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against the person of the late queen, and his queen and council did make the body of that open fury, in 1588, against the body of the state, large army no other than of trained bands, for which she, following the advice of a free which, with the auxiliaries of the whole realm, council, would never after admit of peace; win- | amounted to no less than 34,000 men. Neining thereby the hearts of a loving people, who ther were any of those drawn out of their counever found hands and money for all occasions tries, and proper habitations, before the end at home, and by keeping sacredly her alliances of May, that they might be no long aggrievance abroad, secured her confederates, all her time, to the public; such discontentments being ever in freedom from fear of Spanish slavery; and to us a more fatal enemy than any foreign force. ended her old and happy days in great glory. The careful distribution and direction of the Spain then, by the wisdom and power of that sea and land forces, being more fitting for a great lady, despoiled so of his means to hurt, council of war, than a private man to advise though not of his desire, makes up, with her of, I pass over; yet shall ever be willing and peaceful successor of happy memory, the gol- ready, when I shall be called, humbly to offer den league; that, disarming us at home by up such observations, as I have formerly gatheropinion of security, and giving them a powered by the like occasions of this realm. There in our council by believing their friendship and are two things requisite to make up this prepapretended marriage) gave them way to cherish ration, money and affections; for they cannot amongst us a party of their own, and bereft properly be severed. It was well and wisely of power abroad, to lead in jealousy, and sow said by that great and grave counsellor, lord a division between us and our confederates; by Burleigh, in the like case, to the late queen, which, we see, they have swallowed up the Win their hearts, and you may have their hands fortune of our master's brother, with the rest and purses. And I find of late, that diffidence of the imperial states, distressed the king of having been a defect in the one, it hath unhapDenmark by that quarrel, diverted Sweden's pily produced the same in the other. In gaassistance by the wars with the Pole, and thering of money for this present need, there moving of him now with the offers of the Dan- are required 3 things, speed, assurance, and ish crown, and now, whether from that plot, satisfaction: and the way to gather, as others or our fatality, it hath cast such a bone between in the like cases have done, must be by that France and us, as hath gotten themselves, by path, which hath been formerly called via regia, our quarrel of religion, a fast confederate, and being more secure and speedy; for, by unus a dangerous enemy: so that now we are known and untrodden ways, it is both rough left no other assurance against their malice and and tedious, and seldom succeedeth well. This ambition, but the Netherlands; where the tye last way, although it took place as it were by of mutual safety is weakened by daily discon- Supply at first, and received no general denial; tents bred and fed between us from some ill-af- yet, since, it hath drawn many to consider with fected to both our securities: so that, from the themselves and others of the consequence, and doubtfulness of friendship, as we now stand, we is now conceived a pressure on their liberties, may rather expect, through our own domestic and against law. I much fear, if now again faction, if they grow too furious, they will it be offered, either in the same face, or by sooner follow the example of Rome in her privy-scal, that it will be refused wholly. Negrowing; (that held it equally safe, honour-ther find I that the restraint of those Recusants able, and more easy, dare regem, than subju- hath produced any other effect, than a stiff resogare provinciam) considering the power they lution in them and others to forbear. Besides, have in their hands, than give any friendly as though it went at first with some assurance, sistance to serve the present condition of our yet, when we consider the commissions, and state. You may see therefore in what terms we other forms incident to such like services; as stand abroad; and, I fear, at home, in no bet- also how long it hung in hand, and how many ter. There must be, to withstand a foreign in- delays there were, we may easily see that such vasion, a proportion both of sea and land a suin, granted by parliament, is far sooner and forces; for to give an enemy an easy passage, more easily gathered.-If any will make the and a port to relieve him in, is no less than urgency of times an inevitable necessity for ento hazard all at one stake. And it is to be forcing the levy, whether, in general, by exconsidered, that no march by land can be of cise or imposition; or, in particular, upon some that speed to make head against the landing of select persons, which is the custom of some an enemy, nor no such prevention as to be mas- countries; and so conclude it, for the public ter of the sca. To this point of necessary de-state, suprema lege, he must look for this to fence there can be no less than 210,000l. For be told him: that if necessity must conclude the land forces; if it were for an offensive war, always for gathering money in the most speedy the men of less livelihood were the best spared, way, (which cannot be fitter than by parlia and were used formerly to make such war, pur- ment) the consequence may be, that the hu gamento reipublicæ, if we made no further pur-mours of the heedless multitude, who are full of chase by it: but, for safety of a commonwealth, the wisdom of all times did never intrust the public cause to any other than such as had a portion in the public adventure. And this we saw in 1588, when the care of the

jealousy and distrust, and so unlike to comply to any unusual course of levy, will not submit but by force; which, if used, the effect is fearful, and hath been fatal to the state: whereas that by parliament resteth principally on the

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regal person, who may, with ease and safety, mould them to fit his desire, by a gracious yielding to their just petitions. If a parliament then be the most speedy, assured, and safe way, it is fit to conceive what is the best way to act and work it to the present need.-First, if the time of the usual summons, reputed to be 40 days, be too large for the present necessity, it may be shortened, since it is against no positive law; so that care be had that there may be one county day, after the sheriff hath received the writ, before the time of sitting.-If then the sum to be levied be once agreed on, then, for the advance of time, there may be, in the body of the grant, an assignment made to the knights of every county respectively; who, under such assurance, may safely give security proportionable to the receipts, to such as shall, in present, advance to the public service any sums of money.-The last and weightiest consideration (if a parliament be thought fit) is, how to remove or compose the differences between the king and subject in their mutual demands. What I have learned amongst the better sort of the multitude, I will freely declare, that your lordships may be the more enabled to remove those distrusts, that either concern religion, public safety of the king and state, or the just liberties of the cominon-wealth. For Religion, a matter that lies nearest to their conscience, they are led by this ground of jealousy to think some practise against it. First, for that the Spanish Match, which was broken by the grateful industry of my lord of Bucks, out of his religious care, as he there declares, that the articles there demanded might lead in some such sufferance as might endanger the quiet, if not the state of the reformed religion here: yet there have (when he was a principal actor in the conditions with France) as hard, if not worse, (to the preservation of our religion) passed than those with Spain: and the suspicion is strengthened by the strict observance of this agreement, in that point, there concluded It is no less an argument of doubt to them of his affections; in that his mother and others, and many of his servants of near employment about him, are so affected. They talk much of his advancing men papistically devoted; some placed in the camp, of nearest service and chief command; and that the Recusants have gotten these late years, by his power, more courage and assurance than before. If, to clear these doubts, (which perhaps are worse in fancy than in truth) he took a good course, it might much advance the public service, against those squeamish humours that have more violent passion than settled judgment, and are not the least of the opposite number in the common-wealth. The next is, the late nisfortunes and losses of men, munition, and honour in our late undertakings abroad; which the more temperate spirits impute to want of counsel, and the more sublime wits to practice. They begin with the Palatinate, and by the fault of the loss there, on the improved credit of Gondomar; distrust

ing him for the staying of supplies to sir Horace Vere, when Col. Cecil was cast on that employment; by which the king of Spain became master of the late king's children's inheritance. And when count Mansfield had a royal sup ply of forces, to assist the princes of our part, for the recovery thereof, either plot or error defeated the enterprize from us, to Spain's great advantage. That sir Rob. Mansel's expedition to Algiers, should purchase only the security and guard of the Spanish coasts; to spend so many hundred thousand pounds in the Calais voyage, against the advice of parliament, only to warn the king of Spain to be in a readiness, and so to weaken ourselves, is taken for a sign of ill-affection in him amongst the multitude. The spending of so much munition, victuals, and money, in the lord Willoughby's Journey, is conceived an unthrifty error in the director of it, to disarm ourselves in fruitless voy ages; nay to some over-curious, seems a plot of danger, to turn the quarrel of Spain, our antient enemy, that the parliament petitioned and gave Supply to support, upon our ally of France; and soon after, a new and happy tye gave much talk, that we were not so doubtful of Spain as many wish; since it was held, not long ago, a fundamental rule of their security and ours, by the old lord Burleigh, That nothing can prevent an universal Spanish monarchy, but a fastness of those two princes whose amity gave countenance and courage to the Netherlands and German princes, to make head a gainst his ambition. And we see, by this disunion, a fearful defeat hath happened to Denmark and that party, to the great advan tage of the Austrian family--And thus far of the Waste of public Treasure in fruitless Expe ditions: an important cause to hinder any new Supply in parliament. Another fear that may disturb the smooth and speedy passage of the king's desires in parliament, is the late waste of the king's livelihood; whereby is like, as in former times, to arise this jealousy and fear, that when he hath not of his own to support his ordinary charge, (for which the lands of the crown were settled unalterably, and called sacrum patrimonium principis) that then he must of necessity rest upon those assistances of the people, which ever were collected and consigned, only, for the common-wealth. From hence it is like there will be no great labour or stiffness to induce his maj. to an act of resumption; since such desires of the state have found an easy way in the will of all the princes from Hen. 3. to the last. But that which is like to pass deeper into their disputes and care, is the late pressures they suppose to have been done upon the public liberty and freedom of the subject; in commanding their goods without assent of parliament; confining their persons without special cause declared; and that made good against them by the judges lately; and pretending a writ to command their attendance in a foreign war: all which they are likely to enforce, as repugnant to many positive laws and customary immunities of this common

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wealth. And these dangerous distrusts are not a little improved by this unexampled course, as they conceive, of retaining an inland army in winter season; when former times of greatest fear, as that of 1588, produced no such; and makes them, in their distracted fears, to conjecture, idly, it was raised wholly to subject their fortunes to the will of power, more than of law; and so make good some further breaches upon their liberties and freedoms at home, rather than defend us from any force abroad.-How far such jealousies, if they meet with an unusual disorder of lawless soldiers, or an apt distemper of the loose and giddy multitude, may easily turn them away, upon any occasion in the state that they can side withal, to a glorious pretence of religion and public safety, when their true intent will be only rapine of the rich, and ruin of all, is worthy your provident and preventing care.I have thus far delivered, with that freedom you pleased to admit, such difficulties as I have taken up amongst the multitude, as may arrest, if not remove, impediments to any speedy Supply in parliament at this time; how to facilitate which may better become the care of your lordships judgments than my ignorance. Only I could wish, that to remove away a personal distaste of my lord of Bucks amongst the people, he might be pleased, if there be a necessity of parliament, to appear a first adviser thereunto; and what satisfaction it shall please his make beamaj. of grace, to give at such time to his people, (which I wish to be grounded by precedent of his best and most fortunate progenitors, and which, I conceive, will largely satisfy the desires and hopes of all) if it may appear in some sort to be drawn down from him to the people, by the zealous care and industry that my lord of Bucks hath of the public unity and content; by which there is no doubt that he may remain, not only secure from any further quarrel with them, but merit an happy memory amongst them of a zealous patriot: for to expiate the passion of the people, at such a time, with sacrifice of any of his majesty's servants, I have ever found it (as in Ed. 2. Rd. 2. and Hen. 6.) no less fatal to the master, than the minister, in the end."

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A New Parliament called.] Actuated by such excellent advice as this, the king and council resolved, once more, to call a parliament, but, previously, thought proper to release all the gentlemen and others confined for refusing the Loan. Many of whom, Rushworth says, ، were chosen into the next parliament, and carried more resentment with thein into the house, for their late ill usage, than was agreeable to the character of peace-makers between king and people.' Writs were sent out, to call a new parliament to meet, at Westminster, on the 17th of March, in the third year of the king; on which day the king, having rode in state down to Westminster Abby and heard a sermon, came to the house of lords, and sending for the commons, the lords Journals tell us

The King's Speech at opening the Session.] “ My Lords and Gentlemen; These tiines are for action; wherefore, for example's sake, I mean not to spend much time in words; expecting accordingly that your (as I hope) good resolutions will be speedy, not spending time unnecessarily, or (that I may better say) dangerously; for tedious consultations at this conjuncture of time are as hurtful as ill resolutions. I am sure you now expect from me, both to know the cause of your meeting, and what to resolve on: yet I think that there is noue here but knows that common danger is the cause of this parliament, and that Supply at this time is the chief end of it; so that I need not point to you what to do. I will use but few persua sions: for if to maintain your own advices, and, as now the case stands, by the following there of, the true religion, laws, and liberties of this state, and the just defence of our true friends and allies, be not sufficient, then no eloquence of men or angels will prevail. Only let me remember you, that my duty most of all, and every one of yours, according to his degree, is to seek the maintenance of this church and common-wealth : and certainly there never was a time in which this duty was more necessarily required than now. I therefore, judging a parliament to be the antient, speediest, and best way in this time of common danger, to give such Supply as to secure ourselves, and to save our friends from imminent ruin, have called you together. Every man now must do according to his conscience; wherefore if you (which God forbid) should not do your duties in contributing what the state at this time needs, I must, in discharge of my conscience, use those other means, which God hath put into my hands, to save that which the follics of some particular men may otherwise hazard to lose.-Take not this as a threatning, (for I scorn to threaten any but my equals) but an admonition from him, that, both out of nature and duty, hath most care of your preservations and prosperities: and hopes (though I thus speak) that your demeanours at this time will be such, as shall not only make me approve your former counsels, but lay on me such obligations as shall bind me by way of thankfulness to meet often with you: for, be assured, that nothing can be more pleasing unto me, than to keep a good correspondency with you. I will only add one thing more, and then leave my Lord Keeper to make a short paraphrase upon the text I have delivered you, which is, To remember a thing, to the end ye may forget it. You may imagine that I came here with a doubt of good success of what I desire, remembring the distractions of the last meeting: but, I assure you, that I shall very easily and gladly forget and forgive what is past, so that you will at this time leave the former ways of distraction, and follow the counsel lately given you, To maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

The Lord Keeper's Speech.] The Lord Keeper having conferred with his majesty, spake as

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citizens, and burgesses of the house of com- succouring our party. The king of Denmark mous;-If I had been delighted in long speak- is chased out of his kingdom on this side the ing, yet the example and commandment of Sound; so as the house of Austria is on the his majesty had been more than enough to point to command all the sea-coasts, from restrain the superfluity of that humour: Dantzick to Embden, and all the rivers fallbut there is yet more; for that short and ing into the sea in that great extent; so as excellent compacted speech which you have besides the power by land, they begin to heard from his maj. begins with a reason, It threaten our party by sen, to the subversion of is a time for action, not for speech.' Examples all our trade-In the Baltick-Sea, they are and commandments master the will, and reasons providing and arming all the ships they can master the understanding; and therefore you build or hire, and have at this time their am may expect nothing from me but brevity. You bassadors treating at Lubeck, to draw into have heard the matter already; and, I doubt their service the Hans Towns, whereby taking not, but with much reverence, as the weight from us and our neighbours the Eastland trade, and authority of it requires. You have im- by which our shipping is supplied, they expect, printed it in your minds; and, the matter being without any blow given, to make themselves known, long specch from me were but bab- absolute masters of that sea. In these westera bling to beat the air.-Ye are assembled here parts, by the Dunkirkers, and by the new in parliament by his majesty's writ and royal French and Spanish admirals, to the ruin of command, to consult and conclude of the fishing, (of infinite consequence, both to us, weighty and urgent business of this kingdom. and the Low Countries) they infest all our Weighty it is, and great; as great as the honour, coast, so as we pass not safely from port to safety, and protection of religion, king, and coun- port. And that fleet which lately assisted the try: and what can be greater? Urgent it is; French at the Isle of Rhee, is now preparing it is little pleasure to tell or think how urgent: at St. Andrews, with other ships built on the and to tell it with circumstances, were a long coast of Biscay to re-inforce it, and a great work: I will but touch the sum of it in few fleet is making ready in Lisbon; where, besides words.-The Pope and House of Austria have their own, they do serve themselves upon al long affected, the one a spiritual, the other a strangers bottoms coming to that coast for temporal monarchy: and to effect their ends trade: and these great preparations are, no do join together to serve each other's turn. doubt, to assault us in England or Ireland, as The house of Austria, besides the rich and vast they shall find advantage, and a place fit for territories of both the Indies and in Africa, their turn.-Our friends of the Netherlands, are become masters of Spain and Italy, and besides the fear that justly troubles them, lest the great country of Germany; and although the whole force of the empire may fall dowa France be not under their subjection, yet they upon them, are distracted by their long voya have invironed it all about; and in the very bow-ges into the East; which hath carried both els of that kingdom swayed by the Popish fac- men and money into another world, and much tion, have gotten such a party and such interest weakened and almost divided them at home. in the government; that, under pretence of aid- Thus are we ready on all sides to be swallowed ing to root out the protestants and our religion, up; the emperor, France, and Spain, being they have drawn that king to their adherence in open war against us; Germany overrun 50 far that, albeit upon his majesty's interpo- the king of Denmark distressed; the king of sition by his ambassadors, and his engagement Sweden diverted; and the Low Countries dis of his royal word for just performance, the abled to give us assistance.-I speak not this war between that king and his subjects of the to increase fears unworthy of English courage, religion was quieted; and his maj. as protector but to press to provision worthy the wisdom of of that Treaty, was interested and bound to a parliament and for that cause his maj. hath procure a good accomplishment of it: yet, called you hither, that, by a timely provision against it, and the strict alliance between him against these great and imminent dangers, our and that king, the treaty hath been broken; selves may be strengthened at home, our friends and those of the religion have been put to all and allies encouraged abroad, and those great extremity, and undoubtedly will be ruined, with causes of our fear scattered and dispelled.out our present help. So as that king is not only And because in all warlike preparations, diverted from assisting the common cause, but sure bears the name, and holds the semblance hath been misled to engage himself in hostile of the nerves and sinews; and, if a sinew be acts against our king and other princes; mak- too short or too weak, if it be either shrunk or ing way thereby for the house of Austria, to strained, the part becomes unuseful; it is need the ruin of his own and other kingdoms.--ful that you make a good and timely Supply of Other potentates, that in former times did balance and interrupt the growing greatness of the house of Austria, are now removed and diverted. The Turk hath made peace with the emperor, and turned himself wholly into wars with Asia. The king of Sweden is embroiled in a war with Poland, which is femented by Spanish practices, to keep that king from

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treasure, without which all counsels will prove fruitless. I might press many reasons to this end; but I will name but few. 1. For his majesty's sake, who requires it. Great is the duty which we owe him by the law of God; great by the law of nature, and natural allegiance; great for his own merit, and the memory of his ever-blessed father. I do but point #

together with an indissoluble knot, which none inust attempt to cut or untic. And let all, by unity and good accord, endeavour to pattern this parliament by the best that have been, that it may be a pattern to future parlia ments, and may infuse into parliaments a kind of multiplying power and faculty, whereby they may be more frequent; and the king our sovereign may delight to sit on his throne, and from thence to distribute his graces and favours amongst his people. Ilis maj. hatha given you cause to be confident of this, by what you have heard from his own royal mouth; which, nevertheless, he hath given me express command to redouble. If this parliament, by their dutiful and wise proceedings, shall bu give the occasion, his maj. will be ready, not only to manifest his gracious acceptation, but to put out all memory of those distastes that have troubled former parliaments.-I have but one thing more to add; and that is, as your consultations should be serious, so let them be speedy. The enemy is before-hand with us, and flies on the wings of success. We may dandle and play with the hour-glass that is in our power, but the hour will not stay for us; and an opportunity once lost, cannot be regained. And therefore, so resolve of your Supplies that they may be timely and suflicient, sorting the occasion: your council, your aid, all are but lost, if your aid be too little, or too late: and his maj. is resolved, that his affairs cannot permit him to expect it overlong."

them; but, methinks, our thoughts cannot but recoil on one consideration touched by his maj. which, to me, seems to sound like a parliamentary pact or covenant. A war was advised here, assistance proffered, yea, and protested here: I do but touch it, I know you will deeply think on it; and the more, for the example the king hath set you; his lands, his plate, his jewels he hath not spared to supply the war: what the people hath protested, the king, for his part, hath willingly performed. 2. For the cause-sake: it concerns us in Christian charity to tender the distresses of our iends abroad; it concerns us in honour not to abandon them, who have stood for us. And if this come not close enough, you shall find our interest so woven and involved with theirs, that the cause is more ours than theirs. If religion be in peril, we have the most flourishHg and orthodox church: if honour be in question, the stories and monuments in former ages will shew, that our ancestors have left us as much as any nation: if trade and commerce be in danger, we are islanders; it is our life. All these at once lie at stake, and so doth our very safety and being. Lastly, In respect of the manner of his majesty's demand, which is in parliament; the way that hath ever best pleased the subjects of England. And good cause for it: for Aids granted in parliament work good effects for the people; they be commonly accompanied with wholesome laws, gracious pardons, and the like. Besides, just and good kings, finding the love of their people, and the readiness of their Supplies, may the better forbear the use of their prerogatives; and moderate the rigour of the laws towards their subjects. This way, as his maj. hath told you, he hath chosen, not as the only way, but as the fittest; not as destitute of others, but as most agreeable to the goodness of his own tnost gracious disposition, and to the desire and weal of his people. If this be deferred, necessty and the sword of the enemy will make way to the others. Remember his majesty's admonition; I say, remember it. Let me but add, and observe God's mercy towards this land above all others. The torrent of war hath "It is now no longer time, nor good man, overwhelmed other churches and countries; ners, to dispute with my lord the king; but, but God hath hitherto restrained it from us, with all joy and alacrity of heart, humbly and and still gives us warning of every approaching thankfully to meet so great a favour froin the danger, to save us from surprise. And our best of masters, and the best of men. There gracious sovereign, in a true sense of it, calls fore, first, I lift up my heart to Him that sits on together his high court of parliament; the the Throne of Heaven, per quem principes lively representation of the wisdom, wealth, imperant & potentes decernunt justitiam; power of the whole kingdom, to join toge-huinbly begging at his hands that made the ther to repel those hostile attempts, which bave distressed our friends and allies, and do threaten ourselves. And therefore it behoves all to apply their thoughts unto counsel and consultations, worthy the greatness and wisdom of this assembly; to avoid discontents and divisions, which may either distemper or delay; and to attend that unum necessarium, the common cause; propounding for the scope and mark of all your debates, the general good of the king and kingdom whom God hath joined

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The Speaker's Oration to the Throne.] March 19. The commons presented sir John Finch, for their Speaker; whose speech, for being excused from that office, with the lord keeper's reply, being purely ceremonial, we purposely omit; to come to the speaker's rejoinder. The copy given in Rushworth and the Ephemeris Parliamentaria' is very incorrect: but the following is taken from an original MS. communicated by sir John Napier, bart. to the editors of the Parliamentary or Constitutional History, in the hand-writing of his greatgrand-father, a member of the house at that tine:

tongue, to give me speech, and that framed the heart of man, to give me understanding; for I am but as clay in the hands of the potter, and he will mould me for honour or dishonour as best seems good unto him. Next I bow my knees unto your most excellent majesty, in all humble and hearty acknowledgment of this and many other your great and gracious favours. The truth of my own heart, full of zeal and duty to your maj, and the public as any man's, quits me from all fear of running into wilful

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