MY Love to Old England, is such as can never be shaken; no not by an Eternal Banishment; but I must ever wish, and heartily pray for its Prosperity: And though 'tis not permitted to me to breath my Native Air, yet, that it is now in a great measure freed from those Pestilential Vapours which poysoned it in the late Reigns, and that my dear Country is at length delivered from that intolerable Oppression and Tyranny, under which it has long groaned, is to me a matter of great rejoycing. 'Tis (with me) beyond doubt, that the late happy Settlement of the Kingdom is wellpleasing to God, and consonant to the Laws of the Land: for as Sir Robert Philips affirmed in his Speech in Parliament, in the year 1628, it is undoubtedly true, that the People of England are under no other Subjection than what they did voluntarily consent unto by the Original Contract between the King and the People. And King James the first was greatly in the right, when he told the Lords and Commons in the year 1609, That he is no King, but a Tyrant, that governs not by Law: which (by the way) being true, the late King James ceased to be King, even before his Abdication. And,

Now (Sir) you and I being agreed that the late King having broken the Original Stipulation and Contract, and becoming a Tyrant, by 〈◊〉 and annulling the established Laws; the Crown is most rightfully placed upon the Heads of the most excellent Princes King William and Queen Mary. I shall demonstrate to you, That King Charles the First, did equal (I might justly say transcend) his Son (whom you have deservedly Abdicated) in all his Acts of Tyranny; to this Undertaking I am provoked, by the reading the many Idle, 〈◊〉 and Lewd Expressions, and Extravagant Encomiums of the first, in the Rants of one Edward Pelling, who stiles himself Rector of S. Martins 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 Person 〈◊◊◊〉 of Spight, Falshood and Venome, that the Cock being turned, upon the thirtieth of January, he spouts out a Sea of Calumnies, Lyes and Poison) He, as you shall see, paints forth King Charles the First more like a God than a Man; talking of him at this rate, viz. That great Monarch and Martyr, of whom the World was not worthy, and perhaps will hardly ever see the like of him again; That Incomparable Prince; That Mirrour of Princes, the Noblest of Martyrs, the Wonder of Ages, and the Honour of Men; That Innocent, Vertuous, Religious, Matchless Prince, The Lord's anointed, A Man according to God's own Heart.

No King could be ever better than this; under the Shadow of his Wings we did rejoyce; Peace and Plenty was our Portion; Every Man was sure of his Right, as long as this Religious Prince had his Just Authority; every Man was easie in his Cottage, as long as he sat at ease in the Throne; our Liberties were secure, our Laws had Life, and Religion never flourished more in this Nation than under him — He dyed a Martyr for Religion, and a Victim for his People. I am of Opinion that if the Blood of any Prince or Martyr could be so valuable as never to be atoned for in this World, it would be that Royal, that Sacred, that Innocent Blood. Now

To shew the effronted Impudence of this little, fawning, lying Levite, and to set your own, with the Thoughts of the present Age, right, in reference to this Idolized, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , I shall endeavour to place him in his true and just Light; and not to forget my proposed Method of doing it by way of Parallel, I shall first recount the Miscarriages wherewith the last Tyrant was most justly charged; and when I have so done, I shall proceed to convince you and all the World (my Doctor excepted, to whom I pretend not to speak, in regard I find him telling his kind and Noble Friend, the late Bloody Monster Jeffryes, in an Epistle Dedicatory to one of his Raving Tracts, upon the the thirtieth of Janury 1683, that his Ears are past all feeling) how much his Father out-stript him, even in the first four Years of his Reign; for to that Time, I purpose to confine my self in this Letter. To begin,

The late King, by his Coronation Oath, promised and solemnly swore to maintain his Subjects in the free Enjoyment of their Religion, Laws and Liberties; Nevertheless, he overturned the Religion, Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom, and subjected all to a Despotick and Arbitrary Government; and so broke his Oath to the Poople: To come to particulars herein.

SIR, I am the more brief in setting down the Matters charged upon the late King, the same being yet fresh in the Memories of all Men; but I shall be something more particular and large in representing the Father's Tyranny, in regard Time has placed us at a greater Distance from it.

That King Charles the Second went off by Poisoned Chocolate, to make way for his Brother, when Matters were well prepared to set up the Romish Idolatry, is a thing generally believed: And so it was, that King James the First, was so dispatch'd, as they may see who will turn to the Earl of Bristol's Speech in Parliament, 〈◊〉 's first Collections. and his Articles against the Duke of Buckingham; and to Sir Dudly Diggs his Speech at the Delivery of the Impeachment against the Duke, at a Conference with the Lords; and also to the thirteenth Article of that Impeachment, which charged the Duke with a very suspicious Plaister and Potion administred to that King.

Well, right or wrong, King Charles ascended the Throne upon the twenty seventh of March 1625, and at the first gave the World a Prospect what was to be expected from him; for he instantly took the Duke of Buckingham and Laud (then Bishop of Bath and Wells) into admired Intimacy and Dearness, and made them the Chief Conductors of all Affairs in State and Church; and that aspiring Prelate had the Guidance of his Conscience.

The Duke's Mother, and many near about him, were Papists; and he advanced Men Popishly devoted, to places of the Chief Command in the Court and Camp; The Good Archbishop of Canterbury, Doctor Abbot, speaks thus of him; He was talented but as a common Person, yet got that Interest, that in a sort all the Keys of England hung at his Girdle; and it appeared that he had a Purpose to turn upside down the Laws, and the whole Fundamental Liberties of the Subject, and to leave us, not under the Statutes and Customs which our Progenitors enjoyed, but to the Pleasure of Princes. Three Parliaments in the beginning of this Reign, found and declared this Duke the Cause of all our Miseries and Disasters; The Grievance of Grievances.

The Character of Laud, by the same Great Man, Archbishop Abbot, was this; He was the inward Counseller with Buckingham, and fed his Humour with Malice and Spight: His Life in Oxford was to pick quarrels in the Lectures of the Publick Readers, and to fill the Ears of King James with Discontent against 〈◊◊〉 that took pains in their places, and 〈◊〉 the Truth, (which he called 〈◊〉 ) in their Auditors: It was an Observation what a sweet Man this was like to be, that the first observable Act he did, was the Marrying the Earl of D. to the Lady K. when it was notoriously known that she had another Husband, who had divers Children living by her. The Bishop of 〈◊〉 (Dr. Williams) procured for him at the first, the 〈◊〉 of St. 〈◊〉 , which he had not long enjoyed, but he began to undermine his Benefactor; and verily such is his aspiring Nature, that he will underwork any Man in the World, so he may gain by it.

This Man, after the Death of the Duke of B. was the sole Favourite, and was preferr'd to the Bishoprick of London in his way to Canterbury: But to return to our King.

He obliged himself (as yours did) by his 〈◊〉 Oath, to observe, keep and 〈◊〉 the Laws, Customs and Franchises of the Realm: Which had he 〈◊〉 (says Archbishop Abbot) all things had 〈◊◊〉 in 〈◊〉 : But he broke the Oath of Protection and Justice which he took to his People, as the whole History of His Reigh shews: To give you some few of the Innumerable Instances which may brought therein.

In the beginning of his Reign he married Henrietta Maria of France: Besides the General 〈◊〉 upon that Marriage, he agreed to Private Articles in favour of Papists (viz.) that those who had been imprisoned, as well Ecclesiasticks as Temporal, should be released: That Papists should be no more molested for their Religion, &c.

Hereby a Toleration (little less) was instantly granted to Papists, who without fear of Laws, fell to their Practice of Idolatry, and scoffed at Parliaments, at Law and all: Their Numbers, Power and Insolence daily increased in all parts of the Kingdom, especially in the City of London; which seem'd to be overflowed with Swarms of 〈◊〉

This King wrote to the Pope, and by his Letter saluted Antichrist with the Title of, 〈◊〉 Pater, Most Holy Father. He procured the Pope's Dispensation for his Marriage, which was solemnized by Proxy, according to the Ceremonies of the Romish Church.

Pursuant to his Private Articles with France, he instantly granted a Special Pardon to twenty Popish Priests, of all Offences against the Laws; and he built a Chappel at Sommerset-House, with Conveniencies for Friers, who were permitted to walk abroad in their Habits,

The Lords and Commons percieving the Protestant Religion to be undermined, and all things apparently tending to an Innovation and Change of Religion in the Kingdom; They presented to the King a Petition for advancing true Religion, and for suppressing Popery: He by his Answer assured them of performance; yet, the very next day after that promise made, He assumed to himself a Power to dispense with the Laws of the Twenty first and Twenty seventh of Queen Elizabeth, and of the third of King James; in granting Pardons to Baker a Jesuite, and many other Papists, which passed by immediate Warrant; and were recommended by the Lord Conway, Secretary of State, without the Payment of the Ordinary Fees.

The Secretary being called to answer this in Parliament, very boldly said, that he never hated the Popish Religion; That the King commanded the granting the Pardons, and that no Fees should be taken.

This King, as well as yours, made Papists Lords Lieutenants, Deputy-Lieutenants, Justices of the Peace, &c. As you may see by the Petition of the House of Commons, wherein they complained of the increase and countenancing of Papists; and named about One hundred Popish Lords, Baronets, Knights, Esquires, &c. who held Places of 〈◊〉 and Trust in England, and Wales; And I shall here remember you, that as his Secretary of State did not hate Popery; so Weston, whom he made Lord Treasurer of England, died a Papist.

He granted a Commission to certain Commissioners to compound with Papists for all Forfeitures for Recusancy, from the Tenth Year of King James, whereby they made their Compositions upon very easie Terms: And he inhibited and restrained both Ecclesiastical and Temporal Courts and Officers to intermeddle with Papists; which amounted to no less than a Toleration.

In Ireland, the Popish Religion was openly 〈◊〉 without control, and practised in every part thereof; Popish Jurisdiction being there generally exercised and avowed: Monasteries, Nunneries, &c. were erected in Dublin and most of the great Towns, and filled with Men and Women of several Orders.

The Men whom he preferred to Bishopricks, generally speaking, were unsound in their Principles; they set up for a New Church of England; and corrupted our Religion, in Doctrin, Worship and Discipline: These laid new Paintings on the old Face of the Whore of Babylon, to make her shew lovely: These were ready to open the Gates to Romish Idolatry, and Spanish Tyranny (which you well know, did in that day threaten our Nation to as high a Degree as that of France hath done of late) These, particularly Neal Bishop of Winchester, and Laud of Bath and Wells, were complained of by Remonstrance in Parliament, for countenancing and cherishing Papists, and Persons Popishly affected, and depressing and discountenancing Pious, painful and Orthodox Preachers, how conformable soever: And Bishop Laud being advanced to London, was charged by a Petition of the Printers and Booksellers, to the House of Commons, that, the Licensing ofTo publish a good, was made then a Sin, (by this Bishop of London) and an ill one a Vertue; and while one came out with Authority, the other could not have a Dispensation; So that we seemed to have got in Expurgatory Press, though not an Index; and the most Religious Truth must be expunged and suppressed, in order to the false and secular Interest of some of the Clergy. Books being wholly restrained to him and his Chaplains, he allowed Books which favoured Popery, but denied to license Books that were written against it.

Mountague, one of this King's Chaplains, published a Book intituled An Appeal to Caesar, and another Book intituled A Treatise of the Invocation of Saints: In these Books he asserted many things contrary to the Articles of Religion: This being taken into consideration by the House of Commons in the King's first Year, They voted that Mountague endeavoured to reconcile England to Rome, and instanced that he maintained these Positions.

1. That the Church of Rome is and ever was a True Church. 2. That Images might be used for the Instruction of the Ignorant, and for Excitation of Devotion. 3. That Saints have not only a Memory, but a more peculiar Charge of their Friends; and that it may be admitted that some Saints have a peculiar Patronage, Custody, Protection and Power, as Angels also have, over certain Persons and Countries by special Deputation. That he impiously and prophanely scoff'd at Preaching, Lectures, Bibles, and all shew of Religion, &c. That his Scope and End in his Books was to encourage Popery, and to draw the King's Subjects to the Roman Superstition, and consequently to be reconciled to the See of Rome: The Commons prayed that Mountague might be punished, and his Books suppress'd and burnt.

The Pious Archbishop Abbot had disallowed and sought to suppress the Appeal to Caesar, but it was approved by Laud and his Set of Bishops, and printed and dedicated to the King.

Laud solicited the King to shelter Mountague from the Prosecution of the Commons, and upon the occasion of that Prosecution said, I seem to see a Cloud arising and He might indeed have a more early sight of the Cloud than any Man living, because 'twas of his own raising. threatning the Church of England, God for his Mercy dissipate it.

The King appeared incensed at the Prosecution, and sent a 〈◊〉 to the Commons, that Mountague 〈◊〉 his Chaplain, and he had taken the business into his own hands: He afterwards granted him a Pardon of all 〈◊〉 , and made him Bishop of Chichester.

It sufficed not to introduce an Innovation and Change of Religion at home: This King, to the Dishonour of our Nation (formerly the Sanctuary of oppressed Protestants) the Scandal of our Religion, and the high disadvantage of the Protestant Interest throughout Christendom, did at this time (his sirst Year also) Lend Eight Ships (which he equipped with the Subsidies given for the relief of his distressed Protestant Sister, the Electress Palatine, and the poor oppressed Protestants of the Palatinate) to the French King to fight against the miserable Protestants of Rochel: Of this Squadron, Captain Pennington in the Vantguard went Admiral: The Commanders and Mariners protested against the service, though tempted with Chains of Gold, and other Rewards, and returned with the Ships into the Downs, declaring they would sink rather than fight against those of their own Religion: The Duke of Rohan, and the French Protestants solicited the King not to let the Ships go again, and had good words and hopes from him: Nevertheless he wrote a Letter to Pennington, Dated the Twenty Eighth of July, 1625. Strictly requiring him without delay to consign the Vantguard into the hands of the Marquess D' Essiat, for the French King's Service, and to require the seven other Ships, in his Name, to put themselves into the Service of the French, 〈◊〉 to his promise: And commanding Pennington, in Case of backwardness or refusal, to use all forcible means to compel them, even to sinking.

Pennington hereupon went back, and put his Ship into the Absolute Power of the French King, and commanded the rest so to do; but the Mariners refused, declaring they would rather be hanged at home, than surrender their Ships, or be Slaves to the French, and fight against their own Religion: And they were making away, but Pennington shot and forced them all in again, the Neptune excepted, which, in Detestation of the Action, Sir Ferdinando Gorges, to his Eternal Honour, brought away.

All the English, Men and Boys (except one Gunner, who at his Return, which is somewhat remarkable, was slain in Charging a Piece of Ordnance, not well sponged) declined the Service and quitted the Ships, refusing to serve against the 〈◊〉 . In September following these Ships were actually employed against the Rochellers, almost to their utter Ruin: The 〈◊〉 boasted that the Uantguard mowed the Hereticks down like Grass: By these Means were these good Good People wholly lost; They indeed held the Town till the Year 1628, but were reduced to incredible Misery, having lived long upon Horse-slesh, Hides and Leather, Dogs and Cats; There were at length but about four thousand left alive of fifteen thousand Souls; many dyed with Famine, and they usually carried their Coffins into the Church-yard, and therelaid themselves in and dyed: [A sad Story, never to be forgotten in the History of our Blessed Martyr's Reign.]

SIR! Having thus shewed you how Rome was found to eat into our Religion, and fret into the Banks of it, the Laws and Statutes of the Realm; I shall now lead you to the Remembrance of this King's Administration in Civil Matters, and how it fared then with the Subject in the Points of Liberty and Property; and shall evince, That he took our Goods from us against our Wills, and our Liberties against the Laws; That he plucked up the Root of all Property; We were almost grown like the Turks, who send their Janizaries, and place the Halbard at the Door, and then are Masters of all: But not to hold you in Generals,

This King, in the very beginning of his Reign, levyed twelve thousand Soldiers, and, contrary to Law, required the Countries to furnish the Charge of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Conduct Money.

He appointed Commissioners to Try, Condemn, and Execute Delinquents by Martial Law, against the known Laws of the Land, and some were executed thereby.

He struck directly at the Property of the Subjects Goods, and (having dissolved the Parliament) he, contrary to many Laws, issued Commissions for raising Money, by way of Loan, and the Commissioners were ordered to certifie to the Council-Board, the Names of all Rcfractory Persons; particularly, He demanded One hundred thousand Pounds of the City of London; and the Magistrates representing the People's Excuses, the Council commanded them to proceed therein, threatning, that upon their Failure, His Majesty would frame his Counsels as appertained to a King, in such extreme and important Occasions.

He also required the City to set forth Twenty Ships, Manned and Victualled, for three Months: The Mayor, Aldermen and Common-Council, petitioned for Abatement of the Number of Ships demanded; but were answered, That Petitions and Pleadings were not to be received: That as the Commanded was to all in general, and every particular of the City, so the King would require an Account both of the City in General, and of every particular: That the Precedents of former Times were Obedience, not Direction; and that Precedents were not wanting for the Punishment of those that disobey the King's Commands.

The Deputy Lieutenants and Justices of Dorsetshire being commanded to set forth Ships, insisted, That the Case was without Precedent; but they were severely checked, for that instead of Conformity they disputed, and were told, That State Occasions were not to be guided by ordinary Precedents.

The Persons of Quality who refused to subscribe to the Loan, were put out of the Commissions of the Lieutenancy and Peace (as they were who refused to comply with your King's Humour) and were bound to appear at the Council-Table, where, as Refractory Persons, they were committed to Prisons, or put under 〈◊〉 ; these were Persons both of Note and Number, as the Prisons in London demonstrated, and as you must conclude, when you read these following Names, and know they were of that Number; viz. Sir John Elliot, Sir John Heveningham, Sir Nathaniel Barnardiston, Sir John Strangwayes, Sir Walter Earle, Sir Thomas Grantham, Sir Thomas Wentworth, Sir Harbottle Grimston, Sir Edward Hambden, Sir Thomas Darnel, Sir John Corbet, Sir William Armin, Sir William Masham, Sir William Wilmer, Sir Erasmus Drayton, Sir Edward Ayscough, Sir Robert 〈◊〉 , Sir Boauchamp Saint-John, Sir Oliver Luke, Sir Maurice Berkley, Sir John Wray, Sir William Constable, Sir John Hotham, Sir John Pickering, Sir Francis Barrington, Sir William Chancey, George Ratclif, Richard Knightly, John 〈◊〉 , William Anderson, Terringham Norwood, John Tregonwell, Thomas Godfrey, Thomas Nicholas, John Dutton, Henry Poole, Nathaniel Coxwell, Robert Hatley, Thomas Elmes, William Coriton, and George Catesby, Esquires, besides above twenty Eminent Citizens of London, and many other Gentlemen of good Note.

Sir Peter Hayman, upon his refusal of the Loan, was commanded to go upon the King's Service beyond the Seas; others, of a meaner Rank, were either bound to appear before 〈◊〉 Lieutenant of the Tower, to be enrolled for Soldiers to be sent for Denmark, or were impress'd to serve in the King's Ships.

Now, can it be imagined that there could be found a Man so hardened in Wickedness, as to avow these unheard of Violences which trenched into all we had? Yes, there were in that, as in every Age, Pellings, and 〈◊〉 , amongst the Clergy; Base Sycophants, Aspiring Time-servers, the Vile Descendents of Cambyses's Judges, who being demanded, Whether it were not lawful for him to do what in it self was unlawful, they (to please him) answered, That the Persian 〈◊〉 might do what they listed; at that Rate those lying Prophets, our slattering Gentlemen of the Cassock, to scandalize the Laws and subvert Parliaments, prated to this King; They told him, All we had was his JURE DIVINO; and perswaded him (who was most ready to believe it,) That the Right of Empires was to take away by strong Hand: Of these,

Doctor Manwaring in two Sermons before the King, (printèd under the Title of Religion and Allegiance) inculcated this Doctrin.

1. That the King is not bound to observe the Laws concerning the Subjects Rights, but that his Will in imposing Loans and Taxes, without Consent in Parliament, doth oblige the Subjects Conscience, upon pain of Eternal Damnation. 2. That they who refused the Loan, did offend against the Law of God, and against the King's Supreme Authority; and thereby became Guilty of Impiety, Disloyalty, Rebellion, &c. 3. That Authority of Parliament is not necessary for the raising of Aids and Subsidies. And,

Doctor Sibthorp, Vicar of Brackley, printed a Sermon, which he preached at the Assizes at Northampton, and dedicated to the King; wherein he obliged his Country with these Positions. A Deo Rex, à Rege Lex, Title-page of Pelling's Sermon, 30. Jan. 1683, dedicated to Jefferyes. But we find different Doctrin in Bracton and Fleta; they tell us, That Rex Angliae habet Superiores, viz. Legem per quam factus est Rex; ac Comites & Barones qui debent ei fraenum ponere; The King of England hath for Superiors both the Law, by which he is constituted King (and which is the Measure of his Governing Power) and the Parliament, which is to restrain him if he do amiss. Eraction lib. 2. cap. 16. Fleta lib. 1. cap. 17.

1. That it is the Princes Duty to direct and make Laws, (his Text, by the way, was Rom. 13. 7. Render therefore to all their dues) he justified this by that apposite Proof, Eccl. 8. 3, 4. He doth whatsoever pleases him. — Who may say unto him, What doest thou? 〈1 page〉 him) I shall not be afraid of any Evil Tidings, for my heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.

But the Bishop of London appeared more plyable, and gave Licence to this Sermon, and it came out approved by my Lord of London, as a Sermon learnedly and discreetly preached.

The King instantly suspended the Archbishop, and also confined him, and committed the Archtepiscopal Jurisdiction to five Bishops, all of the New Church of England, and Sibehorp's Patrons, viz. London, Durham, 〈◊〉 , Oxford, and honest Laud of Bath and Wells.

The Commons Impeached Manwaring for his Sermons, and by the Judgment of the House of Lords, (amongst other Penalties) he was disabled from holding any future Ecclesiastical Preferment or Secular office: The King granted him a Pardon of all 〈◊〉 , and he was presented to the Rectory of Stamford - Rivers in Essex, and had a Dispensation to hold it, together with the 〈◊〉 of S. Giles in the Fields.

I shall in this Place remember you, That 〈◊〉 Bishop, Doctor Williams of Lincoln (as well as the 〈◊〉 ) 〈◊〉 the Heavy 〈◊〉 of this your 〈◊〉 King. In the 〈◊〉 Year of his Reign the Bishop of Lincoln was Lord Keeper of the Great Seal; but upon his appearing in Parliament against the Kingdom's great Grievance, the Duke of Buckingham, he was Disgraced and Sequestred from the King's Presence and the 〈◊〉 Table. In his Second Year he was 〈◊〉 for speaking publickly against the Loan; and also for 〈◊〉 to give way to Proceedings in his Courts against the Puritans; and Doctor 〈◊〉 charged him that he should say, He was sure the Puritans would carry all at last: The King now imprisoned him in the Tower, and so the 〈◊〉 King was not without a Presidont, when he sent seven Bishops thither: Well, this Good Bishop out-living his 〈◊〉 ; when (upon the King's 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 ) we came to a Tryal of Skill for the Old English 〈◊〉 , he resolutely said, NOLUMUS LEGES ANGLIAE MUTARI, and took a Command in our Army, and bravely asserted his 〈◊〉 Liberties with his Sword.

Having thus (Sir) shewed you that the King, which I Abdicated, made no more Bones of Pious 〈◊〉 Bishops, when he found them standing in the way of his Tyranny, than he did to whose 〈◊〉 you lent your Hand; I shall now proceed to remind you, That both the Tyrants went 〈◊◊〉 , in their Dealing with Westminster- 〈◊〉 . It is before remembred, That Yours modelled the Courts of Justice, till he got Judges to 〈◊〉 his Right to the Dispensing Power, but Mine set him the Example; for he resolving to subject the Liberties and Estates of the Subject to his Will and Pleasure, and finding that the Grave and Learned Judge, Sir 〈◊◊〉 , Lord Chief Justice of the King's-Bench, had declared himself against the 〈◊〉 , and would not serve the Turn in that Day, to give a Judgment, That the King might imprison, 〈◊◊〉 , and 〈◊〉 leave the Subject in the Goal and Remediless; turned him 〈◊〉 , and substituted Sir Nicholas 〈◊〉 in his Room, and 〈◊〉 gained his Point: For,

Sir Thomas 〈◊〉 , Sir John 〈◊〉 , Sir Walter Earl, Sir John 〈◊〉 and Sir Edward 〈◊〉 , Five of the Gentlemen imprisoned for refusing the Loan, brought their Writs of 〈◊◊〉 in 〈◊◊〉 , in the Third Year of this King: The Warden of the 〈◊〉 made Return, That they were detained in his Custody by the Special Command of the King.

We had then an 〈◊◊〉 (Sir Robert Heath) little short of your late 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , at the Knack of enslaving the People; he 〈◊〉 and justified this 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 no Special Cause was assigned; and the Lord Chief 〈◊〉 Hide, who was 〈◊〉 on purpose for it, did singly (as the Practice has also been of late) give Judgment for Remanding the 〈◊〉 to Perpetual Imprisonment, for that Judgment did in effect declare upon Record, That by the King's Command a Subject might be 〈◊◊◊〉 for ever.

To the Imposition of the Loan, and the many other Grievous Sufferings and Violent Oppressions, under which we groaned; This King added the Burthen of Billeting Soldiers, of whom many were 〈◊〉 ; they brake out into great 〈◊〉 ; mastered the People, disturbed the 〈◊〉 of Families, and the Civil Government: To some Places they were 〈◊〉 for a Punishment, and whereever they came there was a General Outcry; the 〈◊〉 were 〈◊〉 , and the Markets unfrequented; they 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 to all, and 〈◊〉 to many of the People.

He also (towards the End of the Year 1627) issued 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 under the great Seal, to several 〈◊〉 Lords, with 〈◊〉 and Loud, Bishops of 〈◊〉 , and Bath and Wells, and others, to raise Money by an Excise, 〈◊〉 to enforce the Payment, and (which is very probable) to 〈◊〉 the Parliament, which was to assemble the seventeenth of 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉

☞ Upon the Thirtieth Day of January 1627, sent a 〈◊◊〉 to the Lord Treasurer to this effect, We command you forthwith to pay to Philip 〈◊〉 , Merchant Thirty thousand Pounds, to be paid by him over, by Bill of Exchange, into the Low- 〈◊〉 and Germany, unto Sir William Balfoure and John 〈◊〉 Dolbier was a Papist. 〈◊〉 , for Levying and Providing certain numbers of 〈◊〉 with Arms for Horse and Foot, to be brought over into this Kingdom, for our Service, &c.

Burlemark being afterwards called into the House of Commons, and examined about this Matter, declared, That he received the Thirty thousand Pounds; That One thousand 〈◊◊〉 levyed, and those Horses and their Riders 〈◊〉 to come over; and Arms were provided for them in Holland, but he heard a 〈◊〉 was gone to stay them.

In this 〈◊〉 third Parliament, to which the Extremity, March 17th 1627. of his Affairs brought him, much against his Will; The 〈◊〉 , with sad hearts, taking notice of the high Oppressions of the People, by heavy and illegal Exactions, by false and arbitrary Imprisonments, 〈◊〉 . and 〈◊〉 upon the strange and dangerous Purpose of bringing in German Horse and Riders, to change the Frame both of Religion and Government: They found it as necessary as just, to vindicate our Ancient Vital Liberties, and in order thereto, They drew up a Petition of Right, thereby 〈◊〉 of the levying of Moneys without Authority of 〈◊〉 : Of the Imprisoning the Subject without any Cause shewed, and not being delivered by 〈◊〉 Corpus as by 〈◊〉 they ought: Of the Subjects being 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 Soldiers into their Houses; and to 〈◊◊〉 against their Wills; And of the Excuting Martial Law; contrary to the Laws and Statutes of the Realm: Whereupon they prayed, as 〈◊〉 Rights and Liberties, that none should 〈◊〉 be compelled to yield any Gift, Loan, 〈◊〉 , Tax, or such like Charge, without common Consent by Act of Parliament: And that no Freeman should be imprisoned without Cause shewed: And that the People might not be burdened with Soldiers in time to come; And that no Commission for procceding by Martial Law 〈◊〉 hereafter issue; q They further prayed (as their Right) that the King would declare that the proceedings to the prejudice of the People, in any of the Premises, should not hereafter be drawn into Example: And that in all the things aforesaid, All his Officers and Ministers should serve him according to the Laws and Statutes of the Realm.

This highly necessary and seasonable Petition met with great Interruption and violent Opposition; The King urged that it trench'd upon his 〈◊〉 , his 〈◊〉 Authority, 〈◊〉 Power, Sovereign Power, &c. (which imported no less than 〈◊〉 King's being loose and 〈◊〉 from all Ties and Restraints, either by 〈◊〉 Stipulations, or superadded Laws;) The great Sir Edward Coke said, in answer thereunto, 〈◊◊〉 is such 〈◊〉 Fellow, that he will have no 〈◊〉 : Let us not yield a Sovereign Power above all 〈◊〉 Power in Law (as the 〈◊〉 Posse Comitatus) is taken for a Power with force; The King strugled long to shift it off; and to avoid the answering this 〈◊〉 in a Parliamentary way, pressing them again and again, by Messages, to rest and rely upon his Royal Word: The Commons persisting, pursued their Petition, and to have it pass into a Law; and Sir Edward Coke said, Was ever a Verbal Declaration of the King, 〈◊◊〉 ? — The King must speak by Record, and in particulars, not in generals: All succeeding Kings 〈◊〉 say, ye must trust me as well as ye did my Predecessors: Let us put up our Petition of Right; Not that I distrust the King, but that I cannot take his Trust, but in a Parliamentary way.

At length this Petition being unanimously agreed unto by the Lords, 〈◊〉 was presented to the King, who at first gave a lame and uncertain Answer to it, and being press'd to give a direct and plain Answer, he 〈◊◊〉 word to the House, that he would not alter his Answer: but he was afterwards brought to do it, by the Importunity of the Lords and Commons, and gave a clear and satisfactory Answer, and so that Excellent Law pass'd. But,

He had no sooner granted this Petition, but We found it notoriously violated, by his 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 , and levying the Subsidies of 〈◊〉 and Poundage, which determined by his Father's Death, and were never payable to any of his Ancestors, but only by special Act of Parliament: Hereupon the Commons shewed by Remonstrance, that Tonnage and Poundage were always the free Gift of the Subject, for guarding the Seas, and that the taking the same without Act of Parliament, is a breach of the fundamental Liberties of the Kingdom, and contrary to the King's Answer to the 〈◊〉 of Right: However, by order of Council he commanded the Customs to be levyed.

Pursuant thereto the Custom-House Officers seized great quantities of the Goods of Mr. Vassal a Merchant, because he refused to pay Customs; and an Information being brought in the Exchequer, Mr. Vassal pleaded Magna Charta, and the Statute de 〈◊〉 non 〈◊〉 , &c. and that the 〈◊〉 was not 〈◊〉 seu certa 〈◊〉 , and that it was imposed without assent of Parliament: The Attorny 〈◊〉 having demurred to Mr. 〈◊〉 's Plea, and he joyned in demurrer, The Barons of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 denied to hear Mr. Vassal's Counsel, to argue for him, and said that the King was in Possession, and they would keep him in Possession: And shortly after they imprisoned Mr. Vassal for not paying the Customs, as he had been before for refusing the Loan.

The Goods of Mr. John Rolls a Merchant and Member of Parliament, and of Mr. Richard Chambers, a Merchant, being seized for Non-payment of Customs, They brought Writs of Replevin to regain the Possession of their Goods, but the Barons of the 〈◊〉 sent an Injunction to the Sheriffs of London, commanding them not to execute the Writs: Also the Warehouse of Mr. Rolls was lock'd up by 〈◊〉 , at the time when he was sitting in Parliament.

Mr. Chambers was likewise prosecuted in the StarChamber, for saying that the Merchants are in no part of the World 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 as in England; That in Turkey they have more encouragement; For this he was 〈◊〉 2000 〈◊〉 . committed to the Fleet, and ordered to make Submission, which being drawn up and tendred to him, he thus (like a brave English Man) underwrote it: All the abovesaid Contents and Submission, I do utterly abhor and detest, as most unjust and false, and never till death will acknowledge any part thereof. Rich. Chambers.

To this he added, Wo to them that devise Iniquity, because it is in the power of their hand; and they covet 〈◊〉 , and take them by Violence, and Houses, and take them away: So they 〈◊〉 a Man and his House, even a Man and his Heritage. Micah 2. 1, 2.

Now (Sir) to draw towards a Conclusion, I shall observe that no Rank or Order of Men stood clear from the 〈◊〉 of this Tyrant: He kept the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 under Confinement near two Years without being charg'd with any Accusation, or brought to Tryal, or Permitted to answer for himself: And upon his Petitioning the Lords to be 〈◊〉 to his Liberty, and to his Seat in Parliament, and 〈◊〉 an Accusation against the Duke of 〈◊〉 , This King, upon 〈◊◊◊〉 , 〈◊〉 for him in Custody as a Delinquent, and prosecuted him as such. Also,

He committed the 〈◊〉 of Arundel to the Tower in time of Parliament, without expressing any Cause of his 〈◊〉 , in Violation of the 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 : This 〈◊〉 was long detained a Prisoner, though the House of Lords presented a Remonstrance, and many Petitions for 〈◊〉 him to Parliament. And,

As he oppressed our best Patriots, so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and sheltred the grand Enemies of the Commonwealth: When the 〈◊〉 in Parliament prosecuted the Duke of 〈◊〉 , as the Principal Patron and Supporter of a 〈◊◊〉 set on foot to the Danger of the Church and State: As a Perso notorious in Evil, that all our Evils came by him: As the Man who had cast the Body of the Kingdom into an high Consumption: The King interposed to rescue 〈◊〉 : When the Commons impeach'd him, and by one of their. Articles charg'd him (in effect) with the Murder of King James. The King told the House of Lords, that to approve Buckingham's Innocence, he could be a Witness to clear him in every one of the Articles. When the Earl of Bristol exhibited Articles to the Lords against the Duke, the King took upon himself to become a Witness to accuse the Earl of Traiterous Practices, some Years before.

Notwithstanding nothing grows to abuse but the House of Commons hath Power to treat of it, and it hath been their Ancient and Undoubted Right and Usage to question and complain of all Persons of what Degree soever, 〈◊〉 grievous to the Commonwealth: Whereof there was a noted Instance in 30 Edw. 3. 〈◊〉 When they accused John de Gaunt, the King's Son for misleading and misadvising the King, and he went to the Tower for it; yet our King told the House of Commons, that he would not allow any of his Servants to be questioned amongst them, much less such as were near him: That he saw they aimed at the Duke, but assured them he had not intermedled, nor done any thing concerning the Publick but by his special Directions: He added, that he wondred at the foolish Impudence of any Man, to think he should be drawn to offer such a Sacrifice.

He, in scorn and defiance of the Parliament, procured the Laudean Faction in the University of Cambridge, (whoThis might be the first, but 'twas not the last time that the University hath made an Election in contempt of the Parliament. were gaping for Ecclesiastical Preferment) to choose the Duke their Chancellor, at the Time when he stood Impeach'd in Parliament.

He constantly gave interruption to the Parliament, when they had the Duke's Offences under Examination, not bearing their mentioning his Name and Misdoings; And he dissolved three Parliaments when they were intent upon his Prosecution, refusing a Petition of the House of Lords against one of those Dissolutions, and denying them Access to his Person.

Upon the Dissolution of his second Parliament, he sent Sir Dudly Diggs and Sir John Elliot Prisoners to the Tower (to the infringing the undoubted Priviledges of the Commons) for managing a Conference with the Lords, upon their Impeaching the Duke.

He, in the time of his 3d. Parliament sent Warrants for sealing up of the Studies of Sir John Elliot, Mr. Holles, and Mr. Selden, and also sent 〈◊〉 to Mr. Holles, Sir Miles Hobart, Sir John Elliot, Sir Peter Hayman, John Selden, William Coryton, Walter Long, William Strode and Benjamin Valentine, Esqrs; all Members, to appear before the Privy Council; Mr. Holles, Sir John Elliot, Mr. Coriton, and Mr. Valentine appeared, and refusing to answer out of Parliament, what was said and done in Parliament, they were (during the Parliament) committed close Prisoners to the Tower; and a 〈◊〉 was issued for apprehending Mr. Long and Mr. Strode, who coming in, were committed close Prisoners to the King's Bench: And all the rest of the before named Members were committed to several Prisons.

These imprisoned Gentlemen in Trinity Term following (1629.) brought their 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Corpus, and were brought to the King's Bench-Count, where very learned Arguments were made on their behalf, shewing the Illegality of their Imprisonment; and being to be brought again upon another day, to receive the Judgment of the Court, they were, (by the unpresidented Arbitrary Practices of that time) removed and shifted to other Prisons, and toss'd from Goal to Goal, and by that wicked Artifice, as they were imprisoned in notorious Breach of the Priviledge of Parliament, so were they now deprived of the Fruit of the Habeas Corpus, and of the Benefit of Freeborn Subjects for obtaining their Liberty; and were long deteined in Prison, and the brave Sir John Elliot ended his days in the Tower, not without Suspicion of foul Play.

But why have I deteined you so long in recounting these particular Violations of the Priviledges of Parliament, when 'tis so evident that this King struck at the very being of Parliaments, as many Instances fully demonstrate.

Sir Dudly Carleton his Vice-Chamberlain, and a PrivyCounsellor (whom he soon after created a Lord) warned the Commons to take heed of bringing the King out of love with Parliaments, and said, that in all Christian Kingdoms, Parliaments were anciently in use, until the Monarchs began to know their own Strength, and at last overthrew Parliaments, throughout Christendom, except here only with us: He proceeded setting forth the wretched Condition of Subjects in Foreign Countries, and said, This is a Misery which yet We are free from: Let us then be careful to preserve the King's good Opinion of Parliaments, lest 〈◊〉 lose the repute of a Freeborn Nation, by our Turbulency in Parliaments.

The King himself sent a threatning Message to the Commons, that if he had not a timely Supply, he would betake himself to New Counsels [Which could only mean the putting an End to the use of Parliaments.]

At another time speaking to the Lords and Commons, We here have Dr. Edw. Pelling's MIRROUR OF PRINCES, 〈◊〉 of Martyrs, Wonder of Ages, and the Honour of Men, laying down his living Opinion of the Constitution of our Government, and (according to his then Judgment) passing a Sentence of Death. upon our Parliaments: And seeing the 〈◊〉 told CAPTAIN SIMMONS of the WONDER TAVERN, with his goodly Petitioners, 〈◊〉 , Sissan, Owen and 〈◊〉 , and the rest of his Parishoners upon the Thirtieth of January, 1690. That his most Noble Martyr BEING DEAD YET SPEAKETH, I do put in an early request to him, on behalf of the Commons of England, that he would oblige them upon the next Madding day (the twenty Ninth of May,) in letting them know what his Matchless Saint now speaks, and in particular what he says about their Right to Annual Parliaments, for 'tis to be hoped that by this Time, if he be kept 〈◊〉 from ARCHBISHOP LAUD, he may be set right in this great Point of English Parliaments. he said, Remember that Parliaments are altogether in my Power; therefore as I find the Fruits of them, good or evil, They are to continue, or not to be.

At the opening of the Parliament the 17th. of March, 1627. he told them, if they should not contribute what the State needed, he must use those other Means, which God [and Laud, Sibthorp and Manwaring, &c.] had put into his hands. To this the Lord Keeper added, that if the King found the readiness of their Supplies, he might the better forbear the Use of his Prerogative: That the King chose that way of Parliament, not as the only way, but as the 〈◊〉 :. Not as destitute of others, but as most agreeable to his Disposition.

Thus (Sir) have I (as I promised) run through the first four Years of this King, and shew'd you how our Liberties and Properties were invaded: How our Religion and Government were undermined: How an Army was raised to subject our Fortunes to the Will of Power, and to make good the Breaches upon our Liberties: And how Parliaments were contemned and cast off; so that it was well and truly said in the House of Commons, that the Subject suffered more in the first three Years of this King, in Violation of Ancient Liberties, than in three hundred Years before.

It remains now, That I recal into your Memory, what the Carriage of our Parliaments was, under this Universal Oppression: Why, their Temper, Mildness and Moderation was incredible, as their Speeches, Petitions, and even Remonstrances do evince; They dealt long with the King, with no other Weapons but Sweetness, Trust and Confidence; and 'twas their only Endeavour and End to make up all Rents and Breaches between the King and his Subjects; but they found in him A sowerness of Temper, Fierceness of Disposition and Pride, joyned with a peevishness of Humour, not to bear the having his Will disputed or 〈◊〉 by the established known Laws; He was wilful and inexorable, and knew not the things of his Peace.

Having Abdicated Parliaments, for from this Time We had eleven Years Interval of Parliament, He (as idle Boys say when they act Mischief) began to play absolute Reaks instead of Rex. 'Tis a certain Rule, Nemo repente 〈◊〉 turpissimus; and I have here given you but a Tast of the Miserable and Calamitous State, under which he laid us, as you must conclude, when you remember how (after the Dissolution of his third Parliament) he betook himself to New Counsels, and exerted his Sovereign Absolute Power, and how despotically he used and exercised them.

Were I to continue his History (as I may in another Letter, if you accept this) when I lead you into Westminster Hall, you would see the Illegal and Wicked Judgments of the Courts there, to the compleat Overthrow of the Liberty of our Persons, and the Property of our Goods; and in opening to you his accursed Star-Chamber, and High Commission Courts, I should shew you his most Cruel and Barbarous 〈◊〉 , Pilloryings, Stigmatizings, &c. His Suspending, Excommunicating, Depriving and Imprisoning the Conforming Clergy of the Church of England, for Preaching against Popery, for not Reading his Book for Sports on the Lord's Day, and for not Making Corporal Reverence at the Name of Jesus; I should not forget to lay before you his Billeting of Soldiers, and his most Arbitrary Imposing and Exacting of Ship Money, against the known Laws, and contrary to his Late Promise in the Petition of Right; and (which is never to be forgotten) his Accession to the Horrid Murders of those many Thousands of Miserable Protestants, who fell in Ireland. But,

To conclude your present Trouble, We long bore our Heavy Burdens, and the Yoke of this 〈◊〉 , with Patience, even almost to the Breaking of our Backs; at length (no other Moans availing to rescue Us from Utter Ruin) We strugled to continue the English Liberties to our selves, and to the Generations that should come after us, and to leave our Posterity as free as our Ancestors left us: And had we not so done, and that in the way we did it, where had your English Liberties been at this Day? The Great Lord Hollis told you the Truth therein, in his Letter to Van 〈◊〉 , in the Year 1676, when he said, That had not We, in the Parliament of 1640, interposed, the English Government must have sunk e're now, for save what we did, Not one true Stroke had been struck since Queen Elizabeth.

SIR! Having now made an End with my Tyrant, and by the Particulars which I have presented to your View, set it beyond all possibility of rational Controul, That the Tyrants, of whom I have treated, were at least Parallels: I shall now offer one Word for my self, which is, That in whatsoever I have said, I have had a Due and Faithful Regard to Truth; and do challenge even Pelling himself (who ought for his own Vindication to do it if he can) to convict me of Falshood in any one Particular here charged upon his In comparable Prince; and if you shall esteem me over-tart in any of my Expressions, I say, That if to call a Spade, a Spade, be unbecoming, I have transgressed; if not, I cannot see how I ought to have expressed the Despotick and Arbitrary Pranks I have mentioned, by any other Name than Tyranny; nor to have stilled him, who acted them, other than a Tyrant. And, as to my Reverend Doctor, it seems a Difficulty to me to find Words proper and severe enough, whereby to brand and stamp a Character of Infamy upon him, who with such Loathsome Flattery and Slavish Sycophancy (at a most bold, wild, and impudent rate) calls such a Man as this, The best of Kings, A Man according to God's own Heart; therefore to vindicate my self, in treating the Doctor as I have done, I tell him in his own slovenly 〈◊〉 Language, (in his Sermon upon the thirtieth of January 1683, dedicated to that Viper Jeffryes) That such a superlative Piece of Putid Imposture, may well stir an honest Man's Choler, and provoke him to spit some of it in the Villain's Face.

And now (Sir) wiping my Mouth, as good Manners require, after this so foul Pollution, I take my leave of you, declaring, that I will ever approve my self King William's and Queen Mary's, and my most Dear Country's