old custom, which many of my predecessors have used before me, which is that my lord keeper should tell you at large what I should speak to you in parliament."

affections, of those things that concern the general good.-And now being thus assembled, his maj. hath commanded me to let you know, That his love and affection to the public moThe Lord Keeper's Speech.] The Keeper (sir ved him to call this parliament; and looking Thomas Coventry), conferring first with his into the danger and the spreading of that late maj. spake as followeth; "My lords, and you mortality, and weighing the multitude of his the kights, citizens, and burgesses of the maj.'s pressing occasions and urgent affairs of house of commons, You are here assembled, state, both at home and abroad, much imporby his maj.'s writ and royal authority, to hold ting the honour and safety of this kingdom; a new parl. the general, antient, and power- the same affection that moved him to call it ful council of this renowned kingdom; whereof, doth forbid him to prolong the sitting of this if we consider aright, and think of that incom- parliament: And therefore his maj. resolving parable distance between the supreme height to confine this meeting to a short time, hath and maj. of a mighty monarch and the sub-confined me to a short errand; and that is, missive awe and lowliness of loyal subjects, we That as things most agreeable to his kingly cannot but receive exceeding comfort and office, to the example of the best times, and contentment in the frame and constitution of to the frame of modern affairs, his maj. hath this highest court; wherein not only the pre- called you together to consult and advise of lates, nobles, and grandees, but the commons provident and good laws, profitable for the of all degrees have their part; and wherein public, and fitting for the present times and that high maj. doth descend to admit, or rather occasions; for upon such depends the assuto invite, the humblest of his subjects to confer- rance of religion and justice, which are the surence and counsel with him, of the great, weigh- est pillars and buttresses of all good governty, and difficult affairs of the king and kingdom; ment in a kingdom: For his maj, doth consider, a benefit and favour whereof we cannot be too that the royal throne, on which God, out of sensible and thankful; for sure I am, that all his mercy to us, hath set him, is the fountain good hearts would be both sensible and sor- of all justice, and that good laws are the rowful, if we did want it; and therefore it be- streams and rills by which the benefit and use hoveth all, with united hearts, and minds free of this fountain is dispersed to his people; and from distraction and diversion, to fix their it is his maj.'s care and study, that his people thoughts upon counsels and consultations wor- may see, with comfort and joy of heart, that thy of such an assembly, remembering, that this fountain is not dry; but they and their pos in it is presented the maj. and greatness, the terity may rest assured and confident, in his authority and power,the wisdom and knowledge time, to receive as ample benefit from this founof this great and famous nation; and it behoveth tain, by his maj.'s mercy and justice, as ever us to magnify and bless God, that hath put the subjects did in the time of the most eminent power of assembling parliaments in the hands princes amongst his noble progenitors; wherein, of him, the virtue (inherent) of whose person as his maj. shews himself most sensible of the doth strive with the greatness of his princely good of the public, so were it an injury to this lineage and descent, whether he should be ac- great and honourable assembly, if it should be counted major or melior, a greater king, or a but doubted, that they shall not be as sensible better man; and of whom you have had so of any thing that may add to his maj.'s honour; much trial and experience, that he doth as af- which cannot but receive a high degree of love fectionately love, as he doth exactly know and and affection, if his maj. succeeding so many understand the true use of parliaments; wit-religious, wise, and renowned princes, should ness his daily and unwearied access to this house, before his access to the crown; his gracious readiness in all conferences of importance; his frequent and effectual intercession to his blessed father of never-dying memory, for the good of the kingdom, with so happy success, that both this and future generations shall feel it, and have cause to rejoice at the success of his maj.'s intercession. And when the royal diadem descended upon himself, presently, in the midst of his tears and sighs for the departure of his most dear and royal father, in his very first consultations with his privy council, was resolved to meet his people in parliament. And no sooner did the heavy hand of that destroying angel forbear those deadly strokes, which for some time did make this place inaccessible, but his maj. presently resolved to recall it, and hath now brought you together, and in a happy time, I trust, to treat and consult, with uniform desires and united

begin his reign with some additions unto those good laws which their happy and glorious times have afforded. And this his maj. bath caused me to desire at this time especially above others; for his maj. having, at his royal coronation, lately solemnized the sacred rites of that blessed marriage between him and his people; and therein, by a most holy oath, vowed the protection of the laws and maintenance of peace, both to church and people; no time can be so fit for his maj. to advise and consult at large with his people, as at this present time, wherein so lately his maj. hath vowed protection to his people, and they have protested their allegiance and service to him. This is the sum of that charge which I have received from his maj. to deliver unto you; wherein you see his maj.'s intent to the public: and therefore his desire is, That, according to that conveniency of time which his affairs may afford, you will apply yourselves to dis

boundless ambition of Spain, to reduce it to their proper current and channel; who, under the title of catholic king, makes his pretence to more countries and kingdoms than his own; and, by colour of disguised treaties, he invades the Palatinate, and dispossesseth the incomparable lady your royal sister, and the children of this kingdom, of their right and their antient patrimony and inheritance, to the discomfort and dishonour of this great and glorious nation. God in his mercy soon repair this breach by your royal head; and, I assure myself, the hearts, the hands, and the purses of all good subjects will say Amen.-But I may weary your maj. and lose myself, and forget for whom I am Speaker. Custom gives me the privilege, as an humble suitor on the behalf of the house, to present their few petitions unto your majesty. 1. The first, That, for our better attending this public and important service, ourselves and our necessary attendance may, with your maj.'s tender allowance, be

rests and troubles, according to our antient privileges. 2. The next, That since, for the preparing and drawing to conclusion such propositions as shall be handled in the house, debate and dispute will be necessary; and by variety of opinions, truth is oftentimes best discerned; your maj. will likewise, according to your antient usage and privilege, vouchsafe us liberty and freedom of speech, from which, I assure myself, duty and loyalty to your maj. will never be severed. S. That when occasions of moment shall require, your maj. upon our humble suit, and at such times as may best sort with your occasions, will vouchsafe us ac cess to your royal person. 4. That the proceedings of the house may receive a favourable interpretation at your gracious hands, and be free from misconstructions."

convertible. We have received a most gracious answer from your maj. to all our late petitions concerning religion, seconded with a public declaration under the great seal, and enrolled in all the courts of justice, for your royal pleasure and direction to awaken and put life into these laws by a careful execution, with provision that the penalties be not converted to your private coffers; and yet the coffers of the kings are not private coffers, but, by your express direction, set apart to public uses, such as concern the immediate defence of the kingdom, wherein we all have our share and interest. Your royal proclamation hath commanded those Romish Priests and Jesuits to banishment; those incendiaries that infect the state of this church and cominon-wealth. Their very entrance into this kingdom is, by a just and provident law, made treason; their aims being in truth (how spacious soever their pretences be) nothing else but to plot and contrive treason against the state, and to seduce your natural born subjects from their true obedience, nourish-free, both in our persons and goods, from aring in their posterities factions and seditions: witness those many treasons and conspiracies against the person of that glorious lady, whose memory will never die; and that horrible matchless conspiracy, the Powder Treason, the master-piece of the devil. But God that preserved her and your royal father against all their treacherous conspiracies, and hath given you a heart to honour him, will honour and preserve you religion will not more truly keep your kingdoms, than the seas do compass them: it is the joy of heart to your maj.'s loyal and well-affected subjects, and will ever be the honour of your regal diadem, and the crown of your crown. The Spanish Invasion in 1588, I hope will ever be remembered in England, with thankful acknowledgment to God for so great a deliverance: and I assure myself it is remembered in Spain, but with another mind, All the Commons receive the Sacrament.] a mind of revenge; they are too constant to The first thing the Commons went upon, was their counsels, to acquit their resolutions and to appoint a grand committee for privileges purposes that drew on that attempt. It was and elections: to fix a day and place for relong before discovered, and since printed, not ceiving the communion; and to nominate a without their liking, that they affect an un- preacher. Every member of the house was to versal monarchy. Videor mihi videre (saith take the Sacrament at St. Margaret's Church, Lipsius of their state) Solem orientem ab oc- Westminster, on Sunday Sevennight: To bring cidente; a monster in nature. And one of his name, and the place for which he serves, their own, speaking of the two great lights and to deliver it to some gentlemen appointed which God had placed in the firmament, makes for that purpose. After that time no man was the Pope Luminare majus presidens urbi & to come into the house, till he had first received orbi, and the king of Spain, Luminare minus the communion in the presence of some of this ut subdetur urbi & dominetur per totum orbem: committee. This religious precaution had a great flattery; and a bold and impudent il-been taken at the beginning of some late parlusion. But I trust, as God hath put it into liaments, designed, no doubt, for the detection the heart of your blessed father, by the match- of concealed papists; imagining, that though less book of his, written to all christian mo- they might take the oath of allegiance and su narchs and princes (a work by which he raised premacy, against their consciences, yet they a monument to himself more lasting than marwould not be so wicked as to crown their byble) to denounce war to that adversary of God pocrisy with receiving the sacrament. and kings, the Pope; so he hath set your sacred maj. upon the throne of your father, to do as many things worthy to be written, as he had written things worthy to be read, amongst them, to restrain that unlimited pride and

The King's Message concerning sir Edw. Coke.] Feb. 10. The Chancellor of the Exchequer delivered a message from the king to the commons, to this effect: "That his maj.

taking notice of an order they had made, to send out new writs upon double returns, desires to acquaint then also, That sir Edw. Coke, being sheriff of Buckinghamshire, was returned one of the knights of the shire for Norfolk, contrary to the tenor of the writ: therefore he hoped the house would do him that right as to send out a new writ for that county."-In order to understand the meaning of this Message better, it is necessary to look into the histories of these times for a further explanation. It is said, That, to disqualify some gentlemen, who had been zealous in their opposition to the court in the last parliament, from serving in this, the king had pricked them as sheriffs of counties for the year ensuing. Amongst the rest old sir Edw. Coke, who had so vigorously distinguished himself against the minister and his measures, was nominated as above. This great lawyer demurred to the oath of a sheriff, and insisted that one part of it, which was to destroy and eradicate all heresies, commonly called Lollardies, was not to be taken. This produced an order of council, wherein that clause was left out of the oath, and established to continue so for the future: however, sir Edw. got himself returned, as knight of the shire, for another county; and this was the occasion of the king's message, and the debates in the house of commons which ensued upon it. Though all that the house did this day, in relation to the message, was to refer it to the committee of privileges and elections, to report their opinions of the law in these cases, and the usage of parliament,

and to be the first heard.

Motion concerning Scandalous Ministers.] Sir Benj. Kudyard got up and moved the house on account of Religion," Whereof," he said, the king had given ample testimonies of his great care and concern, both by his maj.'s late proclamations, and the life given to the execution of the laws against them, by commissions and letters: but he thought there ought to be some care taken against scandalous Ministers, as well as scandalous Livings. "Said," That he knew two ministers in Lancashire, who were found to be unlicensed ale-house keepers." A Committee was ordered to consider thereof. Mr. Pym moved, "That this committee might also consider of certain Articles, set down last parliament, but not put into their Petition, or any thing else concerning Religion." Upon which motions a large committee was appointed, and all that would come were to have voices, to consider of all points concerning Religion, and to present their opinions to the house.

revenues; miscounselling, &c." and moved for a special committee to take consideration thereof. But happening, in his speech, to make use of the wordCourtier,' he was called upon by sir Geo. Goring to explain it which he did, but in what manner is not mentioned.

payment of some monies disbursed for the Feb. 21. After reading some petitions for maintenance of the English officers and forces, under count Mansfield, in the Low Countries, of those things; and also of the three Subsidies a grand Committee was appointed to consider and Fifteens formerly granted to audit the accounts by a Sub-Committee, who were to prepare them ready for the other's inspection. Some of the succeeding days were taken up with reading of bills, of no great moment, the house being divided into different committees; in hearing complaints against the prime miamongst which, that on Grievances was busy nister, and examining witnesses against him. Feb. 27. Sir John Finch made a report what they had done in the Case of sir Edw. from the committee of privileges and elections, Coke aforementioned: wherein many cases high sheriff for one county being elected knight were cited pro & contra, as to the nature of an of the shire for another. On all which cases, he said, the committee would give no opinion; amongst the records, for more precedents of but desired that a search might be made the like nature.

was put off to the 3d of March, and from But the debate about this thence to another day; from which time we hear no more of it. In all probability sir Law. taken notice of as a speaker, or otherwice, lost his seat in the house; for he is no way throughout the whole course of this session afterwards, except on the day before the dissolution of this parliament; when, on the question, it was resolved; "That sir Edw. Coke, standing, de facto, returned a member of that house, should have privilege against a suit in chancery, commenced against him by the lady Clare."

Conduct of the Duke of Buckingham inquired into.] Affairs of a higher nature now begin to rise; and, what had been long hatching in the Commons, takes shape and life, and becomes very formidable against the minister and all his creatures. The recital of which not appearing in the Journals of either house, clear enough to distinguish rightly the particular movements of this grand attack, we shall not follow thein, as usual, in die ad diem: but, in general, relate the source and ending of this great affair. The house of commons had been long busy in Sir John Elliot proposed, first, in general, to getting materials for exbibiting articles against consider of the State of the Country, and a Re- the duke of Buckingham. Their committee on lief for Grievances, &c. For particulars; first, Grievances made several reports; That they the consideration of the King's Revenue. had learned the reason why our merchant ships Next, an account how the Subsidies and Fif- and goods were seized in France, was because teenths, granted the 21. Jac. were expended; our admirals had seized the goods of that nation and therein to include the examination of the in several ports of England, particularly in the carriage and miscarriage of the last fleei: mis-ship called the Peter of Newhaven; which was government; mişemployment of the king's brought into Plymouth by order of the duke,

after the king and council had ordered it to be restored upon a just claim, and the court of admiralty had also released her: that 23 bags of silver and 8 bags of gold, taken out of this ship, were, by sir Francis Stewart, delivered to the lord duke: That till this action, the French did not begin to scize any English ships or goods; and that the duke, having notice of it, said, he would justify the stay of the ship by an express order from the king.

The Commons examine the Council of War.] The next thing we find, is, That the commons sent out a particular warrant, by their serjeant, to summon the whole Council of War betore them, who were appointed to manage the business for the relief of the Palatinate, and this question was proposed unto them, "Whether their advice was followed, which they gave for the four ends, mentioned in the act of parl. 21. Jac. for which the money given by that act was to issue and be applied?" The names of this council of war were, the lords Carey, Brook, Vere, and Grandison, sir Rob. Maunsch, sir John Ogle, and sir Tho. Button. The first excused himself by the weakness and infirmities then upon him: The next, by his age, being 72, and having parted with his places: the lord Vere, the same, by his absence in the wars of the Low Countries: lord Grandison said, That since July last, they had seldom met, being dispersed by the sickness; but desired leave, in a question of such consequence, to confer together before they answered: and this was also the request of the rest. Which was granted, with a special order of the house to deliver their answer personally, in 3 days time. But what they then delivered in, not appearing satisfactory to the house, tney were ordered to be examined singly on the question; but none of them appeared willing to gratify the house in that particular, except sir Rob. Maunsel. It may not be improper, upon this occasion, to observe, That, for the better employment of the money to be expended in managing of the expected war, the Treasurers and the King's Council for the War, were required to make oath, viz. The Treasurers, "That none of those monies should issue out of their hands, without warrant from the said council of war :' and the other, "That they should make no warrants for the payment of any of those monies, but only of the ends above mentioned." And further,

Should all be accountable for their doings and proceedings in that behalf, to the Commons in Parliament, when they, or any of them, should be thereunto required."-See Stat. at Large, 21 Jac. C. 34.

The King's Letter to the Speaker to hasten the Supply.] Whilst this affair was debating, the king sent a Letter to the Speaker, and a Message, by sir R. Weston, to the house; which were as follows:

"Charles R. Trusty and well-beloved, &c.-Having assembled the parliament early in the beginning of the year, for the more timely help and advice of our people in our

great and important affairs; and having of late, not only by Message, but also of ourself, put our house of commons in mind of our pressing occasions, and of the present state of Christendom, wherein they have equal interest with us, as well in respect of their own former engagements, as of the common cause; we shall not need to tell them with what care and patience we have, in the midst of our necessities, attended their resolutions; but, because home as ill effects as a denial, and hazard the their unseasonable slowness may produce at whole estate of things abroad, we have thought fit, by you the Speaker, to let them know, That, without more loss of time, we look for a full and perfect Answer of what they will give for our Supply, according to our expectation and their promises; wherein, as we press for nothing beyond the present state and condition of our subjects, so will we accept no less than is proportionable to the greatness and goodness of the cause; neither do we press them to a present resolution in this, with a purpose to precipitate their counsels, much less to enter upon their privileges; but to shew, that it is unfit to depend any longer upon uncertainties, whereby the whole weight of the affairs of Christendom may break in upon us on the sudden, to our dishonour, and the shame of this nation. And, for the business at home, we command you to promise them in our name, that, after they have satisfied us in this our reasonable demand, we shall not only continue them together at this time, so long as the scason will permit, but call them shortly again to perfect those necessary businesses which shall be now left undone; and now we shall willingly apply fit and seasonable remedies to such just Grievances, which they shall present unto us in a dutiful and mannerly way, without throwing an ill odor upon our present government, or upon the government, of our late blessed father.

And if there be yet who desire to find fault, we shall think him the wisest reprehender of errors past, who, without reflecting backward, can give us counsel how to setthe the present estate of things, and to provide for the future safety and honour of the king

dom."

The King's Message for hastening the Supply.] The heads of the king's Message by the chanhis maj.'s fleet being returned, and the victuals lor of the exchequer were these: 1. "That spent, the men must of necessity be discharged, and their wages paid, or else an assured mutiny will follow: which may be many ways dangerous at this time. 2. "That his maj. hath made ready about 40 ships, to be set forth on a second voyage, to hinder the enemy, which want only victuals and some men; which, without present Supply of money, cannot be set forth and kept together. 3. "That the Army which is appointed in every coast must presently be disbanded, if they be not forthwith supplied with victuals and cloaths. 4. "That if the companies of Ireland, lately sent thither, be not provided for, instead of defending that country,