covered and prevented, they presently under- tion is, and our endeavours have been, to reduce took another of the same damnable nature; within bounds that exorbitant power which the with this addition to it, to endeavour to make prelates have assumed unto themselves, so conthe Scots army neutral, whilst the English ar- trary both to the Word of God, and to the my (which they had laboured to corrupt and laws of the land; to which end we passed the invenom against us, by their false and slander- bill for the removing them from their Temporal ous suggestions) should execute their malice to Power and Employinents, that so the better the subversion of our religon, and the dissolu- they might, with meekness, apply themselves tion of the government. Thus they have been to the discharge of their functions: which continually practising to disturb the peace, and bill themselves opposed, and were the prinplotting the destruction, even of all the king's cipal instruments of crossing it.-And we do dominions; and have employed their emissaries here declare, That it is far from our purand agents, in them all, for the promoting of pose or desire to let loose the golden reins of their devilish designs; which the vigilancy of discipline and government in the church; to those who were well affected hath still discover- leave private persons, or particular congregaed and defeated, before they were ripe for ex- tions, to take up what form of divine service ecution in England and Scotland; only in Ire- they please; for we hold it requisite, that there land, which was farther off, they have had time should be, throughout the whole realm, a conand opportunity to mould and prepare their formity to that order which the laws injoin, work, and had brought it to that perfection, according to the Word of God: and we desire that they had possessed themselves of that to unburden the consciences of men of needless whole kingdom; totally subverted the govern- and superstitious ceremonies, suppress innovament of it, rooted out religion, and destroyed tions, and take away the monuments of idoall the Protestants, whom the conscience of latry. And, the better to effect the intended their duty to God, their king and country, reformation, we desire there may be a general would not premit to join with them; if, by synod of the most grave, pious, learned, and God's wonderful providence, their main enter- | judicious divines of this island, assisted with prize upon the city and castle of Dublin had some from foreign parts, professing the same not been detected and prevented, upon the religion with us, who may consider of all things very eve before it should have been executed: necessary for the peace and good government Notwithstanding, they have, in other parts of of the church; and represent the results of their that kingdom, broken out into open rebel- consultations unto the parliament, to be there lion: surprizing towns and castles; committing allowed of and confirmed, and receive the murders, rapes, and other villanies; and shaken stamp of authority, thereby to find passage and off all bonds of obedience to his majesty, and obedience throughout the kingdom-They have the laws of the realm; and, in general, have maliciously charged us, That we intend to kindled such a fire, as nothing but God's infi- destroy and discourage learning; whereas it is nite blessing upon the wisdom and endeavours our chiefest care and desire to advance it, and of this state, will be able to quench. And cer- to provide a competent maintenance for containly, had not God in his great mercy unto scionable and preaching ministers throughout this land, discovered and confounded their for- the kingdom; which will be a great encou mer designs, we had been the prologue to this ragement to scholars, and a certain means tragedy in Ireland; and had, by this time, been whereby the want, meanness, and ignorance, made the lamentable spectacle of misery and to which a great part of the clergy is now subconfusion. And now, what hope have we but ject, will be prevented. And we intend likein God; when the only meaus of our subsist-wise to reform and purge the fountains of ance, and power of reformation, is, under him, in the parliament? But what can we the commons do, without the conjunction of the house of lords? And what conjunction can we expect there, where the Bishops and Recusant brds are so numerous and prevalent, that they are able to cross and interrupt our best endeavours for reformation; and, by that means, give advantage to this malignant party to traduce our proceedings? They infuse into the people,That we mean to abolish all church government, and leave every man to his own fancy for the service and worship of God; absolving him of that obedience which he owes, under God, unto his majesty; whom we know to be intrusted with the ecclesiastical law as well as with the temporal, to regulate all the members of the church of England by such rules of order and discipline as are established by parliament, which is his great council in-all affairs both in church and state. We confess our intenVOL. II.

learning, the two Universities, that the streams flowing from thence may be clear and pure, and an honour and confort to the whole land. -They have strained to blast our proceedings in parliament, by wresting the interpretations of our Orders from their genuine intention. They tell the people, "That our meddling with the power of Episcopacy, hath caused sectaries and conventicles;' when Idolatry and Popish ceremonies, introduced into the church by the command of the bishops, have not only debarred the people from thence, but expelled them from the kingdom. Thus, with Elijah, we are called by this malignant party, The Troublers of the State: And still while we endeavour to reform their abuses, they make us the authors of those mischiefs we study to prevent.-For the perfecting of the work begun, and removing all future impediments, we conceive these courses will be very effectual, seeing the rcligion of the Papists hath such prin3 Q

seek their liberty, safety, and prosperity, as
bound thereunto, both by charity to them,
by wisdom for our own good; for, by the
means, our strength shall be increased, ann, by
a mutual concurrence to the same com
end, we shall be enabled to procure the gut
of the whole body of the Protestant professi
If these things may be observed, we doubt
but God will crown this parliament with suct
success, as shall be the beginning and four
dation of more honour and happiness to ha
majesty, than ever was yet enjoyed by any
his royal predecessors.”

ciples as do certainly tend to the destruction | false and perjured to those who employ them. and extirpation of all Protestants, when they and thereby bring them into as little cred.: shall have opportunity to effect it-In the with them as with us :-That his majesty may first place, it is necessary, to keep them in such have cause to be in love with good counsel condition, as that they may not be able to do and good men, by shewing him, in an humble us any hurt: and, for avoiding of such conni- and dutiful manner, how full of advantage : vance and favour, as hath heretofore been would be to himself, to see his own estate shewed unto them, that his majesty be pleased settled in a plentiful condition to support s to grant a standing commission to some choice honour; to see his people united in ways of men, named in parliament, who may take duty to him, and endeavours for the public notice of their increase, their counsels, and good; to see happiness, wealth, peace, and proceedings; and use all due means, by exe- safety derived to his own kingdom, and pro cution of the laws, to prevent any mischievous cured to his allies, by the influence of his own designs against the peace and safety of this power and government: That all good course kingdom. 2dly, That some good course be may be taken to unite the two kingdoms taken to discover the counterfeit and false England and Scotland, to be mutually aiding conformity of Papists to the church; by colour and assisting one another, for the common whereof persons, very much disaffected to the good of the island, and honour of both: le true religion, have been admitted into places take away all differences among ourselves fr of greatest authority and trust in the kingdom. matters indifferent in their own nature co 3dly, For the better preservation of the laws cerning Religion, and to unite ourselves agains and liberties of the kingdom, that all illegal the common enemies; which are the bette Grievances and Exactions be presented and enabled, by our divisions, to destroy us, as ther punished at the sessions and assizes; and that hope and have often endeavoured: To labor Judges and Justices be careful to give this in by all offices of friendship, to unite the fores charge to the Grand Jury; and both the She-churches with us in the same cause; and to riffs and Justices to be sworn to the due exccution of the Petition of Right, and other laws. 4thly, That his majesty be humbly petitioned, by both houses, to employ such counsellors, ambassadors, and other ministers, in managing his business at home and abroad, as the parliament may have cause to confide in; without which we cannot give his majesty such Supplies for support of his own estate, nor such assistance to the Protestant party beyond the sea, as is desired.--It may often fall out that the commons may have just cause to take exceptions at some men for being counsellors, and yet not charge those men with crimes; for there be grounds of diffidence which lye not in proof; there are others which, though they may be proved, yet are not legally criminal. To be a known favourer of Papists; or to have been very forward in defending or countenancing some great offenders, questioned in parliament; or to speak contemptuously of either houses of parliament, or parliamentary proceedings; or such as are factors or agents for any foreign prince of another religion; such as are justly suspected to get counsellors places, or any other of trust concerning public employment for money. For all these, and divers others, we may have great reason to be earnest with his majesty not to put his great affairs into such hands, though we may be unwilling to proceed against them in any legal way of charge or impeachment. 5thly, That all counsellors of state may be sworn to observe the laws which concern the subject in his liberty; that they may likewise take an oath not to receive, or give, reward or pension to, or from, any foreign prince, but such as they within some reasonable time discover to the lords of his majesty's council; and although they should wickedly forswear themselves, yet it may herein do good, to make them known to be

The Speaker's Speech at presenting a Bu Continuance of Tonnage and Poundage.] Dec. 2. The king came to the house of lords, a sending for the commons, the Speaker, 20 the whole house, came up with the bill of T nage and Poundlage; when he delivered Lunsti to the king in this speech :* ·

"Most Dread Sovereign; The observati taken from the unlike compositions and vary motions of the world, made the philosophe conclude that Tota hujus mundi concordia discordibus constat.' The happy conjunct of both these nations, in the triumph and of your sacred presence, extracted from t different dispositions and opinions, give cause to observe and admire these bless effects from such contrary causes: we ws without flattery, commend your sacred majë as the glorious instrument of this happy chart whose piety and prudence, directed by i hand of God, hath contracted this from those various discords. The story of the times will seem paradoxes in following geset tions, when they shall hear of peace spr from the root of dissention; of union plant

* From the original edition, printed Joseph Hunscut.

ways that conduce to this end, are the Defence of the Land and Sea; for the one we have already voted to raise Money: for, the other, this bill, in some measure, will accomplish for a little time; and, to that end, 1, by the command of the commons, humbly beseech your royal-assent.”

The King's Speech to both Houses on his Return from Scotland.] When the Speaker had ended, and the royal assent given to the bill, the king himself spoke as follows:

My lords and gentlemen; I think it fit, after so long absence, at this first occasion to speak a few words unto you: but it is no ways

npen the stock of divisions; two armies in the field both ready to strike the first blow, and both united without a stroke. Nothing can reduce these truths into a belief, but the knowledge of your piety and justice, who have accomplished these acts of wonder, by goodness and gentleness, without force or violence. This way of conquest, this Bellum incruentum, hath been the rule of the most valiant and puissant monarchs; advancing their glory in the safeguard of one subject, more than in the death of a thousand chemies: and thus have you erected a monument of glory to your sacred memory for all generations. And as your care and piety for the welfare of your Northern king-in answer to Mr. Speaker's learned speech. dom, culled you to that work, for the great comfort of your people, which your wisdom hath so happily consummated; so, now, the distemper of your other kingdom, fomented by the same spirit, whose presence admits no peace in Israel, calls on your providence to heal the diseases of that nation.The one from whence you returned, hath, with Abel, though the younger brother, offered an acceptable sacritice; the other, with Cain, hath erected altars for blood and revenge (the old immolations of the Levitical priesthood) which invokes the necessity of your justice: the one, to a natural hath added a politic brotherhood; the other, of brothers, I am sorry to say it, are become strangers: The fidelity of the one hath written a story of admiration to the world; the disloyalty of the other hath paralleled that horrid design, matchless before amongst all generations; 1st, In their intentions, the destruction of a kingdom, even when unity and peace were tying the knot of religion and safety. 2dly, In the discovery, a moment of time prevented the execution. 3dly, In the actors, Jesuits and Priests, without whom the malice of the Devil could not have found a party in the world, fitted to act over the like bloody tragedy. But this, among the many joys we receive by your happy return, is not the least, That the same providence which protected that gracious king, your most religious father, from their bloody attemps, and mcreased the blessing of a long and happy reign, hath also defended your sacred throne from all their machinations.-Thus we see Religion is the greatest policy, the never-failing support of king and kingdom; that which firms you and your posterity to your throne, and our duty and obedience to it.-Give me dave here, most gracious sovereign, to sum up the sense of eleven months observation, without intermission scarce of a day, nay an hour in that day, to the hazard of life and fortune; and to reduce all into this conclusion, That the endeavours of your commons assembled, guided by your pious and religious example, is to preserve Religion in its purity, without mixture or composition, against these subtle inaders; and, with our lives and fortunes, to establish this throne to your sacred person, and those beams of majesty, your royal progeny, against all treason and rebellion,-The

Albeit I have stayed longer than I expected to have done when I went away; yet, in this, I have kept my promise with you, that I have made all the haste back again, that the settling of my Scots affairs could any ways permit: In which I have had so good success, that I will. confidently affirm to you, that I have left that nation a most peaceable and contented people; so that although I have a little misreckoned in time, yet I was not deceived in my end. But if I have deceived your expectations a little, in the time of my return; yet I am assured, that my expectation is as much and more deceived, in the condition wherein I hoped to have found businesses at my return: for, since that, before my going, I settled the liberties of my subjects, and gave the laws a free and orderly course, I expected to have found my people reaping the fruits of these benefits, by living in quietness and satisfaction of mind :---But, instead of this, I find them disturbed with jealousies, frights, and alarms of dangerous designs and plots, in consequence of which guards have been set to defend both houses. I say not this, as in doubt that my subjects affections are any way lessened to me in this time of my absence; (for I cannot but remember, to my great comfort, the joyful reception I had now at my entry into London) but rather, as I hope, that my presence will easily disperse these fears; for I bring as perfect and true affections to my people as ever prince did, or as good subjects can possibly desire; and I am so far from repenting me of any act I have done this session for the good of my people, that I protest, if it were to do again, I would do it; and will yet grant what else can be justly desired for satisfaction in point of liberties, or in maintenance of the true, religion that is here established.--Now, I have but one particular to recommend unto you at this time: it is Ireland; for which, though I doubt not your care, yet methinks, the preparations for it go but slowly on. The occasion is the fitter for inc now to mention it, because of the arrival of two lords from Scotland, who come instructed from my council there, (who now by act of parliament, hath full power for that purpose) to answer that demand, which it pleased both houses to make me, by way of Petition, that met me at Berwick, and which the duke of Richmond sent back, by my com

thought these words a great offence against so high a Court; and therefore he was committed to the custody of the gentleman-usher; but, upon his humble petition, the next day he was released.

The Commons resolve to print their Petition and Remonstrance.] The same day the commons resolved to give present orders for the printing of their Remonstrance, or Declaration, concerning the State of the Kingdom, on a division, Yeas 135, Noes 83.

The Commons having printed and published their Petition and Remonstrance, the King gave orders for printing and publishing his Answer to the Petition, and also a Declaration as follows: