fore him at Whitehall, his majesty spoke to them as follows:

:

"My lords and gentlemen; A principal cause of my speaking to you now, is, that I foresee the great inconveniences that may daily arise, by the slow pace of this parliament, in those businesses that most import the welfare of this kingdom: therefore I hold it necessary, at this time, to lay, shortly, before you, the State of Affairs as they now stand, thereby to quicken, but not to interrupt, your proceedings. And first, I must remember you, that there are two armies in the very bosom of this kingdom; and, in effect, as it cannot be otherwise, maintained by you. The very naming of which doth more lively represent the mischievous inconveniences thereof, than a better tongue than mine, in particular, can declare. Therefore I must, in the first place, recommend to your care the quick dispatch of this business; assuring you the delay thereof shall no ways be occasioned by me. In the next place, I must recommend to your care my Navy and Forts; the condition of both are so well known, as to need no mention in particulars only thus much, when the walls and defences of this kingdom are weak and out of order, I leave all men to judge what disheartening it will give to our friends, and what encouragement to our enemies. Last of all, though not least of all to be considered, I must lay before you the present Distractions of Government, occasioned, partly, because of the parliament, though not by it. For some men taking occasion, by the sitting thereof, more maliciously than ignorantly, will put no difference between reformation and alteration of government. Hence it comes that divine service is irreverently interrupted, petitions tumultuously given, and much of my revenue detained or disputed. More particulars I will not mention, because I will hasten to put you in a way of remedy; which I will do, first, by shewing you my clear intentions, then by warning you to eschew those rocks that may hinder this good work. First then, know that I shall readily concur with you to find out and reform all innovations in church and commonwealth; and, consequently, that all courts of justice shall be regulated according to law; my intention being to reduce all matters of Religion and Government, to what they were in the purest times of queen Elizabeth. Moreover, what parts of my Revenue that shall be found illegal, or grievous to the public, I shall wilHingly lay down, relying entirely on the affections of my people. Having thus clearly shewn you mine intentions, I will now tell you what You are to eschew; to which purpose I cannot rut take notice of those Petitions (I can't tell how to call them) given in the name of several counties, against the present established government of the church, and of the great threats that are given, That bishops shall be no better than cyphers, if not clear done away. Now I must tell you, that I make a great difference betwixt reformation and alteration

| of government; though I am for the first, I cannot give way to the latter. I will not say that bishops may not have over-stretched their power, or incroached upon the temporal; which, if you find, correct and reform the abuse, according to the wisdom of former times; and so far I am with you. Nay farther; if, upon serious debate, you shall shew me that bishops have some temporal authority, inconvenient to the state, and not so necessary to the church, for the support of episcopacy, Ì shall not be unwilling to persuade them to lay it down. Yet, by this, you must understand, that I cannot consent for the taking off their voice in parliament, which they have antiently enjoyed under so many of my predecessors, even before the Conquest, and ever since; and which, I conceive, I am bound to maintain, as one of the fundamental institutions of this kingdom.-There is but one other rock, and that not in substance, but in form; yet that form is so essential, that, except it be reformed, it will mar the substance: there is a Bill given in for frequent Parliaments; the things I like, that is to say, to have often parliaments; but to give power to sheriffs and constables, and I know not whom, to do my office, that I cannot yield unto. But to shew you that I am desirous to please you in forms, which destroy not the substance, I am content you shall have an act for this purpose; but so reformed, that it neither intrench upon my honour, nor that inseparable right of the crown concerning parliaments: to which purpose I have commanded my learned counsel to wait on you, my lords, with such propositions as I hope will give contentment; for I ingenuously confess, that fre quent parliaments are the best means to preserve that right understanding between me and my subjects, which I so earnestly desire.-To conclude all; I have now shewed you the State of Affairs, my own clear Intentions, and the Rocks I wish you to eschew. In all which you may perceive the desire I have to give you contentment; as you shall likewise find by these ministers I have, and intend to employ in my affairs, for the pursuance of my good intentions; which, I doubt not, will bring peace and happiness to any subjects, to the contentment of us all. I have no more to say at present."

A Remonstrance from both Houses concerning! Seminary Priests, &c.] The commons being withdrawn, the king spoke a few words to the lords, to tell them, "That he heard of a con ference to be that afternoon, about the business of Goodman the priest; and that, in a day or two, he would send them the reasons for what he had done in that matter, which he hoped would satisfy them."

But this not contenting the commons, they agreed to address the lords to join with them in a Petition to the king; and, on the 29th of this month, a Remonstrance of both houses was presented to the king by the lord keeper, to the following effect: "They recite the laws relating to Jesuits and Seminary Priests, and

ploy her whole power to unite the king and people, desireth the parliament to look forwards, and pass by such mistakes and errors of her servants, as may be formerly committed; and this their respect, she promiseth, shall be repaid with all the good offices she can do to the house, which they shall find with real effects, as often as there shall be occasion."

under me, do manage that affair: only I shall shew you the reasons which have induced me to it, and in which I expect your assistance and counsel. The considerations that have induced me to it are these: 1st. The matter of Religion: here needs no dispensation; no fear that my daughter's conscience may be any way perverted. 2ndly. I do esteem that a strict alliance and confederacy with the States will be as useful to this kingdom, as that with any of my neighbours; especially considering their affinity, neighbourhood, and way of strength. And, lastly, which I must never forget on these occasions, the use I may make of this Alliance towards the re-establishing of my sister and my nephews. Now, to shew in what I

or not.

"To the King's most excellent majesty: The PETITION of JOHN GOODMAN, condemned,

« Humbly sheweth, That whereas your majesty's petitioner bath understood of a great discontent, in many of your majesty's subjects, at the gracious mercy your maj. was freely pleased to shew unto your petitioner, by suspending the execution of the sentence of death, pronounced against your petitioner, for being a Roman priest: these are humbly to beseech your maj: rather to remit your petitioner to their mercies that are discontented, then to let him live the subject of so great a discontent in your people against your maj. For it hath pleased God to give me grace to desire with the prophet, That if this storm be raised for me, I may be cast into the sea, that others may avoid the tempest.' This is, most sacred sovereign, the Petition of him, that should esteem his blood well shed, to cement the breach between your maj. and your subjects, on this occasion. Ita testor, "JOHN GOODMAN.” The King's Speech to the Lords about the Marriage of the Lady Mary with the Prince of Orange. Feb. 10. This day the king came to the house of lords; the business he came upon was expressed in a short specch, as follows:

"My lords; That freedom and confidence which I expressed, at the beginning of this parliament, to have of your love and fidelity towards my person and estate, hath made me at this time come hither to acquaint you with that alliance and confederacy which I intend to make with the prince of Orange and the United Provinces; which, before this time, I did not think expedient to do, because that part, which I do desire your advice and assist ance upon, was not ready to be treated on. I will not trouble you with a long digression, by shewing you the steps of this Treaty; but leave you to be satisfied in that by those who,

the Articles of Marriage are in a manner concluded, but not to be totally ratified until that of Alliance be ended and agreed; which, before I demanded your assistance, I did not think fit to enter upon. And that I may not leave you too much at large how to begin that council, I present you here the Propositions which are offered by me to the States's ambassadors for that intent. And so, my lords, I shall only desire you to make as much expedtion in your counsels, as so great a business shall require, and shall leave your lordships to your own free debate."

whole nation; and, soon after, the Marriage This proposition was well approved of by the was conluded with great solemnity.

the

The King's Speech on giving the royal Assent to the Bill for Triennial Parliaments.] Maay conferences were held this month, between the lords and commons, about settling the bill • For Preventing Inconveniences, which happen by long Intermission of Parliaments; on the 15th it was finally concluded, and ready for the royal assent. The commons, however, seemed to be jealous that the king would not pass it; for, that same day, they sent a mes sage to the lords, by sir Francis Seymour, to acquaint their lordships, That they had deputed some of their members to attend his majesty, and desire that the royal assent may be given to the bill of Subsidies that afternoon: and that their lordships may be pleased to depate some lords to move his majesty, that the bik for Triennial Parliaments may pass at the same time; which the lords agreed to, and received for Answer, That his maj. would take that afternoon to consider of this request, in regard of the late warning of it at this time, and will return an Answer in the morning.' Accordingly,

Feb. 16. The king came to the house of lords, and being seated on his throne, the lords in their robes, and the commons, with their Speaker, attending, the title of the bil for Triennial Parliaments was read; on which his majesty made the following speech to both houses:

"My lords, and you the knights, citizens, and burgesses of the house of commons, You may remember, when both houses were with

of Sept. in every third year, then a parliament shall assemble and be held on the 2nd Monday in Nov. ensuing: that if the lord chancellor shall fail to issue out writs, pursuant to the directions of this act, then the peers of the realm shall meet at the usual place, at the old palace of Westminster, and they, or any 12, or more, shall issue out writs in the king's name: that in case of default by the peers, the sheriffs, mayors, bailiffs, &c. shall cause elections to be made: and, in their default, the freeholders, citizens, and burgesses shall proceed to the election of knights, citizens and burgesses, in such manner as if writs of summons had been duly issued. That no Parliament, henceforth to be assembled, shall be dissolved or prorogued within 50 days after the time appointed for their meeting, nor adjourned within fifty days after their meeting, but by consent of either house respectively, who may appoint each their own Speaker." Besides the above clauses, there were many provisoes for the effectual putting this act in execution, and penalties on the respective offenders: and that none might plead ignorance, it was ordered to be read, yearly, at the sessions and assizes.*

Sir Simonds D'Ewes's Speech concerning the Precedency of the two Universities.] We meet with a speech of sir Simonds D'Ewes, occasioned by the afore-mentioned Bill for 4 Subsidies; but the day is not mentioned. The Editor thereof gives us the following account of it:† "This bill, for relief of the king's army, having been drawn by a committee, Cambridge was placed before Oxford; whereupon it was ordered to be disputed and debated in a grand committee; and when it came to that clause, where Cambridge was placed before Oxford, many of the house that had been Oxford men, cried to have Oxford placed first; but the Cambridge men cried, that the bill should stand as it was; and thereupon the Oxford men called to have it put to the question; and divers Cambridge men called upon sir Simonds D'Ewes, being then present at the committee, which drew him to speak as followeth:"

Sir Simonds D'Ewes. I stand up to persuade, if it may be, the declining of the present question, and the further dispute of this busi

ness.

We had a long debate, lately, about the

The preamble for repealing this act runs thus: "Whereas an Act made in the parliament begun at Westminster the 3rd day of Nov. in the 13th year of the reign of our late sovereign lord king Charles of bicssed meinory, entitled, An Act for preventing of Inconveniences happening by the long Intermission of Parliaments, is in derogation of his majesty's just rights and prerogative inherent to the imperial crown of this realm, for the calling and assembling of parliaments; and may be an occasion of manifold mischiefs and inconveniences, and much endanger the peace and safety of his majesty, and all his liege people of this realm: be it therefore enacted," &c.

+ Printed for John Thomas London 1641

placing Cambridge before Oxford, in the bill. I account it no honour to Cambr that it got the precedence by voices a former committee; nor will it be any glo Oxford to gain it by voices here, where w know the multitude of borough towns of western parts of England, which do se many worthy members hither, as (if we sured things by number, and not by we Cambridge is sure to lose it. I would pound a inore noble way for deciding the sent controversy than by question; in w if the university of Oxford, which I do hi respect and honour, shall obtain the priz will be far more glory to it, than to car by multitude of voices: let us therefore pute it by reason, and not make an id either place; and if I shall be so convince shall readily change my voice, wishing we find the same ingenuity in the OxfordThere are two principal respects, in w these famous universities may claim preced of each other. 1. In respect of their be as they were places of note in the elder a 2. As they were antient nurseries, and s plots of learning-If I do not therefore p that Cambridge was a renowned city, at 500 years before there was a house in Ox standing, and whilst brute beasts fed, and was sown on that place where that city is seated; and that Cambridge was a nurser learning before Oxford was known to hav grammar-school in it, I will yield up the b lers. If I should spend time to reckon up vain allegations produced for the antiquity Oxford, by Twyne; and of Cambridge, Caius, I should but repeat the dreams of antients; for 1 account the most they b published in print to be no better. But If by authority without exception, that in the tient Catalogue of the British Cities, Cambr is the ninth in number, where London itse but the eleventh: and who would have the that Oxford would have contended for pro dency with Cambridge, which London gar 1200 years since? This I find in Gildas Al nius's British Story, who died about the y 520, being the antientest domestic monu we have, p. 60. And a Saxon anonym story, written in Latin, touching the Brit and Saxons, p. 39. who saith of himself, !! he lived in the day days of Penda, king of Mercians, in the 10th year of his reign. that he knew him well; which falls out to near upon the year 620. And, lastly, It the same Catalogue of the said British Cira with some little variation, to be set down Nennius's Latin story of Britain, p. 38: he wrote the same, as he says himself, in 88 They all call it Cair-grant: the word Cair, the old Celtique tongue, signifying City These three stories are exotic and rare mon ments, remaining yet only in antient man seripts amongst us, not known to many; b the authority of them is irrefragable, and wit out exception. The best and most antic

conies.

that I have daan

of Gildas Albam