrines, what manner of preaching hath been lately before the king, what suppression of books that have been written against their doctrines, and what permitting of such books as have been written for them.-The ways propounded for remedy, it is the duty of the parliament in general, and of each Christian in particular, to follow and howsoever it is alleged, that the parliament are not judges in matters of faith, yet ought they : Alluding to a book, called, 'Appello Casarem,' written by Dr. Montagu, who about this very time was made bishop of Chichester, See p. 6. of the present volume. to know the established and fundamental truths, and the contrary to them; for parliaments have confirmed acts of general councils, which have not been received until they have been so authorized; and parliaments have enacted laws for trial of heretics by juries. The parliament punished the earl of Essex for countenancing of heretics, and there is no court can meet with these mischiefs, but the court of parliament. The convocation cannot; because it is but a provincial synod, only of the jurisdiction of Canterbury; and the power thereof is not adequate to the whole kingdom; and the convocation of York may, perhaps, not agree with that of Canterbury. The high commission cannot; for it hath its authority derived from parliament, and the derivative cannot prejudice the original; the judgment of the parliament being the judgment of the king and of the three estates of the kingdom,' Sir F. Seymour. If Religion be not a rule to all our actions, what policy can we have? If God fight not for us and in our battles, the help of man is in vain. The cause of our defeats is our defects in religion, and the sins of idolatry and popery. Papists increase more now than ever, neither do they want their priests and masses: nay, his majesty's name is used to stop proceedings against papists, and that since the last parliament; contrary to his majesty's goodness and public professions, nay, to his own proclamations and instructions to the judges; and whatsoever is done in the country is undone above.' ference should be desired with the lords about the Petition for a Fast, who desired to join with the lower house; and thereupon it was preferred to the king accordingly, by the abp. of York, in the name of both houses; viz. "Most gracious sovereign; It is the hearty and earnest desire of us your most dutiful subjects, the lords spiritual and temporal, and commons in this present parliament reassem bled, that this our meeting may be abundantly blessed with all happy success in the great a fairs of church and state, upon which we are to consult; and that by a clear understanding, both of your majesty's goodness to us, and our faithful and loyal hearts to your person and service (all jealousies and distractions, which are apparent signs of God's displeasure and of ensuing mischief, being laid aside and removed, there may, in this session, and for ever, be a perfect and most happy union and agreement between your maj. and all the estates of this your realm; but humbly acknowledging, that neither this nor any other blessing can be ex pected without the special favour of Almighty God; and having (upon the observation of the continued and increasing miseries of the Reformed Churches abroad, whose cases with bleeding hearts we do commiserate; as like wise of the punishments already inflicted, and which are likely in great measure to fall upo ourselves) just cause to conceive, that the Divine Majesty is, for our sins, exceedingly offended with us. We do in this, and other pious respects, most dear sovereign, humbis Sir R. Philips. I hold myself much bound beseech your most excellent maj. that by your to those gentlemen that first set this on foot; royal command, not only ourselves, but all the if any man be so zealously transported in this, people of this your kingdom may be spoedly it is for his religion, let that excuse him. Two enjoined, upon some certain day, or days, by sects are damnably crept in to undermine kin your maj, to be prefixed, by public fasting and and kingdom, if not now prevented; the one prayer, to seek reconciliation at the merci antient, Popery; the other new, Arminianism. hands of Almighty God; so as the prayers What misery befel the Jews when they broke your whole kingdom, joined with your majesty's their peace with God? What hath blasted our princely care, and the faithful and hearty c designs since these heresics crept in? Have we deavours of this great council now assembled not still turned the back upon our enemies? I may procure glory to Almighty God in the pream afraid that God sitteth in the council of our servation of his true religion, much honour to enemies against us. Doth not God plague us your majesty, prosperity to your people, and with enemies abroad and destruction at home? comfort to all your maj.'s friends and allies." We are become the most contemptible nation The King's Answer.] To this the king pare in the world are not our miseries and our the following Answer: : "My lords and gentle crosses daily increased? With grief do I ex-men; the chiefest motive of your Fast press that fatal perishing of the late hopeful being the deplorable estate of the reformed prince of Bohemia; let us humble ourselves churches abroad, is but too true; and before God, by fasting and prayer, that we duty, so much as in us lieth, is to give them al may bring him again into England to go before possible help: yet certainly fighting will our armies, and that God may crown our ac- them more good than fasting, Though I d tions and bless our counsels,' not wholly disallow the latter, yet I must tel you, that the custom of fasting every sessions but lately begun; and I confess I am not fully satisfied with the necessity of it at this time yet to shew you how smoothly I desire your business to go on eschewing as much as I can questions or jealousies, I do willingly grant your requests herein; but with this note, That I expect that this shall not hereafter be brough: into a precedent for frequent fasts, except upo great occasions; and, for the form and time, I The same day a Petition was exhibited against one Lewis, that, about the 25th of Dec. last, he said, The Devil take the parliament;" which was avowed by two witnesses: and though it was spoken out of parliament, yet it was resolved to be an offence unto the parliament, and it was ordered he should be sent for. The Petition of both Houses for a Fast.] Sir N. Rich tendered a Petition concerning the Fast; whereupon it was ordered, That a con will advise with my lords the bishops, and then that in such a manner, as the like before hath scarce been heard of. Well, how others stand atfected, I know not; but, for my own part, that which for an undoubted truth I have fron the church of England heretofore received, that will I stand to; and forego my estate, my liberty, yea, my life itself, rather than forego it.--As for passing of bills, settling revenues, and the like, without settling Religion, I must confess I have no heart to it: take away my ReliThe King's Message to hasten the Bill of gion, you take away my life; and not only Tannage.] Mr. Secretary Cooke delivered a mine, but the life of the whole state and kingMessage from the king, "That his majesty, dom. For I dare boldly say, never was there, understanding that the Remonstrance was in the point of subsistance, a more near concalled for, to take away all questions, com-junction between matter of religion and 'matmanded him to deliver it to the house: butter of state, in any kingdom in the world, than hopeth you will proceed with Tonnage and Poundage, and give precellency to that business, to give an end to further dispute between him and some of his subjects; or else he shall think his speech, that was with good applause accepted, had not that good effect he expect -cd." Here there is in this kingdom at this day. Therefore let this that I say sink a little into your consideration? and let me put you in mind of a saying worthy to be considered, that humana consilia castigantur, ubi cœlestibus se præferunt,' when human counsels thrust themselves in before divine, a thousand to one but they are severely punished. But, if we hold ourselves to this method by me now proposed unto you, doubtless that God which, beyond our expectations, brought as through those main difficulties the last session, will not be wanting to us in this particular, that so much concerns his own glory: however, let us do our endea vours, and leave the success to him. The sum of all that I have said unto you is this; of all the businesses that are now before you, whatsoever they be, let Religion have the precedency.' desires. Religion concerneth the king as well as us. The unity of this house is sweet, especially in God's cause. Let us try, and try again for this: let us be resolved into a committee, and presently debate thereof. The Commons proceed with religious Griernces.] Sir Walter Earle made a speech upon the occasion of Mr. Secretary Cooke's declaring, "That his majesty expected that the house should give his business the precedency," as followeth I am of the number of those, that, at our last meeting, thought the time best spent in vindicating those rights and liberties of the subject, which had formerly been impeached and were then in most imminent danger; and in that respect thought it not amiss to postpone, for a while, the business of Religion, as a thing that rather concerned the well-being, Mr. Coriton. 'Let us not do God's business than the being itself of this kingdom and com- negligently: we receive his maj.'s message with monwealth; religion without the common- all duty; for our proceedings, let us so prowealth, being as an accident without a sub-ceed, as may soonest conduce unto his maj.'s ject, or a soul without a body. Now give me leave to tell you, that religion offers itself to your first consideration at this time, challenging to herself the right of precedency, and the employment of our best endeavours; that as it was then, ubi dolor ibi digitus,' it may be now, ubi amor ibi oculus.' But let no man mistake me, as if I were less sensible of the violations of the subjects liberties (even since the last session) than any man else that sits here, who soever he be. No, I know full well, that the cause of justice is God's cause, as well as the cause of religion: but what good will those rights and liberties do me, or any man else, that resolves to live and die a protestant? Nay, what good will they do any man, of what religion soever he be, that resolves to live and die a freeman, and not a slave; if Popery and Arminianista, joining hand in hand as they do, be a means, together with the Romish hierarchy, to bring in a Spanish tyranny amongst s; under which those laws and liberties must of necessity cease?—In the point of Religion, you'see what hath been done since the last session; what declarations have been made; what Fersons advanced; what truths established; Day, laws confirmed by synods, national and provincial, have been called in question, and VOL. II. Sir John Elliot. Sir, I have always observed in the proceedings of this house, our best advantage is in order; and I was glad when that noble gentleman, my countryman, gave occasion to stay our proceedings; for I feared it would have carried us into a sea of confusion and disorder. And now having occasion to present my thoughts to you in this great and weighty business of Religion, I shall be bold to give a short expression of my own affection; and in that order, that, I hope, will conduce best to the effecting of that work, and direct our labour to an end. To enter, sir, into a particular disquisition of the writings and opinions of divines, I fear it will involve us in a labyrinth that we shall hardly get out of; and perchance hinder that way, and darken that path in which we must tread. Before we know what other men have declared, it is necessary that we should presently lay down what is truth. And, as I presume, we came not hither to dispute of Religion, far be that from the thoughts of that church that hath so long time confessed 2 G |